QUILTS IN THE LIBRARY – Erindale Library, 133 McBryde Cres, Wanniassa ACT
A Selection of Quilts made before 1986
Canberra Quilters Inc celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2016 and this exhibition of quilts is the first of four to be shown this year – one from each decade. These quilts were all completed between 1976 and 1985.
The fabrics and colours used in them reflect the fashions of that time as do the blocks used by the quiltmakers. The tools used to make them were basic compared with all the tools and gadgets available to make quiltmaking easier today, particularly for cutting out the patches! Most, if not all of the quilts, are made almost entirely by hand – hand pieced and hand quilted and the pieces were cut using scissors.
We hope you enjoy them
| The Quilts | size (cms) | |
| 1 | Robyn Oats
In the last 30 years this sampler quilt has spent at least 20 years on a bed, hence the fading. It was made by hand and took 3 years to complete. |
225 x 255 |
| 2 | Pat Savas
This quilt is made with the traditional Churn Dash block in fabrics sourced in Canberra. |
240 x 237 |
| 3 | Grace Stewart
This traditional hexagon coverlet was made by Grace and her mother over a period covering almost 30 years. It was completed by Grace in the early 1980’s. |
177 x 247 |
| 4 | Wendy Saclier
A beautiful applique quilt made by Wendy and her mother Vivienne Mildren. A family treasure. |
198 x 224 |
| 5 | Iris Hockley
A doona cover made by Iris and called Arctic Flame. It has not been used and the colours are as bright as when it was made.” |
142 x 205 |
| 6 | Dianne Firth
A Kimono which matches the quilt on the reverse side and still used by Dianne’s daughter when she visits. |
Kimono |
| 7 | Dianne Firth
Some of the fabric in this quilt was over-dyed by Dianne to achieve the colour gradations not possible with the fabrics commercially available in Canberra at the time. |
140 x 194 |
| 8 | Elizabeth Rose
A traditional Log Cabin block in crisp colours which are as fresh as today’s “modern” quilts. |
190 x 190 |
| 9 | Joan Porta
This quilt was a very early one made by Joan with her daughter. We all remember the mission brown so fashionable in the 70’s and early 80’s along with the other toning colours used in this quilt. |
128 x 172 |