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Square Log Cabin Quilt

  • Owner:
    Rosemary Brazelis
  • Location:
    VIC
  • Maker:
    Ellen Malkin
  • Pattern:
    Patchwork
  • Pattern:
    Pieced
  • Pattern:
    Log Cabin
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 103
    Width: 103

History

The quilt was made by Ellen Malkin between 1939 and 1945 at Underbool in the Mallee Victoria. It was then owned by Fay Bennett (born Robinson) granddaughter of the maker and then passed on to Rosemary Lynne Brazelis (born Robinson) great granddaughter of the maker who completed the quilt by adding a backing, padding and tying it off. It is not used. "Ellen Malkin nee Roe was born on the 1st August 1867 at 'Bolindavale' station, Donnybrook VIC. She married Fredrick Malkin. They were the first settlers to select land at Underbool, north west Victoria and grow wheat in 1910-1911. They cleared the land of mallee scrub and lived in a tent until they built a 4 roomed, unlined weatherboard house with a corrugated iron roof, a kitchen and a fly-wired room at the back. The railway line was just being laid out from Ouyen but a camel train would bring supplies from Ouyen and carry back salt from the salt lakes (Pink lakes) out from Linga. The local store was in a tent."
[Rosemary Brazelis, 18 November 1999]
Ellen Malkin used dressmaking scraps, pieces given to her by friends and also materials she received by mail order from The Weekly Times. She enjoyed various crafts including sewing, tatting, knitting, crochet and mending. "She was never idle."
[Rosemary Brazelis, 18 November 1999]

Description

Square log cabin quilt of sixteen blocks (4 x 4 rows) constructed mainly from cotton dress materials, flannels and woollens printed and plain. Machine construction (treadle sewing machine) with the pieces sewn on to cream cotton material. Later addition of polyester padding and cotton backing and the quilt tied off in each square with Perle cotton.
1030 x 1030 mm

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