Quilt No.1009FG - Fiona Gavens

Fiona Gavens
Owner: 
Fiona Gavens
Location: 
NSW North Coast
Maker
Maker: 
Deborah Gavens
Made in
AUSTRALIA VIC
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Hexagon quilt constructed over papers; all seams oversewn with featherstitch embroidery. Materials are vyella and clydella scraps from childhood dresses of the maker's first four children, augmented with scraps from a dressmaker and a book of samples. There is no padding; backing is plain, pale blue, brushed cotton.
2200 x 1720 mm.
History: 

Quilt made by Deborah Gavens in Colac, Victoria, from the late 1950's to early 1960's (took about five years to make). Deborah owned and used the quilt until she passed it on to her daughter Fiona in the late 1980's. Quilt is not used.

Story: 

"My mother, Deborah Gavens (nee Lee), arrived in Australia as a war bride in 1946, having married Philip Gavens, an Australian pilot, in London just before his departure.
Five daughters were born between 1948 and 1958 and the oldest four in particular were dressed in beautiful, matching vyella dresses embellished with smocking and embroidery. Mum made most of these dresses, which reflected her well-heeled British background.
Mum loved sewing but had very little time to do no-utilitarian work when we were young. I have strong memories of her mainly sewing this quilt at meal times when we were having dessert (which she rarely ate). That is why it took about five years to create!
When Mum finished piecing the quilt and started embroidering it, it was our job to find the seams that she had missed, and we would often talk about who wore what dress and whom the dresses had been passed on to.
The quilt was used as a comforter when we were sick and, later on, when grandchildren visited.
I have the original book containing the instructions on how to piece and embroider the quilt, entitled 'Pictures and Patchwork' by Priscilla M. Warner, the Dryad Press, Leicester, 1950. Mum still has a set of metal hexagon templates made for her by Dad.
I have no doubt that this quilt contributed to my evolution into a professional quilter (1978 - 1995), as it was obvious that creating something beautiful by hand was of intrinsic importance to Mum. Her father designed and stitched beautiful wool tapestry, and my father was a carpenter/builder, so it was natural to be a designer and maker.
I sewed from an early age and in my late teens embarked on my first quilt of hand-sewn hexagons. This took several years to make, and ensured I would only sew with a machine from then on! It is interesting to look at Mum's quilt and the mix of techniques, as I always felt free to use whatever techniques I needed, and wonder now if that was another subconscious influence." [Fiona Gavens]

Deborah Gavens 1950
Deborah Gavens 1950
Four of the 'Gaven girls' wearing viyella dresses, 1957<br />b-Fiona(6), l-Thalia(9), r-Juliet(4),f-Clare(6)
Four of the 'Gaven girls' wearing viyella dresses, 1957
b-Fiona(6), l-Thalia(9), r-Juliet(4),f-Clare(6)
The Gavens home, where quilt was made. 1964
The Gavens home, where quilt was made. 1964

Related Quilts:

Mare Carter
Patchwork Quilt, all cotton including filling. Pattern is "squares and diamonds". Quilt is faded but blue is probably the predominant colour. Hand stitched and hand quilted.
1624 x 1194mm
Mare Carter
Patchwork quilt, all cotton including cotton padding filler. The design is 'Dresden Plate' or 'Friendship Circle'. Background is white with multicoloured and patterned triangular pieces forming circles. Hand stitched and heavily quilted.
2235 x 1778mm
National Trust of Australia (TAS)
Patchwork quilt of cotton hexagons in a random mix of colours and prints, the predominant colours being blue, red, green, light yellow and pastels. Patches hand sewn. There is no padding and the backing is a grey wool blanket. The top is machine stitched around the edge to the blanket.
1645 x 1060mm
Fay Burgess
Hexagonal piece of patchwork made up of 9 rows of rosettes of hexagons in a wide variety of colours and patterns mainly in silks and velvets. It is incomplete. Backing papers are still in the outside rows and also basting threads. Hexagons are joined by fine whip stitching. It is unlined.
1370 x 1220mm
Brenda Bird
Suffolk Puff quilt made from a variety of scraps of dress materials including cottons and terylene. It is backed with white cotton sheeting and edged with a frill of white terylene. There is a matching pillow sham.
1740 x 1300 mm.
Joanne Pedler
Crazy patchwork cot quilt made from a wide variety of materials, patterned and plain. Some seams are overstitched with feather stitch and herringbone. One of a pair. There is no padding. The backing is taffeta.
1500 x 2000mm