Quilt No.663CR - Constance Real

Constance Real
Owner: 
Constance Real
Location: 
QLD South East
Maker
Maker: 
Constance Real
Made in
AUSTRALIA QLD
Patterms
Patchwork, Mosaic, Hexagon
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Quilt of hand sewn cotton hexagons arranged in rosettes or 'flowers'. The padding is seedless cotton imported from America and the backing is madapolin. The scraps for the hexagons came from old dresses and especially from the owner's children's clothes.
2591 x 2337mm
History: 

Constance Real made this hexagon quilt in Kingaroy Queensland c.1960 and she is still the owner.

Story: 

Connie Real started quilting in the 1950s. "She knew nothing about the craft and started from scratch." In the 1960s Connie was influenced by an article in the New Idea magazine on Mrs. Bland a Canadian woman married to an Englishman and living in Melbourne. The article promoted quilting and referred to American designs such as 'Ohio Rose', 'Triple Sunflower', 'Daddy Hex' and 'Double Wedding Ring'.
"In the 1970s interest was growing in Queensland and as people saw Connie's work they too wanted to know how to do it. Interest was also stimulated through CWA meetings and eventually in 1978 Connie began the first patchwork group in the Darling Downs when she was asked to tutor a full and enthusiastic class at the Summer school in Toowoomba. A further class was begun by Connie in her home town of Kingaroy in 1980. Due to her enthusiasm and strong direction a very strong group was established there and in the surrounding districts. These are alive and flourishing today, regularly attracting new devotees to a wonderful craft. Over the years Connie can count back to a figure of 200 women who have joined her group enjoying what she calls 'this fabulous pastime'. Connie is an original member of the Queensland Quilters Inc. which began in 1984 as an organisational guild for meetings in Brisbane, becoming the Queensland Quilters Inc. in 1988."
[Extract from notes from a friend of Constance Real, Qld, 1998]

Constance Real 1998
Constance Real 1998

Related Quilts:

National Gallery of Australia
Quilt No.965NGA - National Gallery of Australia
"This quilt follows the traditional hexagon patchwork pieced pattern, which are then joined and sometimes edged with a contrasting border. The edges of the quilt have been turned and then scalloped edges made of identical patches to the main body of the quilt have been attached to the edge. The quilt is fully lined, and the lining is visible front the front face through the gaps between the scalloped edge. The lining is attached to the patchwork with a row of stitches along the edges; there are no stitches in the centre field. The fabrics of the quilt are plain weave cotton in simple floral and geometric designs. Most of the fabrics are monochromatic. Several different colour ways of the same fabric are evident which could suggest some fabrics were from manufacturer samples. The lining is a William Morris print.
Each of the patchwork pieces (there are several thousand present) are sewn together with very fine overcasting stitches. The quilt is entirely hand sewn. There is some evidence that templates from the hexagon pieces possibly blotting paper, remain in situ���The quilt is not padded or quilted. The lining is fine twill weave cotton printed in pink and pale purple. The design follows William Morris's 'Strawberry Thief design'." [NGA] 2075 x 1911mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Hexagon
National Trust of Australia (SA)
Quilt No.297NTA - National Trust of Australia (SA)
Patchwork frame quilt made from cotton prints. Quilt centre has four pieced squares set within a star shaped border of square patches, set within a square frame (74cm square) edged with half triangles, then set within a red frame (114cm x 114 cm), diamond shaped or 'on point'. In the 4 triangles are double diamond shapes, then a wide border of squares and 'square within a square' patches with red triangles. Red binding. Padding is probably wool. Backing is a cotton print in browns in a floral paisley. All over quilting. Handsewn.
1880 x 1850mm
Patchwork, Frame
Annette Gero
Quilt No.857AG - Annette Gero
This domestic Wagga is two layers of woollen army blankets with the top layer in rectangles joined in rows. The backing is hessian bags that originally contained meat meal.
11650 x 1130mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Typically Australian, Domestic Wagga
Nancy Dunlap
Quilt No.1097ND - Nancy Dunlap
Quilt top in block design based on hexagons in a variety of patterned cotton with a plain pink hexagon in the centre. The hexagons are linked by triangles of pink cotton. Cottons include florals, stripes, checks, tartans and novelty prints. 2080 x 2300mm
Patchwork, Pieced Repeat Block
The Pioneer Women's Hut
Quilt No.601PWH - The Pioneer Women's Hut
Single bed quilt made up entirely of hexagons in 'Granny's Flower Garden' pattern. The rosettes are made up of 8 hexagons and a central one. Native flower prints, including wattle, on a white background. Plain hexagons in white, yellow and blue form a scalloped border. Hexagons are hand stitched and the 2 layers are quilted in running stitch. The backing is a pieced sheet.
2400 x 1500mm
Patchwork, Pieced Repeat Block, Typically Australian, Motifs or Names
Jindera Pioneer Museum
Quilt No.76JPM - Jindera Pioneer Museum
Quilt made of 26 x 13 rectangles of woollen men's suiting samples. Each rectangle is about 70 x 130 mm. Wide variety of patterns, mainly stripes, and colous. The padding is part of a worn cream blanket and joined pieces of woollen clothing. The backing is a well worn piece of brushed cotton. Machine made.
11900 x 1870 mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Typically Australian, Tailors' samples