Quilt No.443DC - Dorothy Cawood

Dorothy Cawood
Owner: 
Dorothy Cawood
Location: 
VIC Melbourne
Maker
Maker: 
Francis Jane McElhinney
Made in
IRELAND
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
Utility quilt. Random piecing with borders. Reused materials from furnishings and clothing uncluding wool, tweed, cotton, suiting. The backing is mattress ticking and the padding is an old sheet.
1850 x 1500mm
History: 

The quilt was made by Francis Jane McElhinney 1896-1965 in Londonderry Ireland pre 1926. One of 2 quilts brought to Australia as family luggage on the Barrabool in 1926. Passed by maternal descent to the present owner, Dorothy Cawood, who is the grand-daughter of Francis. The quilts were used in Ireland and Australia for extra warmth when needed. More recently they were used under the wire mattress, as dog blankets, as moving blankets to protect furniture and as drop sheets for painting. They were stored in a back shed but are now valued and stored in the owner's house. They are not now used.

Story: 

"My grandmother Francis Jane McElhinney (nee Patterson) was born on the 15.4.1896 at Milford, Letterkenny, Eire and died on the 22.1.1965 at Melbourne. Francis and her husband Robert lived in a 2 storey house at No.1 Sydney Terrace, Great James Street, Londonderry Ire, where Martha, (my mother) and Francis were born. A third daughter, Laura was born in Australia in 1926 soon after their arrival.
My grandfather was a motor mechanic for Rover and my grandmother was a secretary/typist for a law company. I have a small Pitman's Shorthand Pocket Dictionary presented to her on passing her examinations dated July 1912. My mother also tells of her parents taking in borders to supplement their income.
The reason for leaving Ireland for Australia in 1926, was the opportunity for a better way of life.
The quilts I have were used for bedding both here and in Ireland. My Mother used them for extra warmth when needed, but I can remember them being under the mattress on my bed, whether it was for easy storage when not is use, or it kept the draught from coming up through the wire base, then they ended up in our garage.
Their belongings came to Australia in trunks, one of which I keep my embroidery supplies. As you will see from a copy of goods and chattels sold at auction* before the family sailed a lot of quilts were left behind, perhaps too bulky or heavy to transport, or maybe they thought they would not be needed in a warm country like Australia. My grandmother did not value the quilts, they were a purely functional household item, although I wonder why these 2 were kept. I also have some linen pillow shams with a crochet edge and handmade buttons, that were also used on their beds. The family moved into a house (1926 or 1927) at 71 Benjamin Street Sunshine (not far from where I live) until the 3 girls were married and their parents passed away. My grandmother taught her 3 daughters to mend, darn, crochet, knit and of course do "fancywork" which mum remembers would be done after the household chores and music practice. Mum recalls being taught to darn her socks at the age of 6 before she came to Australia."
[Dorothy Cawood 13.1.1999]
* The auction sale notice lists 3 "P.Work Quilt" and 6 "Quilt" at prices ranging from 4 shillings and threepence to one shilling. ED.

Francis Jane Patterson c.1916
Francis Jane Patterson c.1916
Francis Jane McElhinney 1940s
Francis Jane McElhinney 1940s
Centre:Francis McElhinney & Dorothy Jones (Cawood)
Centre:Francis McElhinney & Dorothy Jones (Cawood)

Related Quilts:

Ann Hockey
Patchwork quilt made of small squares pieced from four triangles. Each square is 90mm and is joined to the others by a herringbone lacing in yellow rayon crochet thread, so making an open mesh between each square. The quilt is edged with thick yellow rayon corded braid. Each square is backed with gold coloured cotton. No padding.
1730 x 1430mm
Heather Roobol
Patchwork quilt has three centre squares, one in blue/white/brown in a cross pattern, one in framed square, one with diagonal strips in a pink frame. The rest of the quilt is made from strips of rectangles in different sizes sewn in rows. There is a narrow pieced frame, then an outer border of pieced rectangles. Mostly pastel colours. No padding. Backing is calico. There is a little embroidery.
2160 x 1601mm
Art Gallery of South Australia
Frame cot quilt in cotton fabrics, the centre square in a paisley print surrounded by two plain borders or frames, then two frames pieced in alternate light and dark triangles, then a frame in a floral print. Outer border is of red fabric, longer at top and bottom to make a rectangle. No quilting. Machine sewn.
1050 x 770mm
Joan McGregor
One side of this quilt is large pieces of check and striped material surrounding a small patterned supper cloth with a border of scrap pieces. The other side is small, floral, check, spotted, striped and plain cotton pieces surrounding a tablecloth. It is machine sewn and is not quilted. The padding is an old woollen blanket.
1825 x 1625mm
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
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