Quilt No.254HS - Helen Sparkman

Helen Sparkman
Owner: 
Helen Sparkman
Location: 
SA Adelaide
Maker
Maker: 
Clara Pitt
Made in
AUSTRALIA SA
Patterms
Patchwork, Mosaic, Hexagon
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Patchwork quilt made of hexagon patches from satin scraps. Hexagons are in solid colours and joined to make rosettes. Hand sewn.
1800 x 1025mm
History: 

This quilt was made by Clara Pitt, daughter of Matilda Pitt, probably during the 1950s. It is one of two 'special' quilts Clara made for neices. It has always been in the family and Clara was the great aunt of the present owner, Helen Sparkman. It is not used now.

Story: 

"Clara May Pitt 1892-1985 (Daughter of Matilda Pitt)
Clara made many quilts mainly during the 1950s and 1960s, not out of need but because of her love of patchwork. Her quilts were mainly Hexagons and Suffolk Puffs. Clara was a single lady who had five neices and a nephew, and quite a number of great neices and nephews. As each quilt was completed it was presented to a family member. These family members now cherish her gifts, even though all have often smiled and queried her fabric selection, placement, neatness and her continual use of white thread over the years. Clara was over 80 years of age when she made her last quilt (Hexagons of course) for a private museum."
[Helen Sparkman Dec.2000]

Clara Pitt c.1960
Clara Pitt c.1960

Related Quilts:

N.S.W. Parks and Wildlife Service
Quilt No.559NPW - N.S.W. Parks and Wildlife Service
The top has a segmented circle in the centre surrounded by a border of small rectangles. The circle is featherstitched on to the background. Materials are wools and cottons and it is hand pieced. The other side appears to have been originally men's suiting materials strip pieced. It is now covered with a children's print in light cotton joined in long rectangles. The padding is coarse heavyweight cotton.
1410 x 1080mm
Patchwork, Frame
National Trust of Australia (SA)
Quilt No.1063NTSA - National Trust of Australia (SA)
Hand stitched unfinished crazy quilt with patches placed around a centre hexagon pieced in log cabin type strips. Materials are mainly silks and satins and pieces are mounted on grey cotton material. Seams are overstitched in herringbone stitch. 1520 x 760mm
Patchwork, Pieced Random, Crazy
Fran Williams
Quilt No.516FW - 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
Patchwork, Frame
Marjorie Treasy
Quilt No.689MT - Marjorie Treasy
Machine sewn quilt made from 125mm squares of scraps left over from dressmaking joined in strips and then the strips joined. There is a border of fawn cotton and the backing is the same material. The padding is an old blanket and the border is padded with sheep's wool.
1400 x 925mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Square
Annette Gero
Quilt No.843AG - Annette Gero
Utilitarian quilt made from large pieces of wool, flannel and cotton. Machine construction and the padding is wool.
1570 x 152Omm
Patchwork, Pieced Random, Typically Australian, Re-used clothing or blanket
King Cottage Museum
Quilt No.1038KC - King Cottage Museum
Hand sewn hexagons over paper templates in a pattern known as 'Grandmother's Flower Garden'. Materials are printed dress cottons, patterned and plain, mainly in pinks, blues and browns. The border and backing is grey linen and is machine stitched on. There is no padding. 2060 x 1579 mm.
Patchwork, Mosaic, Hexagon