In 2020 during the period of lockdown due to COVID the National Wool Museum asked their volunteers to make and donate blocks made from a variety of materials found in their homes, for an ISO quilt. The NWM reached out to the patchwork and quilter community to find a local quilter to sew the donated blocks together. The quilt is sewn together and quilted by Judith Oke, 2020-2021. Judith is a local patchwork and quilter and a member of Geelong Patchwork & Quilters Guild. Through the process she was inspired by the tradition of wagga quilts, where bits and pieces are stitched together, sometimes lined with whatever the sewer found available, such as clothing and sacking, to provide warmth. In construction of the finished quilt the challenge was combining 10 inch blocks made from a variety of materials, with uneven sizing. The aim was to combine these very different blocks into a harmonious whole. To this end a light and dark pattern was planned, with the blocks to be sewn onto a blanket. The choice to layer the blocks over each other, rather than sew an even seam was aimed at emphasizing the make do nature of these ISO blocks. Due to the weight of the blanket a decision was made to sew the blocks onto a base before the whole was stitched onto the blanket. The blanket was sourced from NWM donations. The rich, red of the blanket provides a bright, warm background for the colourful squares. Some of the light weight blocks were backed with iron-on interfacing to strengthen them for sewing. The edges of two of the woven squares were blanket stitched with knitting wool. The 10 inch donated blocks/squares were machine sewn to a cotton sheet base, with liberal use of blanket stitching, as the blanket was too heavy to sew the blocks directly onto the blanket. The base with squares was then machine sewn onto the red blanket backing.Various multi coloured and designed patchwork squares sewn onto a red woollen blanket. isolation, covid, quilt, wool

Blanket labels for Physician blankets.Red text and red and black image of woman lying in bed (printed) on white background. 'Holes' around edges used for stitching onto blankets.Physician standard chill-proof pure wool blanket made in Australiaweaving, collins bros mill pty ltd

These items were made as samplers either at school or most likely college. They are samples of embroidery stitches, seam types and sewing and knitting techniques.Nos 1-16 are group of samplers made from cotton lawn, cotton with sateen weave and flannel and made by Ruth McGannon. No 17 is a pair of gloves made by Margaret Russell. .1) A small square of yellow lawn with three horizontal rows in blue thread and three vertical rows in red thread of running stitch each 3.5 centimeters apart. The edges are frayed to 1.2 centimeters. .2) A larger rectangle of yellow lawn with three horizontal rows 7.8 centimeters apart and three vertical rows 10 centimeters apart of long stitch, stitched in blue thread. The edges are frayed to 2 centimeters. .3) A small square of yellow lawn with three horizontal rows and three vertical rows of blue thread of running stitch, each 1.9 centimeters apart. The edges are frayed to 1.5 centimeters. .4) A larger rectangle of yellow lawn with three horizontal rows 9 centimeters apart and three vertical rows 11.2 centimeters apart of running stitch, stitched in red thread. The edges are hemmed with two rows of long stitch .5 centimeter apart with a loose blue thread of laced running stitch weaving in and out of the red long stitch. .5) A rectangle of hemmed yellow lawn with a pocket formed at each end. Two rows of long stitch in red thread hem the edges with a blue thread stitched between each red stitch. The pockets are formed by turning back the edges and stitching them down in brown thread. R.M. is embroidered in brown chain stitch on the right side. .6) A rectangle of hemmed blue lawn the same as the previous piece but with five rows of back stitch in yellow and orange thread creating a pattern. .7) A rectangle of blue lawn with the top and bottom edges hemmed with two rows of long stitch close together in yellow and orange. The other two edge are frayed to 2.5 centimeters and has four rows of long stitch .7 centimeter apart in yellow and orange thread. .8) A blue lawn bag with two packets was made by hemming a rectangle of fabric on three sides in long stitch with orange thread, then yellow thread between the stitches. The fourth side is hemmed in hemming stitch in yellow thread with blanket stitch in yellow thread along the edge. This edge is folded up by one third to create a pocket. The edges on either side are stitched together. A row of chain stitch in orange thread is stitched down the middle to create two pockets. A tape is stitched to either side at the top and this is folded over the pocket. .9) A cream cotton with sateen weave rectangle is hemmed with a double row of orange thread in long stitch. On both sides is embroidery in orange and yellow thread. .10) A yellow cotton with sateen weave baby's bib is made from a rectangle of fabric with a semi circle cut out of the top. The edges are turned and hemmed with a narrower turning on the neck. A tape is stitched at either side of the neck. On the front is embroidered a train in blue and yellow threads. .11) A yellow lawn embroidery sampler using blue and brown thread shows long stitch, stem stitch, herringbone stitch, chain stitch, fly stitch, lazy daisy stitch, cross stitch and satin stitch. It is hemmed using drawn thread work and the bottom is scalloped and finished in blanket stitch. .12) A pink lawn embroidery sampler with green thread shows herringbone stitch, stem stitch, running stitch, chain stitch, cross stitch, lazy daisy stitch, fly stitch, feather stitch, satin stitch and back stitch. The bottom is scalloped and finished in buttonhole stitched. The other three edges are hemmed using drawn thread work. .13) A small cream flannel square with two smaller squares are stitched together down the middle in decreasing sizes using chain stitch. The largest piece is hemmed using both herringbone and a decorative blanket stitch. It also has a run and fell seam on the opposite side using both running and herringbone stitches. A row of feather stitch is on either side of the seam. The two smaller squares are frayed on the edges. .14) A cream rectangular flannel sampler has two seams along the length. One is a run and fell seam using running and herringbone stitches and the other is an open seam using running stitch and both edges are stitched down with herringbone stitch. The two shorter edges are bound and the longer edges have a tape which is stitched down to neaten the edges. On the right side are two rows of feather stitch. .15) This blue lawn apron has a rectangular gathered skirt which is attached to a waistband and in turn attached to a bib front which goes over the head. The bib and skirt sides are hemmed using decorative blanket stitch in pink and dark blue thread. The skirt hem and both sides of the waistband are stitched in two rows of herringbone in pink and dark blue thread. .16) This pale pink lawn child's shirt has french seam side seams, a waist band to which the shirt is attached using slight gathering. The sleeves have cuffs. There is a front facing and a collar and there is a small pocket in the left hand breast. .17) These yellow knitted gloves are made using plain stitch for the hand and rib for the wrist.Written on paper and stitched on to a couple of items - Ruth McGannon V.3 - 312 Written on paper and stitched to the gloves - Margaret Russell x No2embroidery, sampler, gloves, stitches, sewing, knitting, apron, costume, needlework, dressmaking, textiles

This blanket was owned by the Rosenberg family from the late 1950s onwards. It was the donor Denise’s blanket. Born May 1958, her late mother Elfie kept it safe for many decades after Denise had outgrown it. Elfie returned the blanket to Denise 20 years ago, in its current near new condition. Jacques Rosenberg and Elfie née Naparstek, Denise’s parents, met in Melbourne in the Summer of 1950. They both survived being young and Jewish in Europe during the Second World War. Jacques grew up in France and Elfie in Germany, she was a child of the Kindertransport. They married in 1952 and by 1958 had a son and two daughters. Denise, the youngest daughter, donated the blanket on behalf of the Rosenberg family to the National Wool Museum in 2021. The Kindertransport was a program designed to facilitate the immigration of Jewish children from Nazi Germany before the outbreak of the Second World War. The United Kingdom took in nearly 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland. The children were placed in British foster homes, hostels, schools and farms. Tragically, these children were often the only members of their families to survive the tragedies that were to unfold in Europe. Fortunately, Elfie’s parents did survive World War Two by sneaking out of Germany and into the south of France. After Elfie and her sister Serry were Kindertransported, they met up with Salma and Risla Naparstek in Paris in 1947 before migrating to Australia. This blanket originates from the Eagley Mill. They manufactured woollen, worsted and knitwear products from their mill located in Collingwood. Part of Foy & Gibson, the mill had frontages measuring almost two miles within the area bounded by Little Oxford, Wellington, Stanley and Peel Streets in Collingwood. This was the largest manufacturing plant for wool in the Southern Hemisphere at the time. It was also one of the oldest. The first machines for knitting men’s socks were installed in 1896. The site ultimately went into receivership while under new ownership in 1968 and is now high-end real estate. More information about the Mill can be read via Unimelb digitised collection. https://digitised-collections.unimelb.edu.au/bitstream/handle/11343/21262/269411_UDS2010852-85.pdf?sequence=18&isAllowed=y 38”x45” (965 x 1145mm) cream wool blanket. The blanket has white stitching around its edge. Embroidered in the centre of the blanket is a koala eating leaves with accompanying flowers on either side of the marsupial. In the bottom right corner of the blanket a small square label from the Eagley Mills is stitched. This label includes the images of a Sphinx head, a pyramid and a baby’s crib.Eagley / ALL / WOOL / 38”x45” / AWARDED THE CERTIFICATE OF / THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF / PUBLIC HEALTH & HYGIENE LONDONkindertransport, eagley mill, blanket

This traditional wagga blanket was made by Mrs Eileen Pattle between 1942 and 1950. The wagga was used as everyday bedding, as Eileen and her husband had very few possessions. They boarded with a man who they called “Old Harry” in Footscray. Old Harry had recently lost his wife and looked after the young couple well. They could stay with him and use his house as their own, and all that Old Harry asked for in return was for Eileen to cook him one good meal a day. The blanket was given to Mrs Beverley (Bev) Maguire, the daughter of Eileen, when she and her husband went camping one winter. Her husband was a “mad” fisherman and on one trip on which Bev joined him, her father offered the couple his old tent, that had a wall missing, and the wagga. The wagga was much appreciated as when the couple woke in the countryside, it was freezing, and they could see snow through the missing tent wall. From then on, the tent and the wagga were theirs. The wagga saw many more camping trips until the arrival of Bev’s “lovely new lightweight and down filled sleeping bag”. The wagga was made with a “make do, waste not, want not” attitude. The wagga started as an army issued blanket. The front layer has clothing and panels of mismatched material which has been added to over time. This includes an overcoat, two knitted garments, a panel from a skirt, and a panel from Old Harry’s Trousers. It also includes a man’s sleeveless knitted vest, and a knitted pram blanket. This is all stitched together with string, and the odd button. Bev said she would love to unpick the quilt to see what else is hiding inside but has resisted the urge to do so. All these layers have made the blanket incredibly warm, and heavy. The wagga has been within Bev’s family since creation and comes into the National Wool Museum Collection after serving the family well. It was used to keep everyone warm when not camping over many a winter’s night. Beverley is now getting on in years and donated the Wagga to the National Wool Museum in 2021. Her family referred to the wagga as a “collection of rags”, indicating to her that they did not wish to inherit the blanket. The wagga started as an army issue blanket. It has been made by stitching the khaki army blanket onto a hessian rear. The front layer has clothing and panels of mismatched material. This includes an overcoat, two knitted garments, a panel from a skirt, and a panel from Old Harry’s Trousers. It also includes a man’s sleeveless knitted vest, and a knitted pram blanket. This is all stitched together with string, and the odd button. It is thought that other materials are hiding within the layers of this wagga, however, uncovering these layers would involve unpicking the quilt. The wagga is 1360 x 1880mm, sized to suit a double bed. It is a heavy blanket, originating from all its panels of mismatched reused clothing. The wagga is well worn but has lasted almost 80 years. It has holes that have been lovingly re-stitched.wagga, quilt, upcycle

Maker unknown. This blanket was part of the standard army issue kit and belonged to Lois Denshams father, who served at Gallipoli during the first world war. Before donating the blanket to the Running stitch collection, it was kept by Lois' Aunty Nita. Lois remembers that it was kept in her fathers original kit bag and kept at her aunts place because of sad memories about the war which her mother found difficult. The humble army blanket had many uses during war times. Issued with two blankets, it was all a soldier had as a bed to keep warm or without a tent, all they had to provide shelter from the sun, rain or wind. (They were supplemented with a woollen army 'great coat', but soldiers still had to huddle together as keeping warm and dry was a desperate game.) The Lighthorsemen used them under their standard leather saddles for extra padding and in the hospitals they were sometimes the only bedding for the wounded. This blanket belonged to Lois Denshams' father who served in the Australian Army in the First World War, landing at Gallipoli. Since the war, army blankets have come to be regarded as the basic type of blanket -no frills. This blanket was used in the Densham family since that time for camping trips.Grey woollen army blanket with stripes near either ends.world war i, running stitch group, running stitch collection

This folder contains photographs, advertisements and a sample of a piece of blanket from the Warrnambool Woollen Mill. This mill was officially opened in South Warrnambool in 1910 following the establishment of a local public company. The first manager was John Bennett from Yorkshire, England. The operations of the mill expanded with new buildings enabling the business to double in size by 1915. In the 1940s the factory was employing 700 people. In 1968 the factory was sold to Dunlop Australia but was sold again in 1982 to Onkaparinga Woollen Company. In 1983 Mcquarie Worsteds took over the factory with the business then known as Warrnambool Textiles. In 2000 the mill closed and most of the buildings were later demolished for a housing estate. This item is an attractive and informative memento of one of Warrnambool’s most important businesses of the past. The Warrnambool Woollen Mill operated for 90 years and employed many local people. The photographs are of particular interest.This is a rectangular-shaped sheet of buff-coloured lightweight cardboard. It has been folded twice to create six pages in a folder. Three pages contain black and white photographs of the woollen mill operations and two pages contain advertising material with black and white images. One page has a cream blanket piece of material attached to the page by two staples and this has the brand name stitched onto the right hand corner This piece of blanket also has a paper guarantee card attached by staples. The Warrnambool Woollen Mill Co. Ltd. South Warrnambool The 100% Wool Warrnambool Super Blanket Made in Australia warrnambool woollen mill, history of warrnambool

Used when refuelling an aeroplane. The mat was laid across the wing to protect it from the refuelling hose. Owned by Bullen Bros , of Nhill, who had the refuelling contract for the aerodrome. Canvas matting with wooden slats inserted and stitched in. NHILL

The Percy Uebergang family lived at Tooram Park, Allansford from 1912 until 1992. The horse collar was part of the collection of rural items given into the care of the Cheese World Museum.Straw-filled horse collar with leather upper and a blanket fabric on the underside. A set of iron hames sit around the collar with two rings attached to the top end with a hame hook on both sides and a chain joining both at the lower end. The leather neck roll is stitched to the collar with a leather lace. The collar has a leather strap and buckles attached to the top.rural industry, livestock, farm machinery, horse harness, allansford, uebergang, saddlery, horses

The blouse was made in Greece about 1945. The method used to create this fine embroidery was to copy a design from a cross stitch embroidery book guided by fine white tapestry threads tacked onto the yolk; when the design was finished, the embroiderer would pull out each fine white tapestry thread until only the embroidery remained around the yolk of the blouse.Throughout the centuries and up until the 1970s-80s, the women of Ithaca spun, wove, embroidered and knitted. Mothers prepared their daughters' 'glory boxes' trousseau (prikia), weaving bedspreads, rag mats (koureloudes) for everyday use, finer wool rugs for formal use, as well as linen sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels and tablecloths. Linen was also woven to make the mattress that the young brides would take to their future homes. Mothers also wove and embroidered the fabric for their daughters' underwear and petticoats, nightgowns, etc. Sewing of the garments was also done by hand. The girls embroidered handicrafts using various stitches, they crocheted lace, netted pillows and even linen carpets. The handicrafts were usually embroidered by hand in cross-stitch using linen and cotton fabric. At the time there were merchants who travelled to the villages to sell machine made goods for the trousseaus, but most of the dowries consisted of the beautifully crafted work of the women. In the 30's the SINGER Company came to Ithaca and taught the girls sewing on the machine. A handwoven silk blouse. Colour - ecru. Hand embroidered, hand sewn, very fine white tapestry was tacked round the yolk; a gusset was sewn under each short puff sleeve at the armpit; two-tone hand made silk thread cords were passed through the hollow border of the sleeves and neckline.

This blanket was made in 1939. The blankets spent 60 years at the Belgrave Heights Convention Centre, This was/is a catered accommodation lodge and these blankets were used by campers.Woollen blanket. Grey with 3 blue stripes. White overlock stitching on the edge. Blanket label reads B.H.C Collins Bros 1939.B.H.C./ COLLINS BROS. / 1939

Made by the Returned Soldiers & Sailors Mill in Geelong, post-1924. Rug was owned by the donor's extended family.Tartan rug with cream base, featuring pattern with blue, black, green, yellow and red. RETSOL label stitched on one corner. Name of rug is The Dress Steward. Label has stitched signature of Stan Savige.

Made by the Returned Soldiers & Sailors Mill in Geelong, post-1924. Rug was given to NWM from another museum in Western AustraliaTartan rug with cream base, featuring pattern with blue, black, green, yellow and red believed to be the Dress Stewart tartan pattern. RS&S label stitched on back of one corner. Label has stitched signature of John Monash. Two of the ends are tasseled. Appears used with several stains and small holes. Reverse of rug is free of design with solitary light brown colour Bottom left front corner has label which reads "THE/ Dress Stewart" On rear of same corner has label which reads "THE GEELONG R.S & S WOOLLEN MILLS/ PURE/ WOOL/ THE John Monash RUG wool, rs&s, reutrned soldiers and sailors mill, rug, quilt, blanket, john monash, the dress stewart, world war one, world war two, tartan

The rug was owned by Mary Atkins who was born c. 1920 and died in 1959. She lived at Glenormiston South. The rug was used first as a buggy rug and later as a bed rug.Back of rug Front of rug Photo by donor W7229 Object/Article Offered Assessment Form page 4 W7229 Object/Article Offered Assessment Form page 2 W7229 Object/Article Offered Assessment Form page 3 W7229 Object/Article Offered Assessment Form page 4 W7229 Article offered selection checklist Letter to Lynette Christie from Helen Sweeney dated 15th January 2009quilting quilting - history, running stitch collection, blankets, quilting, quilting - history

The Returned Soldiers and Sailors Mills was located near the Barwon river on Pakington Street, Geelong, where its building still stands. The mill was established in October 1922 with capital acquired from War Gratuity Bonds. The mill produced fine grade woollen products with its speciality being ‘Retsol’ travelling rugs. The mill first began to run into financial troubles with the ‘Credit Squeeze’ or the ‘Holt Jolt’ of the early 1960s. This saw import restrictions lifted which triggered the start of a minor recession and a rise in unemployment. Included in these troubles was the RS&S Mill which saw the number of employees gradually decrease and business declining with cheaper imports beginning to grab an expanding part of the market share. The mill was eventually purchased by Godfrey Hirst in 1973 who tried to continue operations without success and in June 1975 textile production at the site ceased. Outside of financial considerations contributing to the closure of Woollen Mills in this period was the declining need for heavier fabrics as in-home heating and insulation improved. This need had been replaced for a demand for ever softer, finer and lighter worsted fabrics for more casual clothing. Modern day textile production requires fewer steps in the processing of materials for this use. This meant large factory complexes such as early woollen mills like the RS&S mills were no longer required. Compared to modern textile production which can spin a fine yarn out of synthetic fibre or imported cotton easily, spinning fine yarn from medium quality wool at a textile factory was cumbersome and no longer financially viable to suit new consumer demands. This rug provides context to this statement. It was gifted to Shirley and Gordon Green as a wedding present in November 1963 by one of Gordon's colleagues in the wool industry. Living in areas such as Neutral Bay, the Hornsby area and later in life retiring to the Central Coast, the blanket was too heavy for use in these weather conditions and hence it stayed in its original box for nearly 60 years. Top and bottom of rug has frilled edges. Pattern is titled the 'Clan Cameron' and is repeated in a 7x7 grid. Front of rug has a red background with 4 vertical and horizontal lines. All is surrounded by a yellow boarder. Label is stitched into the bottom right corner. Reverse of rug also has a repeating 7x7 grid. Blue background with thick green horizontal stripe. Yellow and red boarder to the grid with 4 red vertical and horizontal lines making up the interior. Rug measure 1550 x 2040mm, approximately the same size as a queen size mattress.Wording, Bottom right corner. THE GEELONG R.S&S. WOOLEN MILLS/ PURE/ WOOL/ AUSTRALIA/ The John Monash Rug (cursive)/ The Clan Cameron (cursive)rs&s mills, textile manufacture, rug, clan cameron, sydney greasy wool exchange

Created for and entered in the 2008 ‘Expressions: The Wool Quilt Prize’- “The quilts connect us to our past and to our future, by interpreting Australian themes and telling our stories.”- Judy Hooworth, Quilter and Judge of the Prize. Donated to the National Wool Museum after the conclusion of the exhibition.Eucalyptus dyed woolen blanket base with salvaged fabrics hand sewn to create a patchwork effect. The eucalyptus dye has been used to create different tones of brown and red throughout the design with further dyeing used to create leaf imprints on the fabrics. A running stitch has been used to quilt the wagga, the stitching is imperfect, in places tied on the surface of the wagga.On reverse: INDIA FLINT RED BLANKET WAGGAexpressions: the wool quilt prize, quilt, india flint, wagga

Norma Dessent (the donor) was cleaning out her Mother-in-law Amy Dessent’s home, after she passed away in 1995. She came across a collection of gunny sacks for chicken feed, potatoes, and flour. Norma gave the bags to her good friend Beryl Andersen, thinking she might be able to make use of the material in her quilting. Many years later in 2001, Beryl gave Norma this quilt made in a wagga style out of the bags. This was both a great surprise and a great delight for Norma. Amy Dessent was a housewife. Her chickens were her friends, keeping her company as she worked in her renowned garden and while she cooked and maintained a beautiful home. Typically, Amy would have a dozen chickens clucking around at a time. In the style of the time, everything was kept for a possible repurposing later in life, such as these gunny sacks. The Chicken Feed Wagga was created in Ballarat by Mrs Beryl Andersen. Beryl was the inaugural president of the Hamilton Quilters Guild and is a well-known quilter. Perhaps her best-known work was the “Quilt for Hope”, a living memorial for victims of institutional church-related sexual abuse. More information about this quilt can be found on the following link. https://www.nationalquiltregister.org.au/quilts/quilt-of-hope/). The wool blanket used as a backing belonged to Beryl’s mother. Beryl’s mother married in 1930 and the blanket is thought to have been a present from this wedding, making the blanket close to a century old. Norma donated the quilt to the National Wool Museum in 2021 as a result of downsizing. She no longer had room for the quilt to hang on her wall. Before downsizing, the quilt had hung in the entryway to her home for the last two decades.Wagga style quilt made with a appliqué top layer of gunny sacks that once held chicken feed, flour, and potatoes. The insulating internal material is not known. The backing fabric is made from a cream woollen blanket. The edges are bound with a material of a red and white plaid. The gunny sacks are quilted together with a machine stitch of red thread. The sacks contain imagery pertaining to their previous use. Some sacks have an image of a chicken applied with blue, red, or green ink. Other sacks contain imagery of potatoes. While other sacks contain information “Minimum Crude Protein 14%, Minimum Crude Fat 3%, Maximum Crude Fibre 7%”. One of the sacks shows a handwritten price for a bag of chicken feed in a red ink.Numerous. See multimediaquilts, wagga, gunny sacks, upcycle

The Excelsior Woollen and Worsted Mills were controlled by Godfrey Hirst & Co. Pty. Ltd. The Excelsior name originated from the union in the one enterprise of two of the earliest mills established in Victoria, the Old Victorian Mill, and the Old Barwon Mill. Godfrey Hirst combined his expertise with the capital of Charles Shannon to purchase the Barwon Mill in 1890 and the Victorian Mill in 1899. They commenced production of high-quality flannels in readiness for an anticipated lifting of tariff barriers in 1901, the year of federation. These were the first flannels to be produced in Australia rather than imported from England. In April 1912 the No.2 Excelsior Mill burnt down during the installation of electricity and was rebuilt. The No.1 Excelsior Mill was closed in 1930, with most hands moving to the No.2 Mill. In 1966 the firm changed ownership and became a subsidiary of the McKendrick family and commenced manufacturing of tufted carpets. Godfrey Hirst has since emerged as Australia’s leading manufacturer of tufted carpets. It has also expanded into hard flooring, including timber, laminate, and other surfaces. In 2018, the Godfrey Hirst business was acquired by Mohawk Industries, the world’s largest flooring company. Brown blanket featuring a design of four lines of cream, and a single line of orange, spanning the blanket vertically and horizontally, to form a plaid pattern. At the vertical ends, the blanket ends in a fringe.Label. Stitched. "The Atlantic Rug / Excelsior/ Guaranteed Product / Australian Manufacture"godfrey hirst & co. pty. ltd., excelsior mill, the atlantic rug

Quilt entitled "Growth" by Lois Densham, Melbourne, 1987. Depicts the growth of the woollen industry in Victoria. Quilt used in the exhibition "Wool in the Australian Imagination" (Historic Houses Trust of NSW, 1994) where it was stated that the artist likes to tell people about themselves and their world through her work by the use of familiar fabrics such as blankets.Quilt entitled "Growth" by Lois Densham, Melbourne, 1987.handicrafts, quilting, woollen mills history, running stitch group, running stitch collection, label, highlights of the national wool museum: from waggas to the wool quilt prize - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), densham, ms lois, woollen mills - history

Mr Perkins joined the police force in his early twenties and apart from an 18-month posting in Melbourne, spent the rest of his career serving communities in country Victoria. He was a keen fisherman and hunter- his first love was sitting on the banks of the Murray River with a fishing rod in his hand. Family camping trips were spent by the river where everyone slept on stretchers with several army blankets underneath and a wheat bag wagga on top. This wagga is made from two standard sized jute wheat bags split and hand bound along the seams. It is typical of a basic wagga made by shearers, farmers and swagmen. The paint stains on this wagga display signs of later use as a painting drop sheet by descendants who inherited the quilt. Quilt made of two standard size jute wheat bags (a bushel = 150lbs) split and hand bound along seams. It is an example of the basic type of wagga made by shearers, farmers or swagmen. Another use for the wagga was as a 'drop sheet' when doing house painting- possibly explaining the paint stains on the wagga.quilting history, running stitch group, running stitch collection, highlights of the national wool museum: from waggas to the wool quilt prize - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), perkins, mr percy, quilting - history

Donated to the Running Stitch collection by Mrs Faulkner of Bendigo after she saw the exhibition curated by Murray Walker at the Museum of Victoria in 1985 of memorabilia. Mrs Faulkner sent the wagga down on the train and Lois Densham picked it up from 'Travellers Aid' at Spencer Sreet station. Mrs Faulkner made this wagga for her father in his later years when a hot water bottle was considered too dangerous and a blanket was not warm enough.Printed cretonne cover of yellow and orange flowers, covering a wagga style quilt made of two standard size wheat bags opened out and stitched together. An opening in the cover has been tacked down to reveal the jute lining.quilting - history, running stitch group, running stitch collection, highlights of the national wool museum: from waggas to the wool quilt prize - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), faulkner

Child's coverlet made from old blankets and clothing pieces with curtain and blanket backing. Part of the "Wagga" collection. Maker unknown, from the Ballarat area.Child's coverlet made from old blankets and clothing pieces with curtain and blanket backing.quilting history, patchwork history, running stitch group, running stitch collection, quilting - history, patchwork - history

Mr Perkins joined the police force in his early twenties and apart from an 18-month posting in Melbourne, spent the rest of his career serving communities in country Victoria. He was a keen fisherman and hunter- his first love was sitting on the banks of the Murray River with a fishing rod in his hand. Family camping trips were spent by the river where everyone slept on stretchers with several army blankets underneath and a wheat bag wagga on top. The green colour of this wagga is from "Dekkol" a preservative which Mr Perkins used to protect his cotton fishing nets from rotting.Quilt made of two standard size jute wheat bags (a bushel = 150lbs) split and hand bound along seams.It is an example of the basic type of wagga made by shearers, farmers or swagmen. The green colour results from the application of "Dekkol" a preservative used for cotton fishing nets.quilting history, running stitch group, running stitch collection, highlights of the national wool museum: from waggas to the wool quilt prize - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), perkins, mr percy, quilting - history

The apparently haphazard arrangement of fabric pieces in a quilt made of scraps doesn't always preclude a conscious sense of design. The pieces in this quilt have been carefully arranged according to size and colour, possibly indicating that it was intended to go on a bed as a spread without a cover. Placed in a room that may not have been adorned with many other decorative items, this quilt would have been a colourful and inexpensive home furnishing solution.Patchwork quilt made from large pieces of wool suitings, colourful clothing off cuts and woollen blankets. The quilt has been hand stitched together with stitches that hold the front and back sides together. Either a large single bed size or small double bed size.quilting history, patchwork history, running stitch group, running stitch collection, quilting - history, patchwork - history

'Retsol' brand travel rug produced by the Returned Soldiers and Sailors Mill, Geelong. Retsol rugs were one of the specialities of the RSS Mill. This one was owned by Mrs A.T. Lucas who gave it to Running Stitch.RETSOLtextile production, textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill running stitch group, retsol rugs, running stitch collection, blankets, lucas, mrs a. t., geelong

Part of the Wagga collection. Maker unknown, c. early 1940s. Possibly from South Australia. This 'travelling rug' was found in an opportunity shop in Campbell's Creek near Castlemaine in Victoria. Unfortunately, nothing is known about the maker but it could be surmised that the quilt had many uses. It is heavy and designed for warmth, lined with a woollen blanket and hessian. Its size suggests usage in an open buggy or car when travelling or as a picnic rug along the way. The sturdy canvas backing is of the type commonly used for awnings, chair coverings or tent cloth. The quality of the green velvet made it ideal for further use as a quilt after the original use as an overcoat or smoking jacket for either a man or a woman. Apart from the original machine stitched seams in the garment, it is sewn together by hand using herringbone stitch. It is not known if this quilt was designed to be used with a cover. However, the arrangement of pieces in the garment to create a shape with straight edges may suggest that this may have been a consideration.Travelling rug made of wool, cotton and green velvet.No. 27 "Travelling rug" Maker Unknown Running Stitch Collection...quilting history, handicrafts, running stitch group, blankets, running stitch collection, highlights of the national wool museum: from waggas to the wool quilt prize - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), quilting - history

This army blanket dates from the time of the Boer War. It belonged to the Densham family, possibly used by great uncle Roland.Army blanket from the Boer War. This picture was during the exhibition, "Quilts & waggas: The Running Stitch collection" in gallery 4 from 4/4/3 to 13/7/3boer war, running stitch group, running stitch collection

The quilt was purchased from the Wool Quilt exhibition held at the National Wool Museum in 1995. It was subsequently exhibited in the Expressions 2000: The Wool Quilt Prize exhibition in the 'Invited exhibitors' section of the show. (Jan Irvine wrote the catalogue essay for this exhibition.) The quilt is part of the "Running Stitch" Collection. This quilt is titled "Sure as Night follows Day" and was made by Jan Irvine from worn and recycled woollen blankets with wool batting. The quilt has been crazy pieced, air brush dyed and hand quilted. The quilt was exhibited in the Running Stitch Contemporary Wool Quilt Exhibition held at the National Wool Museum in 1995 and was purchased for $1800 from this exhibition. The quilt was catalogue entry no. 18. It was later exhibited in "Expressions 2000: the wool quilt prize" from 16 Sept. to 3 Dec. 2000 (extended until 2/2/2001, catalogue entry no. 26).Catalogue entry from "Expressions 2000" Catalogue, held 16th September to 3 December 2000. Introduction to exhibition "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. Essay by Glenda King from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 1 Essay by Glenda King from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 2 Essay by Glenda King from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 3 Essay by Glenda King from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 4 Essay by Glenda King from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 5 Essay by Glenda King from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 6 Essay by Glenda King from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 7 Essay by Glenda King from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 8 Essay by Glenda King from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 9 Essay by Glenda King from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 10 Biographical notes from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 1 Biographical notes from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 2 Biographical notes from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 3 Biographical notes from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 4 Biographical notes from exhibition catalogue "fragility & endurance - textiles by Jan Irvine-Nealie", held at The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, page 5SURE AS NIGHT FOLLOWS DAY DESIGNER + MAKER: JAN IRVINE NSW AUSTRALIA MADE:1995...quilting, handicrafts, textile art, running stitch group, blankets, running stitch collection, irvine-nealie, ms jan