Quilt No.695HL - Heather Leonard

Heather Leonard
Owner: 
Heather Leonard
Location: 
VIC Melbourne
Maker
Maker: 
Hilda Kyffin
Made in
AUSTRALIA VIC
Patterms
Wholecloth, Re-used clothing or blanket, Utilitarian, Typically Australian
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
This 'Quilt' is made from an army great coat from the second world war. The seams have been unpicked and pieced together by machine zig-zagging the flat edges (with Singer treadle sewing machine). The pocket slits are turned back and seamed rather than being pared off. The outside edges are turned over and blanket stitched in red. It does not have a backing.
1620 x 1180mm
History: 

This blanket was made by Hilda Kyffin at her house in Moorabbin sometime post war. It is made from a great coat worn by her husband during the second world war. It was used to cover Hilda's double bed mattress against winter chills until 1985. It is now owned by her daughter and is not used.

Story: 

"My mother was incredibly resourceful having come from a family of seven children and struggled through the depression and the war. She had great respect for 'proper woollen material' which was strictly rationed in wartime����
My mother joined the Moorabbin Country Women's Association after the war and was a back bone member until 1985. She was active in crafts and charity work with them. Fortunately I have been able to save many examples of their traditional craft which she made. Re-using things was their stock in trade."
[Heather Leonard 20.10.2000]

Major Powell James Kiffin MC who owned the great coat
Major Powell James Kiffin MC who owned the great coat
Hilda Kiffin
Hilda Kiffin
The post war Housing Commission house at Moorabbin
The post war Housing Commission house at Moorabbin

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
Santa Maltese
Quilt No.398SM - Santa Maltese
A 'foot' quilt, "copri piedi" used on the bed. Pink satin top and blue satin backing. The pink top is hand embroidered in a trellis pattern in shadow stitch and within each section there are hand embroidered sprigs of flowers in silk threads. The whole top is elaborately quilted. The silk cord binding is twisted into four decorative loops at each corner. There is a thick padding of cotton grown locally in Sicily.
1260 x 650mm
Wholecloth, Quilting as major design element
The Pioneer Women's Hut
Quilt No.595PWH - The Pioneer Women's Hut
Double sided utility quilt made from machine pieced squares of tailors' samples and men's and boy's suitings. The padding is 5 or 6 layers of pieced used clothing including darned, threadbare socks, part jumpers, blanket pieces etc.
2090 x 1340mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Square, Typically Australian, Tailors' samples
Agapi Naoumidis
Quilt No.798AN - Agapi Naoumidis
Wholecloth quilt made of deep cherry red satin with a cotton backing of a lighter red colour. The padding is wool. The quilting pattern comprises twelve squares, each approximately 350mm with a four leaf pattern in each. The border is straight and wavy parallel lines.
2000 x 1820mm
Wholecloth, Quilting as major design element, Greek
National Musuem of Australia
Quilt No.890NMA - National Musuem of Australia
Patchwork quilt with alternate squares of green and fawn cotton headcloth. Various Australian wild flowers are embroidered in coloured threads in the green squares. In the fawn squares there is a stylised flower and leaf pattern outlined in embroidery. The border, front and back is green headcloth. The backing is printed cotton with a floral design. There is some padding.
1610 x 1610mm
Patchwork, Pieced Repeat Block, Typically Australian, Motifs or Names