Quilt No.21KA - Kathy Allam

Kathy Allam
Owner: 
Kathy Allam
Location: 
WA Perth
Maker
Maker: 
Mrs. Pritchard
Made in
AUSTRALIA
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
"A crazy quilt, but even more crazy because each piece of fabric is stuffed with cotton wool. "[Kathy Allam] The quilt has cotton backing, and the seams are embroidered with a decorative feather stitch. Fabrics are plains and prints, most of the prints are florals. The main colours are yellows, blues, pinks, soft greens and dark browns and black, with a light blue/green binding and edge.
History: 

The quilt was made and owned by Mrs Pritchard, and is now owned by her grand-daughter, Kathy Allam [WA]. The quilt is now a wall-hanging.

Story: 

"The fabrics were collected by my mother and auntie who asked for samples of fabric for their mother. Fabric was scarce and expensive due to the Depression, so each little slither was treasured. Satins, silks, velveteens. Each piece was tacked in place but stuffed before completely tacked and then the decorative stitching was completed."
"My grandmother is now 97 and has been working on a similar quilt over the years, but in this quilt she has been including fabrics that have special meaning to us - the fabric my husband bought for me in the US (before he was my husband)."
[Kathy Allam 22.4.98]

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
National Trust of Australia (SA)
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