Quilt No.164MC - Marion Coleman
1626 x 1271mm
Made by the owner Marion Coleman in 1956 -1957, in Maffra (VIC). Used as a car rug, picnic rug, camp rug, bed blanket and knee rug.
"I made it about 1956-7 when I was only a new wife and mother, living in Maffra away from my family & friends who we had left in Melb. In those years housing was impossible to obtain in Melb. & my new husband liked working in the country, so we made our move (have never regretted it) but money was tight.
This Wagga quilt is still used but now more appreciated than it has been over the years. One of the first 'Time Payment' purchases we made was a PHOENIX sewing machine which did zigzag, had cams for fancy stitches, was a portable model semi industrial.
As money was tight, time was available and pure wool sample books had been given to me by my tailor maternal grand-father. I sewed them together, some smaller than other larger samples so making a sort of pattern - prob. so they would 'fit' together.
My g'father, a Scot, had his Tailor's shop in Glenfeerie Rd, Malvern, Vic. for many years. He made suits - jacket & trousers or jacket & skirts as ordered & fitted personally. I went to his shop on Sat. mornings to 'help' - probably my company was the only 'help'."
[Marion Coleman]
Related Quilts:
1170 x 920mm
935 x 635mm
2279 x 2000mm
Each of the patchwork pieces (there are several thousand present) are sewn together with very fine overcasting stitches. The quilt is entirely hand sewn. There is some evidence that templates from the hexagon pieces possibly blotting paper, remain in situ���The quilt is not padded or quilted. The lining is fine twill weave cotton printed in pink and pale purple. The design follows William Morris's 'Strawberry Thief design'." [NGA] 2075 x 1911mm