Quilt No.783CN - Charlotte Nattey

Charlotte Nattey
Owner: 
Charlotte Nattey
Location: 
ACT
Maker
Maker: 
Frances Donaldson
Made in
IRELAND Ballycastle
Patterms
Patchwork, Frame
Date: 
1881 - 1900
Description: 
Quilt in cottons and linens with the centre frame featuring an eight pointed star surrounded by borders of pieced diamonds, squares, stars and long sashing pieces. The entire quilt has been overstitched in a chevron running stitch 15mm apart. If there is padding it has flattened completely. The backing is heavy twill weave linen.
2020 x 1830mm
History: 

The quilt was made by Mrs. Frances Donaldson in Ballycastle northern Ireland c. 1900. Frances was the great grandmother of the present owner, Charlotte Nattey. It was previously owned by Charlotte's grandmother, Mrs. Millington and then her aunt Miss Mildred Millington. It is not used now.

Story: 

"My great grandmother was a wonderful needlewoman - mind you she did nothing else! She was in a position to have all the staff she required and spent her life indulging her passion! She made beautiful Carrickmacross lace - collars, cuffs, wedding veils etc and I understand was involved in that cottage industry. She also embroidered prolifically - from babies dresses to blouses, hankies, nightdresses etc. One amazing piece I have is about 2.5 metres of heavy broderie anglais of about 70cm deep which I understand was my grandmother's tennis dress!! ����
After her husband (a bank manager) died she divided her life into 2, 6 months at a time with each of her 2 daughters.
She obviously retained control of the family's sewing, as my aunt remembers that no one else was allowed to do a buttonhole, as she could do them so much better! My aunt also told me that during the 'Great War' she put her energies into knitting and could turn 4 pairs of sock heels a day - her maids finished off the tops! My aunt also remembers having to keep up the balls of wool and winding them from skeins draped over chair backs. My aunt was born in 1910, she must have been quite small.
I am the present custodian of the lace, embroidery and quilt."
[Charlotte Nattey 6.4.97]

Franmces Donaldson and her daughter, Edith Mary Millington
Franmces Donaldson and her daughter, Edith Mary Millington

Related Quilts:

Diana Cameron
Quilt No.529DC - Diana Cameron
Square quilt top. Floral centre piece with borders of squares set in a diamond pattern. Squares are in plain colours and patterns. There is no padding or backing.
920 x 920mm
Patchwork, Frame
Muriel Thompson
Quilt No.1001MT - Muriel Thompson
Hexagon quilt in pattern known as 'Grandmother's flower garden'. Hexagons of prints and plains with yellow centre to each flower, and plain pink outlines. It is hand pieced and hand quilted. Padding is cotton, backing is cream cotton. 2200 x 2000 mm.
Patchwork, Pieced Repeat Block
Alicia Murdoch
Quilt No.680AM - Alicia Murdoch
Cotton quilt with central frame and radiating borders mainly in squares in pinks and blues, printed materials and plain. The padding is cotton wool and the backing is off white cotton.
2040 x 1800mm
Patchwork, Frame
West Australian Quilters' Association
Quilt No.1102WAQA - West Australian Quilters' Association
The quilt is a repeat block in the Ohio Star pattern in turkey red and cream. Quilted in squares in the cream block and diagonal lines in the star block. The fabric border is disintegrating. The backing is cream calico and the padding is cotton, badly degraded. 1940 x 1760mm.
Patchwork, Pieced Repeat Block
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
Annette Gero
Quilt No.859AG - Annette Gero
Hand pieced log cabin quilt in silks, satins and velvets. There is a silk backing machined on, possiby a later addition. The quilt has over 5000 pieced.
1820 x 1680mm
Patchwork, Pieced Repeat Block, Log Cabin, Pieced Random