Old Curtains Quilt

History

This utilitarian quilt was made in Queensland by Nessie Pratten's mother, Mrs Ball, when Nessie was 15 years old. It was made during the Depression and Nessie used it for many years and it is still owned by her. "[It is used] when I have a full house or if someone has to sleep on the floor [it is] used underneath. The wool for this was brought out during the depression years to help the wool industry and also to help keep people warm as blankets were too dear to buy. [I] think it would have been about 25 shillings, cheese cloth about 6 pence a yard. This would not have been its original cover but it would have been covered with cretonne from curtains I am sure. During the Depression, my father was a War Pensioner from WWI and due to war wounds was unable to work and my mother had to manage with 5/- five shillings to keep us on (State children got 10/- ten shillings). She thought it really did not pay to get married. But as you can imagine life was not easy but would have been a lot worse if she had not been clever with her fingers and a good manager."
[Nessie Pratten, October 2000]

Description

Wholecloth quilt covered front and back with the least worn parts of old curtains. The padding is a carded wool sheet from Ipswich Woollen Mills placed between layers of cheesecloth.
1800 x 1225mm