Down Under Quilts - Issue 134, 2009

Roebuck Chintz Quilt No 2

Attributed to Henrietta Maria, and Margaret and Lizzie Roebuck c1860. Chintz printed cotton, hand-pieced and appliquéd, 240cm x 240cm. One of the amazing things that happened was that a second Roebuck quilt

turned up – just in time to be included in the book. The first Roebuck quilt has been known for sometime. However, a second quilt was found with a very similar pattern to the first, but with completely different fabrics. It is thought that the two quilts were made on the long sea voyages to Australia. The two quilts have only just come together

for comparison, as they were passed down on different sides of the family. It is remarkable how closely related the two quilts are in their design. (The pattern for these quilts is in the book.)

Star Medallion Quilt

Circa 1860, cotton and chintz, hand-pieced and appliquéd, 260cm x 290cm.

An amazing coincidence occurred when the fabrics on the outer border of this quilt were also found on an early Australian appliqué quilt. It appears that there were not so many different fabrics around in the mid-19th century, so one can find the same fabric on lots of different quilts made in different place by different people. (This quilt is owned by the Embroiderers’ Guild of Victoria.)