Quilt No.375MR - Max Robertson

Max Robertson
Owner: 
Max Robertson
Location: 
NSW Riverina
Maker
Maker: 
Norman Robertson
Made in
AUSTRALIA NSW
Patterms
Wholecloth, Traditional Wagga, Utilitarian, Typically Australian
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
This traditional Wagga rug is made from 4 jute wheat bags joined lengthwise (upopened) by sewing with a bag needle and twine. It did not have a cover. In the 1950s it was covered with striped cottage twill on both sides. Originally there was no padding and now the bags are the padding.
1950 x 1130mm
History: 

The Wagga Rug was made from 4 wheat bags by Norman Robertson and used on the beds in the family home at Coolamon. Max's daughter-in-law Mary purchased a new sewing machine in the mid 50s and decided to cover the Wagga Rug. She purchased striped cottage twill at Kelly and Cunningham in Wagga Wagga and put a wholecloth cover on it.
This Wagga Rug remains in the family, is valued and was used until about 1995.

Story: 

Norman Robertson worked on properties in the Coolamon district of NSW and also at Pike's flour mill. One of his jobs was sewing up bags of wheat on farms. He made the Wagga Rug to use on beds in the sleepout of the Coolamon house where the family slept summer and winter.
Max, Norman's son, born 1933 worked unloading wheat trucks on a Saturday morning when he was a schoolboy. Max later used the Wagga Rug on his many motor bike trips around Victoria and usually carried it in another wheat bag. In 1960 when Max and Mary were married they took the Wagga Rug (now covered with the twill) in their panel van.
The family still has the old style bag needle that was used in making the Wagga rugs.
[Refer to the excellent photographs in 'Coolamon Through the Eye of the Camera' Max Robertson especially pages 90 and 91, wheat at the railway yards.]

Related Quilts:

Yvonne Hamdorf
Quilt No.1016YH - Yvonne Hamdorf
Wholecloth pram quilt with a top of pink cotton sateen, and the reverse is a more finely woven, ivory, fabric. All over quilting design as main feature, with stylised hearts, leaves and cross hatching. The padding is cotton batting. 870 x 660 mm.
Wholecloth, Quilting as major design element
John Tomkin
Quilt No.1005JT - John Tomkin
Hand stitched, cotton, appliquéd, quilt in a flower pattern on a plain background. Colours are shades of green, apricot and browns. This quilt was known as a 'Bride's Quilt'. Padding is thought to be layers of white fabric raised almost like a wadding. The backing is cotton material. 2470 x 2020 mm.
Wholecloth, Embroidered and/or Appliqued
Narryna Heritage Museum
Quilt No.511NHM - Narryna Heritage Museum
Cotton applique quilt in 'Kentucky Rose' wreath pattern. Cream background with applique flowers in deep pink with green stems and leaves. The wreaths, each with 4 flowers, are repeated across the quilt. It is extensively hand quilted. The backing is cream finished cotton and the padding is cotton.
2300 x 2250
Wholecloth, Embroidered and/or Appliqued
Margery Creek for Eugene Creek
Quilt No.408MC - Margery Creek for Eugene Creek
Wholecloth polyester and cotton quilt in deep orange with centre frame of Creek family crest. The crest is machine zig zag appliqued to white background and has a black border. The quilt is machine sewn, hand quilted, has a white backing and a thin black binding on the border. The padding is polyester.
2235 x 1854mm
Wholecloth, Embroidered and/or Appliqued
National Gallery of Australia
Quilt No.979NGA - National Gallery of Australia
" Reversible patchwork quilt of woollen suiting/upholstery fabrics in khaki, greys, blues and browns. Both sides have different designs. The front of the quilt has 13 rows of 12 vertical rectangles flanked on either side by a column of 22 horizontal rectangles. The reverse has a more interesting and complex design of small and very large rectangles, squares and triangles; with khaki contrasting with the duller greys and blues. The patchwork layers are joined at the edges with machine stitching and the quilt is machine quilted along 3 horizontal lines following joins in the patchwork; therefore not being totally straight. These lines are more noticeable on the reverse. The reverse face has been on display at the NGA." [NGA] There is a cotton blanket used as padding. 2054 x 1451mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Rectangle, Typically Australian, Tailors' samples
Dorothy Stevens
Quilt No.88DS - Dorothy Stevens
Utilitarian quilt. Padding consists of recycled hand knitted jumper pieces (mainly 3 ply crepe and 8 ply) tacked to a layer of cotton material with strong buttonhole twist thread. The top is a piece of cotton fabric. Machine quilted in rows approximately 70mm apart.
1827 x 1423mm
Wholecloth, Re-used clothing or blanket, Utilitarian, Typically Australian