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:

National Gallery of Australia
"The quilt consists of 12 blocks of crazy patchwork with an embroidered border. The quilt is made of 167 different fabrics; most of these are silk. These velvets, printed silks and satins are beautifully embroidered with flowers, household items and Kate Greenway images of children at play. Many of the motifs have a strong influence from the Aesthetic Movement. The edge of the quilt carries a border in maroon silk decorated with tendrils and daisies in very fine embroidery.
The patches are joined with hand sewing and embroidery, however the 12 panels are joined with machine stitching (chainstitch machine stitching). The blue silk lining was hand sewn into position with silk thread." [NGA]
"The quilt does consist of three layers but the central layer is not padding. The crazy patch pieces were sewn together and this was lined with white cotton fabric prior to the embroidery at the edges of the 12 panels being placed. This in turn was lined with a fine blue silk." [NGA] 1810 x 1460 mm
Diane Kern Hamilton
Dresden plate quilt with pointed pieces set around a white centre. Fabrics are checks, floral patterns and plains of the 1930s. The twenty blocks are sashed with plain mauve fabric which does not meet evenly in some places. The padding is two layers of cotton bedspreads. The backing is open weave rough quality cotton.
1860 x 1550mm.
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
La Dona Anick
Red and white cross stitch quilt. Central white panel with red cross stitch embroidery featuring flowers and leaves. Red panels as borders with white embroidery, also flowers and leaves. Machine pieced. Hand quilted in an espalier pattern. There is a fine padding and the backing is homespun. 2200 x 1970mm
Irene Treneman
Cotton quilt, checks, plains and patterns. Machine construction. Rectangles stitched together in strips and then strips joined. The backing is a cotton print. There is no padding and no quilting.
2420 x 1220
Barbara McCabe
Patchwork quilt made from rectangles and squares of woollen fabrics from dress making projects. Colours are mainly grey, blue, brown, green, with some red and yellow. Fabrics are plain, cheks and stripes. No padding or quilting. Backing is made of white flannelette sheets. The quilt has been lengthened after it was completed, and the backing sheet has been added to at the same place.
2470 x 1320mm