‘Wagga Quilts and the Art of Making Do’: Talking History with Padraic Fisher

This is a recording of a public lecture that was delivered live at the Eureka Centre on 02/06/2022. In this edition of Talking History, Padraic L. Fisher from the National Wool Museum will draw from the museum’s extensive collection to examine the art of making do and the creation of the bush blanket, or Wagga Quilt.

[evamaisoumenosgood]

Extremely interesting! In my family, because we were very poor until the children started going out to work and contribute to the family, my mother ALWAYS made quilts with our old clothes. Towards the end of her life, she made friends with a seamstress, and the woman gave her ALL the little bits of fabric from her shop. My mother transformed those scraps into wonderful quilts full of color and movement. She made one for each child, then for the oldest granddaughters who showed interest. We treasure these quilts as our family heirloom. I can really relate to the Wagga quilts, and would even if I did not have a family connection with the idea of "making do".

[effiewarner]

Thank you for this fine lesson of Wagga quilts

[unowen]

Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
Or do without

[helenleduc]

many thanks for the wonderful history lesson.

[helensimonsen]

As a resident of Wagga I just had to say hello. I am 75 now and as a child mum made us kids a Wagga to put on our beds. They were made from what ever scraps of fabric she could find. They were lovely but very heavy.

[momistaken]

I really enjoyed watching your video from a senior housing apartment complex in South Windsor, Connecticut, USA!

[selinab]

how very interesting, i'm Australian & from NSW & have never heard of the Wagga, then again none of my family were quilters either; i've just discovered it in my later years & love the patchwork look; this was a wonderful history lesson & it should be in our schools too; thanx for sharing

[scrapbagstudios]

Thank you so much for this fascinating and enjoyable podcast.

[barbarahansbury]

Very informative so interesting I love quilts!

[sandfly]

Finally, someone who talks about Waggas (pronounced Woggah). If we had old worn blankets, Mum would make a fabric cover for them, and quilt it and we would use it on the floor for us kids to play on or out on the side lawn on hot Summer days or at picnics. And we weren't a family of quilters.
We also had floor mats (e.g. in front of the kitchen sink), made of hessian sacks with the edges bordered with fabric from old clothes.

[annadeplanna]

Enjoyed the history and interconnectivity that "quilting" provides! Thank you for all your work! would love to see more, as your research continues! Maybe information regardingin storage and display suggestions in family homes, and also how to share individual works, if someone has Wagga quilts to share.

[christines]

This was such an interesting talk. Thank you.

[emmawilson]

I made a wagga back in 2008 from an old woollen blanket and covered it with an old bed sheet. I still use it.

[andreaandrea]

What a sweet introduction! "I know enough to be dangerous." I just may steal that line.

[marija]

Thank you for an interesting and educational recording.

[ninetiesperson]

Thank you for posting this video and the work you are doing. Too often it is only the clothes and fabric items of the bourgeoisie that are preserved and placed on exhibition. I am aware of the Japanese shasiko and the American feed sack story but I had never heard of the Wagga. I also find it fascinating that Wagga's started of through men. Your four minute video was absolutely brilliant. Thank you from the UK.

[janemack]

I make tee shirt quilts, and these often include blue jeans and other old clothes. Gifts for kids going away to college in colder climates.

[grandam]

I have slept under similar quilts owned by elderly Native American folks back in the 70's. So, the same type of quilt is not limited to Australia. Sadly those quilts were in the place when it burned up.

[roselee]

I applaud your research and learned a lot. We're I you I'd make bullet points with the script in talking points. Talk off your bullets. You know the subject, you just don't trust yourself.

[sehryn]

Fascinating. I lived in Wagga Wagga. I so wish Americans would try a bit harder to learn our pronunciations.
Wagga is said as wogga as in hog-uh
Wagga Wagga is therefore ‘Wogguh Wogguh’
Thank you