Quilt No.1057BB - Billie Briggs

Billie Briggs
Owner: 
Billie Briggs
Location: 
WA South West
Maker
Maker: 
Billie Briggs
Made in
USA
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Hand pieced hexagon quilt in pattern known as 'Grandmother's Flower Garden". 12 hexagons, in patterned cottons, form the outer border of each flower with an inner border of 6 matching plain coloured hexagons and all flowers have a yellow hexagon centre. There is no padding, a cotton backing and it is hand quilted.
2400 x 1780mm.
History: 

The quilt was made by Billie Briggs in the USA in the mid 1960s. It is still owned by Billie but is in the care of Iris Briggs (Pinjarra WA) while Billie is in the United States. It is still used.

Story: 

Billie Briggs grandmother was a meticulous sewer and taught Billie to sew when she was a child.
"Billie's Grandma was a professional curtain maker, so had stacks of all types of fabrics from years back. I was lucky enough to 'inherit' lots of swatches after 'Grandma' died in late 1980s, and they are real treasures, which Billie and I plan to use together when she returns from Colorado��.[Iris Briggs]

Related Quilts:

National Gallery of Australia
"This quilt follows the traditional hexagon patchwork pieced pattern, which are then joined and sometimes edged with a contrasting border. The edges of the quilt have been turned and then scalloped edges made of identical patches to the main body of the quilt have been attached to the edge. The quilt is fully lined, and the lining is visible front the front face through the gaps between the scalloped edge. The lining is attached to the patchwork with a row of stitches along the edges; there are no stitches in the centre field. The fabrics of the quilt are plain weave cotton in simple floral and geometric designs. Most of the fabrics are monochromatic. Several different colour ways of the same fabric are evident which could suggest some fabrics were from manufacturer samples. The lining is a William Morris print.
Each of the patchwork pieces (there are several thousand present) are sewn together with very fine overcasting stitches. The quilt is entirely hand sewn. There is some evidence that templates from the hexagon pieces possibly blotting paper, remain in situ���The quilt is not padded or quilted. The lining is fine twill weave cotton printed in pink and pale purple. The design follows William Morris's 'Strawberry Thief design'." [NGA] 2075 x 1911mm
Annette Gero
This domestic Wagga is two layers of woollen army blankets with the top layer in rectangles joined in rows. The backing is hessian bags that originally contained meat meal.
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Red Cliffs Historical Society
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Jindera Pioneer Museum
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11900 x 1870 mm