Quilt No.1056PJN - Peter and Jan Newman

Peter and Jan Newman
Owner: 
Peter and Jan Newman
Location: 
WA Perth
Maker
Maker: 
Dulcie Alma Tobin
Made in
AUSTRALIA WA
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Suffolk Puff quilt with puffs mainly in patterned cotton pieces saved from 60 years of household sewing. Puffs are formed into rosettes and the holes are on the top making a decorative feature. It is hand sewn.
2700 x 2400mm.
History: 

The quilt was made by Dulcie Alma Tobin at Mount Lawley WA in the early 1970s using scraps of material saved from the 1920s to 1970. Dulcie had the quilt until she died in 1988 and it then passed to her grand-daughter Jan Newman. It is still used and is Jan and Peter Newman's summer quilt.

Story: 

"Dulcie Alma Tobin: (born in Northam, 1897), saved all the material 'leftovers' from 60 years of household sewing and when she was in her mid seventies, began to stitch them into this quilt.
She was assisted by family - husband Jack threaded all the needles (80 at a time, stuck in a pincushion to keep her going), sister Beatty and daughter Dulcie helping to cut and iron the patches. All the sewing and arranging was done by Dulcie Tobin, despite rapidly failing eyesight. She was 84 years old when it was completed, and so they were able to use it on their bed for a few years before Jack died (1986) and Dulcie moved to the Braille Nursing Home. She died in 1988, shortly after handing the quilt on to her granddaughter Janice Newman." [Jan Newman]

Dulcie and Jack Tobin, 1974, their diamond wedding anniversary
Dulcie and Jack Tobin, 1974, their diamond wedding anniversary
The family home at Mt. Lawley where the quilt was made.
The family home at Mt. Lawley where the quilt was made.

Related Quilts:

The Pioneer Women's Hut
The quilt is constructed from machine pieced diamond shaped striped flannel materials. The backing is the same. The padding is not visible but is thought to be worn out woollen clothing, unpicked and ironed flat.
1520 x 970mm
Albury Regional Museum
Patchwork cot quilt, machine pieced, rectangular, 5 x 4 squares. Assorted fabrics including seersucker, corduroy, printed and plain cottons. White ric-rac braid and zigzag machine stitching accentuate rows. Edge of white cotton tape. Backing is single flour bag, calico, with maker's printing visible through patchwork: 'Tiger. Best Australian Roller Flour. Mala Foot. Sole Supply. Part of Kuala Lumper' and Chinese characters.
674 x 540mm
Fran Williams
Frame quilt with the centre frame featuring stars. These are English pieced and then appliqued on to the background using straight stitch on the machine. Borders are squares, rectangles and truangles. Mainly cottons. There is no padding. The backing is an old white bedspread similar to a Marcella.
1900 x 1930mm
Gwen Cordinglay
Patchwork quilt made from hexagon patches in silks and rayons, in pinks, blues, red, yellow mainly, with pastels. No padding. Bordered and backed with green satin.
1829 x 1372mm
Joyce Lannin
Hand sewn patchwork quilt with a pattern of blue stars. Each star consists of hexagons in the centre with part diamonds forming the star shape. The quilt is made from scraps. It is not padded and the backing is cotton and has a hexagon star border. 2660 x 2470 mm
National Trust of Australia (NSW)
Quilt in frame style patchwork with applique and broderie Perse applique in printed cottons and linens with silk embroidery. The centre frame has an octagonal shape of floral printed material appliqued on to cream linen surrounded by pieced and appliqued triangles and sashing of printed cotton. Above the frame is embroidered in dull gold silk in cross stitch 'Mary Moxey 1818 Emma Tremlett Born Decr 16th 1837'. Outer borders are pieced and appliqued diamonds and hexagons separated by printed sashing. The quilt is backed with cream linen.
2405 x 2373mm