Quilt No.57SC - Sallie Cross

Sallie Cross
Owner: 
Sallie Cross
Location: 
NSW Central West
Maker
Maker: 
Unknown
Made in
CANADA
Date: 
1901 - 1920
Description: 
Patchwork quilt of pieced repeat blocks in 'T' pattern,mainly cottons. Quilt is constructed with 12 blocks across and 12 blocks down. Some fabrices have been reused from clothing, some blocks have patches which have been pieced from scraps to make enough fabric for the pattern. Padding is' pellon', quilt is backed, bound and quilted.
1600 x 1500mm
History: 

Pieced quilt top bougnt at auction in London, Ontario, Canada in 1987 by the owner. Quilt top finished, padding, backing, quilting and binding, by owner's mother.

Story: 

"I purchased this quilt unfinished at a deceased estate auction sale in London, Ontario, Canada in sept 1987 whilst holidaying there. I gave it to my mother who completed it. She completed it with pellon wadding, backing and quilted it. The fabric is small prints, checks, dull colours, no greens or bright colours. Some fabrics appear 'pre-loved', I.e. used in men's shirts, aprons etc, Some blocks contain fabric which has been stitched together to obtain maximum use of all scraps. Some 'Ts' are made of similar coloured fabrics, others are constructed of the same fabric. My mother feels this is an early 20th century piece."
[It is not known who pieced the top.] "At the time I was not interested in patchwork and quilting myself - now I do regret not getting more information on the day of purchase."
"At the auction sale the quilt was stored in a rusty old tin trunk. The auctioneer was having trouble getting a bid, when he opened the lid and pulled out the quilt I immediately said $5.00 and it was mine - not one bid against me."
[Sallie Cross 29.8.96]

Related Quilts:

Evelyn McAlister
Quilt made from dressmaking materials in a design probably made up by the maker but resembling 'Courthouse Steps'. The outer border of each block is mitred. Originally it was reversible but during restoration the back was brought to the front, doubling the size of the quilt. The padding is old woollen materials. The backing is a new piece of floral material. It is now machine quilted.
1830 x 1220mm
National Gallery of Australia
"This is not a true quilt, but a pieced coverlet with a lining. The entire front face of the quilt is of pieced hexagonal and part hexagonal printed cotton patches. Pieces are joined with hand sewn over casting stitches of many different coloured cotton threads. The joining of the patches forms a 'daisy' pattern in some areas and in others it is random. The edge of the front face of the quilt carries a 40mm strip of cotton Chinoiserie which is then folded to the reverse of the quilt and becomes part of the lining. The template for the hexagon patches remains in many of the patches: writing paper and news print." [NGA]
The work is not padded "The lining at the edge of the quilt (for approx.175mm) is a plain weave fabric of a Chinoiserie design. The centre field of the lining is a rectangular panel of a twill weave brushed cotton fabric with a striped floral design." [NGA] 2215 x 2070mm
Janine and Eva Chick
Hexagon quilt, hand sewn, using a wide variety of patterned and plain cotton scraps left over from dressmaking. 6 hexagons are placed around a centre one. There is no padding. The backing is brown flannel turned over to the front with hexagons hand stitched to it.
1220 x 763mm
Marjorie Treasy
Machine sewn quilt made from 125mm squares of scraps left over from dressmaking, joined in strips and then the strips joined. There is a border of fawn cotton and the backing is the same material. The padding is an old blanket and the border is padded with sheep's wool.
1400 x 925mm
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Cot quilt of mixed textiles and techniques. Made in sections and stitched together possibly with some padding. It features embroidered and appliqued animals (cats, donkey, elephant, squirrel, birds, kangaroo, emu) and nursery rhyme characters. Materials are cotton, silk, wool, imitation fur. There is a black velvet patch with a cross stitch parrot and embroidered date and initials 'May 1925 AE'. The backing is woven self patterned curtain material. There is a ruffle around the edge in the same material.
1400 x 930mm
Albury Regional Museum
Log cabin patchwork pieces (2) with each block approximately 120 x 120mm. They are diagonally divided into light and dark side. Materials are mainly silks including silk velvets. Each block is stitched on to a backing square, pieces of old blanket, woollens, cottons, many very worn. There is no other backing.
Quilt is hand pieced.
1000 x 1000mm