Quilt No.339JE - Joanne Evers

Owner: 
Joanne Evers
Location: 
NSW South Coast
Maker
Maker: 
Dorothy Evers
Made in
AUSTRALIA NSW
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Patchwork quilt made of gathered circles stitched into a square shape. Made of scraps of fabrics from the depression period. The maker called the shapes 'squirkles'. No padding. Quilt is lined.
2100 x 1400mm
History: 

Made in 1960 by Dorothy Evers at Maroubra (NSW). Previously owned by Dorothy, now owned by her daughter Joanne Evers.

Story: 

"During WWI there was an influenza epidemic. My two sisters were ill and confined to bed. (Masks had to be worn by the public). I was not allowed near them but mother gave them a task to do, sewing little circles of white cotton material into little 'mob caps'. 12 each per day, and they called them '12 apostles'. I learned how to make them too. Later they were sewn together and made into pillow shams.
The depression started around 1929, I met my husband to be and we became engaged, then firms closed, jobs were lost, and Tom Evers' place of work closed - he was a tailor's cutter. The next 4 years were heartbreaking, any sort of job was tried, nothing was permanent, suits were the last thing to be acquired. Finally he got the job of cutting in a manufacturing Tailors, and if he could hold that for one year we would marry.
Meantime, I was sewing little 'mob caps' in coloured and printed materials, cotton and rayon mostly, materials were scarce and expensive but there were lots of little left over bits from dressmaking and many pieces were given to me, as a result we had 2 lovely Quilts that covered 3/4 beds right over. I used black sateen to line them. Tom said 'they are round circles, yet they look square' and called them 'squirkles' a name that is very descriptive, and is still used today by me and many others.
Those first quilts lasted nearly 20 years, faded a lot and some squirkles fell to pieces so I discarded them.
Since then I have made new quilts every now and then, at times rayon rotted, so cotton is my favourite material. I have used good, firm material to back them, once dark green, another bright navy; once fawn, but that was very disappointing, the dark backing brought out the colours.
I made one about 1964 which I gave to Joanne, my daughter in law and she is still using it in 1998.
� altogether I've made 12 quilts for 3/4 beds, 1 Knee rug, 5 cot covers and about 4 cushions since 1929, and whenever I see a small piece of suitable material around I can still make a squirkle 'just in case'. I think I always shall as I still make my own dresses."
[letter from Dorothy Evers, 1998.]

Related Quilts:

Lorna Calder
Patchwork quilt of multi coloured silks and brocades. Crazy patchwork borders, mainly rectangular fabrics pieced together in diagonal patterns, radiating from a central frame embroidered with flowers. Many pieces are extensively embroidered in a great variety of stitches and motifs; butterflies, sunflowers, cats, daffodils, crown, pawn broker's symbol, 'money to lend', 'good night', the initials of family members and 'mater 1890'. The quilt has a deep border of maroon sateen. There is no padding visible but it is possibly a blanket. The backing is green/gold silk with a self stripe with red cotton damask showing underneath, possibly an earlier backing.
2165 x 2165mm
Anne Langford
Hexagon quilt with rosettes centred in an all over diamond pattern. It is hand pieced and hand quilted. All the materials are either linen or pure cotton. The quilt is padded with batting (American) and the backing is floral cotton.
2360 x 1800mm
Elsie Shephard
Double sided patchwork quilt/rug constructed from squares machined together in strips and then the strips joined. It is made in one piece and then doubled over. The materials are mainly wool, worsted, part cream machine made jumper, pink and blue mohair, blue and white spotted flannelette and cream blanket and all are scraps or from worn clothing.
1690 x 1370mm
Art Gallery of South Australia
Patchwork quilt or table covering dark and light silks in bright colours, pieced from diamond shapes into stars with black patches between the stars. Plain and patterned silks are used for the stars. Border is made from a single row of Tumbling Blocks in plain silks with an edging on each side of truncated black diamonds on blue on the inside, orange on the outer edge. There is a star pieced of diamonds in each corner. Hand sewn.
1830 x 1800mm
The Queensland Women's Historical Assoc.
Wool patches in large Tumbling Block pattern. Plain colours, blues, orange, gree, red. Seams are over embroidered with silk thread in herringbone stitch. Backing is 'Molleton', red with yellow pansy design.
2490 x 2236mm
Julie Pearce
Rectangular quilt of print and plain cottons pieced in squares and rectangles, the centre group of pieces surround a larger piece of pale blue fabric, within a frame or border, of bright pink material, then 3 rows of squares and rectangles. Backing of plain fabric. Machine stitched on a treadle machine.