Motifs or Names Quilts

Barbara Bullock
This Adelaide Chronicle quilt or cover is made from white cotton headcloth. A double band of green headcloth 105mm wide is attached with hemstitching. The top is divided into 225 x 210mm blocks also with green hemstitching. Each alternate block features stylised leatherwood flower and leaves and is embroidered in apricot stranded cotton. The alternate blocks feature other Australian wild flowers. The cover is entirely hand sewn. There is no backing.
2170 x 1970mm
Alys Mercer
This Adelaide Chronicle quilt or bedcover is single thickness white linen with a double thickness wide green border hemstitched in place. The cover is divided into blocks and in each alternate block an Australian bird has been worked in fancywork using stranded cottons.
2019 x 1144mm
David Beasley
Pictorial quilt, pieced randomly from wool. Hand appliqued and embroidered. It has a central Miss Muffet theme with the spider and cattle under a tree. There is a 'Centenary Border 1836 - 1936' and an inscription 'Good Times, Let's Look Back'. The backing is 2 pieces of plaid suiting in grey/blues.
2000 x 1490mm
The Embroiderers' Guild of S.A.Inc Museum
An Adelaide Chronicle bird quilt. Alternate squares of green and fawn headcloth embroidered with native birds in fawn squares, butterflies in outline, beige threads, in green squares. Bordered and backed with the same green fabric. It is padded.
2390 x 1530mm
Sheila Bruhn
Quilt constructed of blocks of hexagons with 72 'flower' rosettes made from plain and printed cotton scraps. The centre of each rosette has the name of one of the Girl Guides embroidered on it. The one in the centre of the quilt has the Trefoil insignia outlined in satin stitch. The background is white hexagons. There is no padding and it is backed with white cotton. 1880 x 960mm
Australian War Memorial
"Quilt made up of 66 embroidered squares, each 'signed' in embroidery with the maker(s) name. All the squares are edged with turkey red chain-stitch. The squares are bounded by a broad white cotton border, and the same material has been used as a backing. The back of the quilt has black embroidery stating 'Presented by the women of Changi internment camp 2602 (the number of the Japanese year corresponding with our 1942) to the wounded Nipponese soldiers with our sympathy for their suffering. It is our wish that on the cessation of hostilities that this quilt be presented to the Japanese Red Cross Society. It is advisable to dry clean this quilt." [Australian War Memorial]
2090 x 1360mm
Mrs Noleen Carthew
A pictorial quilt entitled 'A Farmer's Home'. Wool, squares and oblongs pieced randomly. On these are appliqued pieces depicting aspects of family and farm life including the farm house, washing on the line, sheep, cattle, kangaroos. It is all hand sewn apart from the backing which is machined directly on to the top. The backing is red paisley cotton.
2090 x 1600mm
Australian War Memorial
"Quilt made up of 66 embroidered squares, each 'signed' in embroidery with the maker(s) name. All the squares are edged with turkey red chain-stitch. The squares are bounded by a broad white cotton border, and the same material has been used as a backing. The back of the quilt has red embroidery stating 'Presented by the women of Changi internment camp 1942 to the wounded Australian soldiers with our sympathy for their suffering. It is our wish that on the cessation of hostilities that this quilt be presented to the Australian Red Cross Society. It is advisable to dry clean this quilt." [Australian War Memorial]
2000 x 1300mm
Quilt made of squares of calico joined together. These have embroidered signatures of army personnel and names of battles zones, from World War I. It is lined with muslin.
2000 x 1500mm
Wholecloth quilt of cream cotton embroidered in lemon thread with names of teachers and students. No filling. Backing is of cream cotton.
1830 x 1250mm
Crazy patchwork quilt in silks and velvets. Some patches with embroidered flowers, including wattle, worked in chenille thread. Machine quilting. There is a border of velvet. The backing is silk and has an envelope opening edged with silk cord. There is no padding. There is a matching nightgown sachet.
Norma Gilchrist
Cotton cot quilt in checkerboard pattern. 30 squares each 180mm machined together. Alternate squares have Australian birds fancyworked in stem stitch and chain stitch using 2 threads of coloured stranded cotton. Alternate squares are plain royal blue and there is a royal blue border 120mm wide. The backing is the same royal blue cotton.
1340 x 1070mm
This is an Adelaide Chronicle pattern reprinted in 'The Weekly Times'.
Patchwork on canvas lining. Feather stitching around squares. Pattern of cricketers and kangaroos on backing.
1200 x 800mm
Wholecloth quilt of white linen with signatures embroidered in satin and stem stitch. Approximately 400 signatures as well as the names of district servicemen are arranged in flower shapes and geometric grids. Embroidered title on the quilt reads: 'Rylstone Autograph Quilt. For our Australian wounded, Dardanelles, 1915.' There is no backing.
2580 x 1730mm
"This unusual quilt is comprised of bands of horticultural show ribbons machined onto a blue lining. The ribbons are royal blue in colour and printed in gold/bronze with two inscriptions.
KYOGLE P.A & H SOCIETY and TWEED RIVER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
The quilt has been formed so the two inscriptions alternate down the face of the quilt. The ribbons appear to be of rayon. White cotton machine thread was used in the construction. Accompanying the quilt is a carry bag; a rectangular bag made of the same show ribbons as the quilt with a single drawstring at the top." [NGA] The quilt is not padded. 1833 x 1410mm
"This coverlet is of white cheesecloth, decorated with bands of appliquéd patchwork, figures and poetry. The sides carry vertical bands and down the left hand side these are interspersed with small diamonds. Down the centre are several panels of appliquéd images. Animated and floral motifs decorate the top and lower two panels. The upper central panel has a family image: dad with cane, mum with parasol, followed by two daughters, the larger one carrying a small baby. A poem 'A Last Day' is inscribed in the lower LHS�.."Each day is a test day And may decide My fate for aye Beyond deaths tide."
Primarily cotton fabrics have been used for the appliqué work. The embroidery of the inscription is in black wool. All stitching is by hand and quite crudely executed��In addition to the embroidery, there are tassels. Sequins and ribbon embroidery used to decorate the illustrated sections." [NGA]

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