Quilt No.291PC - Patricia Cmielewski

Patricia Cmielewski
Owner: 
Patricia Cmielewski
Location: 
SA
Maker
Maker: 
Mary Ann Sly
Made in
AUSTRALIA SA
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
Crazy patchwork quilt made from silk and cotton fabrics, in patterns and plains, in bright colours. Patches are arranged around a central diamond shaped patch in yellow which is bordered with light blue. All seams are covered with featherstitch and herringbone stitch. Patches were stitched onto a calico backing. A recent calico backing ahs been added and dark blue binding attached to the edge. No padding.
1555 x 910mm
History: 

Made by Mrs Mary Ann Sly of Rendelsham, near Millicent (SA), probably in the 1930s. It was given to Mrs Cecilia Polkinghorne in the late 1930s. Now owned by Cecilia's daughter Mrs Patricia Cmielewski.

Story: 

"� For some years it was used on a grand-daughter's bed. I would think it would probably be called a Depression quilt as this was the period in which it was made and the materials are very varied. �
It was in generally good condition but had some damage to three silk fabrics which were replaced by new fabrics in October 1988 by a professional textile conservator � The quilt was lined with calico at this time also and the outer edges were bound. Velcro has been stitched to the lining so it can be hung up. ����..

Unfortunately there is not much recorded about Mrs Sly. She was Mary Ann Sly, wife of Henry Richard Sly and died at Millicent South Australia on 29/7/1959 aged 85 years. Her place of birth is unknown. Her husband, Henry, was employed by the South Australian Railways in the Far North of the State, and they came to Rendelsham in the South East of South Australia when he was transferred there by the Railways in 1914. Mr & Mrs Sly had three sons - Harold, who farmed in the Rendelsham district, Roy, who served in the RAAF in World War II, and Ernest, who was a painter.
Roy was a friend of our family and during his time in the RAAF in World War II he invented a potato-digger which the Army Inventions Directorate was developing to help the war effort. The war finished before it was in production and plans for its development were dropped."
[Patricia Cmielewski September 1999]

Related Quilts:

National Trust of Australia (WA)
Silk and velvet frame quilt with centre patchwork block of squares and triangles with a top and bottom border of silk in Royal Stewart tartan. This rectangular centre frame is surrounded by plain and 'saw tooth' (triangles) borders. The outer border is dark grey silk embroidered in pastels in stem stitch in a meandering vine and leaf pattern. There is no padding or quilting. Backing originally of mustard wool material machine stitched along turned in edges. Dark red cotton is attached to original backing.
2015 x 1320mm
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
The Pioneer Women's Hut
Machine pieced cot quilt made from squares of material including tweed, wool, blanket and pyjama material. The squares are joined in rows with colours randomly placed. There is a pink satin edging. The backing is part of a pale pink blanket.
1150 x 900mm
Meg Orr
All over pattern of rows of hexagons with each unit made up of 4 hexagons each 45mm. Patterned and plain materials thought to date from the 1930s including cotton and linen dress materials, synthetics and synthetic crepe. It was an unfinished top and Meg Orr, the present owner, finished it by machine stitching some of the hexagon rosettes to the red twill background and stitching on a backing. There is no padding.
1740 x 1210mm.
Barbara Levy
"The quilt is made up of many cotton hexagons of various colours, patterns and designs, finely sewn by hand, making a very attractive bedspread. Each patch is lined with lawn. It is quite a heavy quilt, with its plain border, and backing of home-spun cotton or cesarine. The family always called it a 'cottage design'."
No quilting.
2312 x 1905mm
Jindera Pioneer Museum
Quilt made of 26 x 13 rectangles of woollen men's suiting samples. Each rectangle is about 70 x 130 mm. Wide variety of patterns, mainly stripes, and colous. The padding is part of a worn cream blanket and joined pieces of woollen clothing. The backing is a well worn piece of brushed cotton. Machine made.
11900 x 1870 mm