Quilt No.57SC - Sallie Cross

Sallie Cross
Owner: 
Sallie Cross
Location: 
NSW Central West
Maker
Maker: 
Unknown
Made in
CANADA
Date: 
1901 - 1920
Description: 
Patchwork quilt of pieced repeat blocks in 'T' pattern,mainly cottons. Quilt is constructed with 12 blocks across and 12 blocks down. Some fabrices have been reused from clothing, some blocks have patches which have been pieced from scraps to make enough fabric for the pattern. Padding is' pellon', quilt is backed, bound and quilted.
1600 x 1500mm
History: 

Pieced quilt top bougnt at auction in London, Ontario, Canada in 1987 by the owner. Quilt top finished, padding, backing, quilting and binding, by owner's mother.

Story: 

"I purchased this quilt unfinished at a deceased estate auction sale in London, Ontario, Canada in sept 1987 whilst holidaying there. I gave it to my mother who completed it. She completed it with pellon wadding, backing and quilted it. The fabric is small prints, checks, dull colours, no greens or bright colours. Some fabrics appear 'pre-loved', I.e. used in men's shirts, aprons etc, Some blocks contain fabric which has been stitched together to obtain maximum use of all scraps. Some 'Ts' are made of similar coloured fabrics, others are constructed of the same fabric. My mother feels this is an early 20th century piece."
[It is not known who pieced the top.] "At the time I was not interested in patchwork and quilting myself - now I do regret not getting more information on the day of purchase."
"At the auction sale the quilt was stored in a rusty old tin trunk. The auctioneer was having trouble getting a bid, when he opened the lid and pulled out the quilt I immediately said $5.00 and it was mine - not one bid against me."
[Sallie Cross 29.8.96]

Related Quilts:

Wanda McPherson
Patchwork quilt made from pure wool suiting samples in shades of navy blue and brown. Quilt is constructed in 11 rows containing 11 pieces. Each piece is 14cm x 9cm. No padding. Backing is of mauve cotton with a floral pattern of closely spaces white/pale mauve flowers.
1480 x 900mm
Bob Sloan
Double sided quilt made from all wool worsted suiting samples. Machine construction. There is no padding.
1840 x 1330mm
National Gallery of Australia
"This is not a true quilt, but a pieced coverlet with a lining. The entire front face of the quilt is of pieced hexagonal and part hexagonal printed cotton patches. Pieces are joined with hand sewn over casting stitches of many different coloured cotton threads. The joining of the patches forms a 'daisy' pattern in some areas and in others it is random. The edge of the front face of the quilt carries a 40mm strip of cotton Chinoiserie which is then folded to the reverse of the quilt and becomes part of the lining. The template for the hexagon patches remains in many of the patches: writing paper and news print." [NGA]
The work is not padded "The lining at the edge of the quilt (for approx.175mm) is a plain weave fabric of a Chinoiserie design. The centre field of the lining is a rectangular panel of a twill weave brushed cotton fabric with a striped floral design." [NGA] 2215 x 2070mm
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
Ruth Nash Allen
Quilt based on 70mm block. Cottons and rayon's with some reused materials. Machine pieced, hand quilted. Backing is mid blue cotton brought over to the front and machined to form a binding. Padding is probably cotton.
2510 x 1850mm
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