What a find: Benalla Knitting Group members Gayelene Arandall, Val Whan, Heather Jones, Brenda Edwards, Mary Plum, Helen Daldy and Rhonda Barry.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
When Benalla's Gayelene Arandall spotted an embroidered quilt at St Vinnies she thought it might be something she could adapt for her granddaughter.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
When she got it home and opened the packaging a small piece of paper fell out.
Intrigued, she took a closer look.
The note read “Bedspread embroidered by Katharine Meyer January, 1928”.
“When I picked it up I didn’t realise it was that old,” Ms Arandall said.
“But I knew the work in it must have taken a very long time because I do embroidery myself.
“I can appreciate the effort that has gone into it. I expect it would have taken about a year at least to make, maybe 18 months.
“And they were only asking $25 for it.”
Ninety four years old: This handwritten note fell out of the quilt when Gayelene Arandall got it home.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
After deciding it was too beautiful to leave behind she took it home ready to add to it, and give to her granddaughter as a gift.
That is when the handwritten note fell out.
“So I brought it to the knitting group and all the girls said ‘wow’, and when they saw the date we thought perhaps it should go to a museum,” she said.
"It would be lovely to know its history, and if Katherine was in Benalla when she made it.
“It is very inspiring to look back at how this was made and how people used to live. She has also embroidered a sham, which goes on top of the pillows.
“It is amazing that it is in such good condition. It must have been stored very well.
“Often fabric this old would have a rusty look, and as it’s obviously never been used it’s kept its colours bright.”
The Benalla Knitting Group meets weekly at the Uniting Church on Carrier St.
If you would like to join, or find out more, you can pop along on a Thursday between 1pm and 3.30pm.
8°C