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:

Phyllis Dowling
Hand pieced cot quilt made from small rectangular shapes of a great variety of materials including cottons, silks, wools and velvets. The backing is cotton sateen in 3 colours and is brought to the front to form a border of pink, cream and yellow.
1170 x 920mm
Margery Creek
Cotton quilt made in the USA. The pattern is 'Double Irish Chain'. It is machine pieced and hand quilted. The backing is calico and the padding is cotton,
2134 x 2134mm
Mr. Michael and Mrs. Mary Dilworth
Pieced repeat block, hand pieced over papers in a diamond pattern. Blue patterned border. There is no padding and the quilt has been recently backed with calico. The 2 layers are tied together. 2240 x 1830 mm.
The Pyramid Hill Historical Society Inc.
This unfinished cover has a centre frame of a simple block. There are alternating plain and patterned borders including sword tooth, flying geese and squares on point. It is hand pieced with plain and twill weave cottons, variety of stripes, checks, florals and plains. There is no backing.
1800 x 1800mm
N.S.W. Parks and Wildlife Service
Crazy patchwork on to foundation material with the edges of the pieces turned under and machined. It is not quilted. A 25mm red binding has been machined on. There is no padding. The backing is red wholecloth cotton.
1940 x 1540mm
National Gallery of Australia
" Reversible patchwork quilt of woollen suiting in grey, blue, navy, maroon and brown. The fabrics appear to be new tailor's sample pieces (the sizing is still present on the fabric, signifying it has never been washed). The patches are rectangular and vary in size. Both sides have different designs. The front of the quilt has 4 rows of 12 vertical rectangles then below this are 4 rows of 7 horizontal rectangles followed below by 4 rows of 11 vertical rectangles. The reverse of the quilt has a section at the top and bottom composed of 5 rows of 9 horizontal rectangles. The central area is made up of a centre section of 6 rows of 5 vertical rectangles; flanked on either side by a column of 10 horizontal rectangles and two columns of 8 smaller vertical rectangles.
The patchwork layers are joined at the edges with machine stitching. The patchwork layers and padding are machine quilted on the front down 2 vertical lines following joins in the patchwork; therefore not being totally straight. The lines are more noticeable on the reverse as the 2 sides do not match. The front face is displayed at the NGA.
Between the patchwork layers is a striped cotton blanket in black, sky blue, white and cream." [NGA]
2082 x 1386mm