The wagga is a traditional Australian quilt made for the men of the household to take droving, mustering, shearing or fencing etc – all the pursuits essentially ruinous to ‘good’ household linen. They were made from remnants of old woollen clothes or scraps, padded with rags and backed with flour bags, originally from the Wagga Wagga flour mill. These quilts were very heavy and warm; three layers held together with big running stitches. They had the significant advantage of the wool top extinguishing a campfire spark. When the job was done, they were taken apart and the layers washed and dried before being tacked together again.
This image is of a modern interpretation of a wagga. The top is woollen, made from repurposed and outworn clothing and scraps. Some of the scraps are from a factory making wool blazers. The backing includes a flourbag.
This image is of a modern interpretation of a wagga. The top is woollen, made from repurposed and outworn clothing and scraps. Some of the scraps are from a factory making wool blazers. The backing includes a flourbag.
