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From the collection of National Wool Museum

6453 Items featured online

Quilt, 'Make do' quilt insert

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Historical information

The background history to this quilt is unknown as, like several of the Running Stitch quilts, it was found in an op-shop, this time in Ballarat. However, the technique used to bind it together and the rarity of the materials make it a valuable piece of our 'thrifty history'. The quilt insert has been made with layers of recycled bed coverings. It would have most likely had a cover made of a fabric (such as cretonne) as the layers have only been loosely held together with large quilting stitches. The outer layer is made of "marcella": a heavily woven cotton damask. These types of bedspreads were quite expensive and hardwearing. They were often handed down through the family and it is not surprising to see that the use for this particular bed covering has been continued past the 'presentable' stage on a bed.