How Quilt Blocks are Named
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How to Quilt Booth at the San Diego Quilt Show |
The San Diego Quilt Show just ended and quilting daughter, Stephanie, and I are unpacked and fully-rested (if that is possible!) from 3 full days of meeting and greeting San Diego quilters.
And, yes, there were quilters from around the country.
It was especially fun to meet many of you in person, as well as make new quilting friends.
If you missed the show this year, be sure to catch it next year - it will be the 30th Anniversary of the Show, and should be something special!
Now that vacation is over and the quilt show is "a wrap" until next year, it's time to get back to creating some great quilting information for you.
Remember our Halloween Fabric Postcard Roundup - the deadline is fast approaching - September 28! See details below regarding where to send your postcards for the troops in the Middle East.
Happy Quilting!
The Most Popular Item at the How-to-Quilt.com
Booth at the San Diego Quilt Show:
Machine Quilt your Fat Quarter Quilt
Who knows whether it was because of the bright colors, or whether the quilters discovered that they could get everything they need in this fabulous quilting resource in order to create any fat quarter quilt - PLUS get a solid foundation for every quilt they want to make (and machine quilt, too).
This certainly has been a popular item with our online quilting friends as well, but I was quite surprised and pleased to see quilters gobble up this resource.
After all, I believe that it is the most complete instruction on machine quilting that we carry.
Did you know that in Machine Quilt Your Fat Quarter Quilt you will learn how to:
- set up your home sewing machine for beautiful machine quilting
- layer and baste your quilt to eliminate unwanted puckers and pleats as you machine quilt
- decide how to choose a quilting design that is easy to sew and will enhance your quilt
- glide your quilt under the needle so your stitches are even and you will be proud to show your finished quilt to an experienced (or even a professional) quilter
In addition to all of the valuable information about machine quilting, you also get information about:
- how to choose the fabric for your quilt
- how to know how many fat quarters (and yards of fabric) you need for your quilt
- how to sew triangles and squares so you get perfect corners and pointy points
- adding borders to your quilt is square!
- add beautiful binding on your quilt
If you haven't already invested, today is the day.
Using this instruction, you can create this quilt in any colors - using fat quarters or fabric from the bolt.
One quilter who loved the quilt and invested in the video said she was going to make hers in Christmas colors and hang it in her house for the holidays.
That's a great idea! And it's easy to do.
Because you get tons of information about drawing quilt blocks and quilts, simply color in the outline of the quilt in the colors you choose. Then figure out how much fabric you need, using the fill-in-the-blank sheets; make a quick trip to your fabric shop. And you will be ready to cut and sew!
Remember all of our videos and guidebooks give every bit of information you need to be successful in creating that quilt - as well as giving you valuable quilting techniques you can use in any quilt project.
Check it out:
From Cutting to Machine Quilting and Binding . . .
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Origin of Quilt Names
Have you ever wondered how quilt blocks are named?
As you look through a book with hundreds of quilt blocks, several interesting things pop up. You will probably discover quilt blocks with a different design while having the same name. Likewise, you will find quilt blocks that look the same yet have different names.
How did this happen? And what is the inspiration for naming quilt blocks in the first place?
A study in history and understanding life in the early years of America are particularly useful to answer these questions.
Remembering that early Americans were driven from England to gain religious freedom, they continued to be very religiously minded in the New World.
All day Sunday was spent at church for both religion and social time. The morning and afternoon sermons were divided by an extended lunch break where families would share the events of the week while enjoying the peaceful break.
Many quilts and quilt blocks reflected that religious devotion.
“World Without End,” a quilt made during the Revolutionary time period, is a name lifted from the Book of Common Prayer. It was, and still is, a phrase familiar in every church, regardless of creed.
It’s also interesting to note the range in complexity of making quilt blocks and quilts. The “Star of Bethlehem,” “Jacobs Ladder” and “Job’s Tears” represent quilts and blocks and were more studied designs. While the “Star and Cross” and “King David’s Crown” were simpler and very popular for bed quilts.
In addition, early Americans were also very politically minded. And women, even though they couldn’t vote, were acutely aware of the importance of the politics of the day.
While the original political efforts were directed toward economic freedom and relief from onerous taxes, later the politics shifted toward political freedom as well. After a century of local government, Americans were politically astute, and were dedicated to developing the machinery of a republic that would survive.
And the political conversations extended into the quilt blocks created during that time, enabling quilters to express opinions developed as they listened to the arguments of the day.
Even naming a quilt block stirred controversy. A block named “Whig Rose” and “Democrat Rose” created a debate as to which was the correct name – a debate not settled, maybe even today.
Politics and quilts continue to intertwine with “The Little Giant” being named after Stephen A. Douglas (from the Civil War era), the “Free Trade Block” (which has relevance today), “Fifty-four Forty or Fight” (from the early 1800s fight between the US and Canada over territory in the northwest territory) and “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” (a campaign slogan during the Harrison presidential election in 1840).
The trades and occupations of the time also offered inspiration for quilt names. “The Anvil,” “The Carpenter’s Wheel,” “The Churn Dash,” and “The Water Mill” all came from women’s familiarity with old-time callings.
“The Reel” was a block that represented something close to home for quilters, representing the once universal occupation of women – spinning. The Reel was used to wind thread onto skeins.
Outdoor life provided more inspiration for quilt block names. Take, for example, “Flying Bats.” Bats were once familiar to everyone, and without screens in open windows, bats would be attracted to the light inside houses. Once inside, blinded by the light of the lamps, the bats flapped and banged against walls and the ceiling while women ducked and screamed while small boys made a game of chasing them.
With nothing but candles and oil lamps for light, the pioneers relied on the natural light of day for most of their activities. Industrious folk rose early and were able to witness the glory of every sunrise. It wasn’t too unusual that “Rising Sun” quilts would be created.
There are two different methods of making this intricate pattern, both reserved for expert quilt makers.
In sharp contrast, quilt blocks representing the setting sun are much simpler. A Block like “Setting Sun,” also known as “Indian Summer” took some skill, since it includes triangles on a curve, yet was not as complex as the Rising Sun.
Maybe the contrast represented the difference in the level of energy of a quilter between the early morning rising and the end of the day, having completed a full day’s work.
Many designs were specific to their community of origin. And as they migrated away from the community, their form changed. Because there were no printed patterns at the time, replication of the design relied on copying the pattern by looking at an existing quilt, remembering the design having seen it previously, or understanding a verbal description of the quilt block.
As you can imagine, any of these methods could result in the proportions of the shapes within the block changing, therefore changing the overall look of the quilt; and a new block design with the same name was born, even though the quilter thought she was duplicating the quilt block exactly.
What will be the inspiration for the quilt block you design?
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| Jacobs Ladder | Tippecanoe and Tyler Too | Cross and Crown | Churn Dash |
Quilt Show in New York
And speaking of history, quilter Diana Heeman sent me a message about a quilt show at The Major's Inn in Gilbertsville, New York.
The show takes place the first weekend in October. The hours are:
Friday, October 1 10am - 5pm
Saturday, October 2 10am - 5pm
Sunday, October 3 11am - 5pm
The Theme is "Picture Perfect," and features quilter Marilyn Belford whose specialty is pictorial art quilts. The quilts are displayed throughout the 52 room inn, which is listed on the Natonal Register of Historic Places.
Other award winning quilters will be displaying their works, as well as beginning quilters. And there are always antique quilts, some with documented histories.
This is a non-juried show, as the group feels anyone who would like to show their quilt can. There is no charge for entering, but a $5 donation is encouraged. All proceeds go toward restoring the Inn.
They expect more than 100 quilts, and will serve a lunch consisting of homemade soup, sandwiches, salads, homebaked desserts and a beverage. Lunch for all three days is $6 - quite a deal for some yummy treats.
For more information, call CeCe at 607-783-2067 or email Diana at albud@citilink.net
Postcard Quilts for the Troops
Halloween Roundup Next - Deadline September 29!
Wow! We sent more than 1,900 fabric postcards to the Middle East for the 4th of July!
Thanks to everyone who participated in this worthy event. I know it will mean a lot to the soldiers who receive those greetings of thanks on the 4th of July.
This year, we've decided not to do the Birthday Roundup, and focus our efforts on Halloween and the end of the year holidays.
So the next Roundup is Halloween -
Halloween, like the 4th of July, in Iraq or Afghanistan is just another day unless it becomes something different by virtue of quilters' intervention!
Now you can send postcards for our Halloween Roundup. This is just a fun time of the year - with Trick or Treat fabric, memories of Halloween costumes and marching around the neighborhood begging for candy.
You can bring those memories back for the soldiers stationed abroad by sending them tiny quilts - fabric postcards decorated for Halloween.
We want to keep Diane doing the Penny's Postcard Posse project, but she is terribly allergic to smoke. So, if you can be sure that your fabric postcards are smoke-free, it will be much appreciated!
Check out the postcard patterns on www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com I will continue to add designs, and patterns for the fabric postcards are always free.
To make the Halloween deadline, get your cards to Diane by September 29
Please send your cards to:
Diane Malaznik
14215 Westmore St.
Livonia, MI 48154-4149
Diane is doing a fabulous job keeping the pictures updated, and if you have sent cards in, let your friends and family know that they can see pictures of them here: www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Remember you can get FREE postcard patterns at: www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com
Last week, the Sugar Bowl quilt block pattern was left out of the packet - whoops! It's there now - so if you missed it, just click to download again.
These free September FREE quilt block patternswill make your summer quilting fun. These quilt blocks include easy blocks as well as some that are a little more difficult.
Click here to download your September FREE quilt block patterns
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Autumn Leaf |
Bats in the Belfry |
Colorado Block |
Doe and Darts |
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| Fields and Fences | Four Clowns | Four Knaves | Missouri River Valley |
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| Modern Flame | Sugar Bowl |
Click here to download your September FREE quilt block patterns
Hundreds of quilt block patterns to choose from. Patterns include full size templates and rotary cutting layouts. Click Here
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