Quilt No.794JS - Jill Scheetz
Description:
Quilt made from 'blue bags' joined as small squares in rows. Approximately 180 blue bags in total. There is a frill around all sides.
History:
The blue bags were collected by Elizabeth Jackson Cox (born Ellis) who made them into a table cloth which she later gave to her grand-daughter, Jill Scheetz. Jill made it into a quilt to use on her children's cots. It is not used now.
Story:
Elizabeth Jackson Cox was born at Docker's Plains Vic. in 1895 and died in 1985. She collected the blue bags over a very long period. Elizabeth Cox was the maternal grandmother of the present owner.
'Blue Bags' were small squares of a fine open weave cotton containing knobs of an ultramarine mixture. They were dunked in the rinsing water at the end of a wash to make clothes and household linen look brighter.
Related Quilts:
Machine made cotton quilt with 100mm cotton squares placed diagonally with peaks running around the edge. The colours are mainly autiumn tones and the patterns include checks, tartans, florals, geometric and plains. Materials were scraps left over from sewing projects such as children's clothes. There is a matching valance.
Quilt has a centre panel of white velvet roses and green leaves with embroidered spider webs, on red velvet. Two side panels are in crazy patchwork in plain and patterned silks and velvets. All patches are edged with feather, herringbone or blanket stitch. Many patches are embroidered, including 'Minnie', 'Good Luck', birds, flowers, anchor, boat, fish, shell, spider web, crown,, 2 crossed flags, tennis racquets, Australian motifs including wattle. The centre panel has a row of ruched olive green ribbon each side and the whole quilt has a border of dark blue velvet. The padding is cotton wadding and the backing is cream cotton printed with red and pink chrysanthemums and green leaves.
2113 x 1995mm
2113 x 1995mm
Crazy patchqork quilt, handsewn, composed of six large squares of patches in brocade, velvet and silk in random shapes and sizes. Patches are stitched to others by blanket stitch in yellow thread. Some patches have surface embroidery, e.g. a dragonfly, flowers, music notes, and names, 'Minnie', 'Loyetta' (house in Ballarat), 'Diana'. There are also five small cream bobbles. Colours are red, gold, brown, pinks, greens and blues. Padding is flannel, and quilt is backed and edged with maroon or burgundy ribbed silk.
1461mm x 687mm
1461mm x 687mm
Patchwork top made of cottons, constructed with 5 by 5 rows of squared 8 point pieced stars alternating with white cross-shaped blocks (made from 4 pieces). On all sides are borders of half stars. The outer border is of rectangles of cotton prints appliquéd on to cotton to form a plaited pattern. The border only is backed with a band of cream cotton. All patches are whip stitched together.
2645 x 2615mm
2645 x 2615mm
Cotton scrap quilt with shapes of squares and diamonds and strips. There is no padding and the backing is calico.
2125 x 1440mm
2125 x 1440mm
Wholecloth quilt originally covered with cretonne and recovered with orange satin. Machine quilted. Padding of wool.
1270 x 1160mm
1270 x 1160mm