Quilt No.384LO'G - Lynette O'Grady

Lynette O'Grady
Owner: 
Lynette O'Grady
Location: 
NSW South Coast
Maker
Maker: 
Women of Reorganised Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Made in
USA
Date: 
1901 - 1920
Description: 
Quilt with white background and blocks in blue and green. 'Robbing Peter to Pay Paul' pattern. Plain blue border. Hand pieced and quilted. Quilt was cut down, worn center piece discarded then quilt pieces rejoined. A cover for the pillow was made from scraps when quilt was cut down.
1930 x 1740mm
History: 

The quilt was made by the ladies of the Reorganised Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for Lily Balmour in America (probably Salt Lake City) about 1915. Lily, who was the great aunt of the present owner, gave it to her sister, the owner's grandmother, probably in the 1930s when she had returned to Australia. On her death it passed to her daughter, Lynette O'Grady's Mother (1950s) and then to Lynette in the late 1970s

Story: 

"The quilt was made for my great aunt Lily Balmour (nee White). Lily was married to an American - Alma Balmour, who was an elder / Missionary in the Reorganised Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint. She travelled with him for his work and after a period in America they were returning to Australia and the ladies of the church made her the quilt as a parting gift. My great aunt eventually gave the quilt to my grandmother (her sister). Because of her constant travelling she had to limit her luggage. The quilt was on the bed in the spare room at my grandmother's home for many years. My grandmother being a very 'practical' woman, as the quilt began to wear, cut it down the center to put the inside out. On her death my mother had it for a while and then she gave it to me. Thirteen years ago we had a house fire. It survived with some scorch marks. We are not sure of the age of the quilt. My Mother is now in a nursing home and is vague about its history."
[Lynette O'Grady 1.8.98]

Related Quilts:

Narelle Grieve
Silk quilt in diamonds with hexagon border. "Toward the edge of the quilt, the design of diamonds made into blocks offers an optical illusion, where the diamonds can be seen to form stars. The border is made up of these stars and half-diamonds, and the entire quilt is trimmed with lace and triangular flaps made of tiny hexagons." [extract unidentified magazine article supplied by quilt owner.]
The backing is maroon cotton. 1600 x 1600 mm.
Daphne Akehurst
Quilt in a wide variety of patterned and plain hexagons in cotton with a wide green border. There is no padding and the backing is cotton.
2500 x 2200mm
Ann Hockey
Patchwork quilt made from rectangles of samples of men's woollen suitings, in greys and blues and some browns. The rectangles were machine sewn together and then sewn in rows or strips. Originally the quilt had a rabbit skin backing, removed due to deterioration. No padding. Machine sewn.
1550 x 1420mm
Queen Victoria Musuem and Art Gallery
Quilt with log cabin blocks forming centre rectangle with border of crazy patchwork, in silks and velvets, handsewn on to backing of blue, beige, white woven cotton. Log cabin blocks are in rich dark and light rows forming diagonal stripes. The crazy patchwork has edges decorated with yellow and cream feather stitch. Mostly plain materials with some checks and stripes. The quilt appears to have had the edges cut down. The outer border is a dark blue figured velvet. There is no padding and the backing is maroon silk with a woven yellow motif.
1655 x 1215mm
Evelyn McAlister
Quilt made from dressmaking materials in a design probably made up by the maker but resembling 'Courthouse Steps'. The outer border of each block is mitred. Originally it was reversible but during restoration the back was brought to the front, doubling the size of the quilt. The padding is old woollen materials. The backing is a new piece of floral material. It is now machine quilted.
1830 x 1220mm
Janine and Eva Chick
Hexagon quilt, hand sewn, using a wide variety of patterned and plain cotton scraps left over from dressmaking. 6 hexagons are placed around a centre one. There is no padding. The backing is brown flannel turned over to the front with hexagons hand stitched to it.
1220 x 763mm