Quilt No.182RF - Ruth Flett

Ruth Flett
Owner: 
Ruth Flett
Location: 
VIC Melbourne
Maker
Maker: 
Lilian Boulton
Made in
AUSTRALIA NSW
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
Quilt is made of wool tailors' samples, each measuring 6 x 3 1/2 inches. The colours are predominantly navy and grey. Most pieces are striped but some more distinctly than others. Both sides are mad eof smaples, one side being mainly grey and the other almost exclusively navy. There doesn't seem to be another layer of material as padding. There is no added decoration. Made on a treadle sewing machine.
1703 x 1423mm
History: 

Made by Mrs Lilian Boulton, Condobolin (NSW). Owned by her daughter Ruth Fleet.

Story: 

"My mother was born on 11/12/1896 so would have been 100 years old this year. She was a keen needlewoman & enjoyed competition in local shows etc."
Letter from Ruth Fleet:
"You ask whether the quilt was in general use on beds in the house at Condobolin - I think it was used more as an optional extra, & is in very good condition. As to where my mother got the tailor's samples - as I recall it she found them in a strange old shop in Condobolin - known as Old Bill's Junk Shop to all and sundry. She was quite excited at her discovery & had plans for it at once. It was a time of 'make do'. There was always a section in the local show schedule for the best article made from a sugar bag!"

Mrs. Lilian Boulton
Mrs. Lilian Boulton
House in Condoblin
House in Condoblin

Related Quilts:

National Trust of Australia (TAS)
Quilt top of hexagonal patches in silk and velvet in colours of brown, black, soft green, maroon, light yellow and blue. Some materials self patterned. Blue backing papers can be seen at edges behind some patches.
Jean Gill
Pieced quilt featuring log cabin and tumbling block patterns. It is handsewn and has some appliqued flowers.Materials are mainly velvet with a small amount of cotton. There is no padding and the backing is cotton flannelette.
1525 x 1220mm
National Trust of Australia (WA)
Patchwork quilt in Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern, consisting of 7 patch rosettes with white 'paths'. Cotton dress and shirting materials have been used in blues, pinks, brown, turkey red and Prussian blue. The quilt is hand sewn and each hexagon is 25mm wide. The backing is cream twill cotton in three panels. There is a hand sewn binding in red/pink cotton. There is overall quilting in chevron or zigzag pattern.
2415 x 2110mm
Fran Williams
Quilt with centre area of silk triangles framed with small squares and the rest of the top is larger squares. Wide variety of prints and plain materials. There is no padding. The backing is cotton and "E.M.B." is cross stitched in one corner. "Back is interesting as it's all the same fabric, joined but it appears to have been stitched with a running stitch (cf quilting) before it was attached to the front. It was definitely done after being joined as the stitching design follows through the seams." [Fran Williams]
2500 x 2500mm
Muriel Thompson
Quilt in pattern known as 'double weeding ring'. All cotton, using old prints, plaids, checks and solid colours, with plain blues and red squares at the intersections of the circles. White background. Hand pieced. Padding is Hobbs Heirloom: cotton 80%, polyester 20%. Backing is cream quilted cotton. 2500 x 2100 mm.
Mare Carter
Patchwork quilt made for a child. All cotton with cotton padding. White blocks have embroidery depicting different nursery rhymes eg Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary ; Old Mother Goose. These blocks are separated by rectangular strips of teal cotton. The quilt is hand stitched and heavily quilted.
1677 x 1271mm