Historical information

This knitted layette including a bonnet, cardigan, and two booties was created by Mrs Lavinia Brown, a champion knitter who loved Churchill Island.

Mrs Brown was born on 16 June 1913 in Regent, and she entered all of her knitting into the Royal Melbourne Show. Her daughter recalls that her knitting never won anything less than first prize, and was most often Champion. She remembers that once Mrs. Brown's work was disqualified as being 'machine knitted', and after an appeal in which she was required to knit a pattern in front of them, she was awarded the champion.

Mrs Brown chose to use bicycle spokes with wax ends as she could not find needles small enough for use to make babies' clothing.

Significance

Lavinia Brown loved Churchill Island, and this was donated by her daughter, A. Cattell. It represents a superb example of non-conventional hand knitting as well as being of the era for Churchill Island.

Physical description

Cream fine wool knitting sample on bicycle spoke needles with wax ends made for knitter by her husband. Ball of wool still attached