A Bit of Quilting History
and August Free Quilt Block Patterns

Greetings Quilter -

Experiments with quilts often lead to places unknown. Last week I showed you a batik panel with two coy in a pond.

Since I had seen batik panels split and contrasting fabric sewn into the cuts, I decided that I wanted to try that with this panel.

This week, I got the courage to cut the panel, and you will see the results below.

Cutting a panel like this takes courage because it is so beautiful that it just begs keeping intact and using as a centerpiece of a quilt. Plus without a specific plan for sewing it back together, I was entering the unknown and hoping everything would work out ok.

I tried just hanging pieces of fabric around the outside of the panel, hoping that I could imagine what it might look like with each of the fabrics sewn in. But, after a week, I realized that the only way to figure it out was to cut it apart and place the pieces on top of each of the fabrics and then choose.


The original panel	The cut panel with just the flannel wall showing

There is a print batik of medium value behind the panel	This shows what the panel looks like with a dark fabric showing through the slices

This panel has lavender fabric showing through the slices.

Now that it is more clear what the panel will look like with each of the fabrics, it's time to choose.

It seems like it might be mostly a matter of personal choice; they actually all look kind of nice. And I may try a blue fabric and maybe even a dark green, just to see what those would look like.

Stay tuned - - -

And now for the rest of the news - -

Happy Quilting!

penny halgren

Unlock the Mysteries of Designing Quilts Using EQ7
Quilt Design Software

Yes, Learning How to Use EQ7 to Design Your Quilts is
as Easy as Watching a Video on your TV or computer . . . .
100% Guaranteed!

There are thousands of quilt blocks out there, and every one of them can be made in any size you want to make, and with any fabric placed in any one of the patches.

And each time you change the placement of the fabrics in a patch, you change the design of the quilt. It's actually quite amazing, and fun!

Before there was quilt design software for our computers, there was - - well, rulers, paper, colored pencils, trips to the copy shop, and your imagination guiding you as to what your quilt will actually look like finished, using your fabric.

And if you got your design to a certain point, and then decided to change something - like the width of the sashing, whether your sashing had cornerstones or not, the border design, the number of borders, the width of the borders, or something else - you had to start all over.

Not only did it take a lot of design resources, but it took a bunch of time. And, if you are anything like I am, instead of spending all that time designing and trying different things, you just started sewing blocks - hoping your final design would look good.

Even now, without quilt design software, if you have a computer you can save the trips to the copy shop, but you are still mostly left with ruleres, paper and colored pencils - or crayons!

As promised, I will be hosted several live webinars (online training) showing you how to design blocks and quilts using EQ7 - the latest version of this fabulous quilt design software.

Maybe I could have condensed it into one session. But as I looked at all of the things quilters asked to learn how to do, I quickly figured out that by putting it in one session, everyone would leave more confused that they started out.

Plus, in the traditional How-to-Quilt style, we walked you through designing a block and quilt - from start to finish.

This isn't the normal type of training where a teacher shows you how to point and click a hundred different functions and you never connect the dots enough to understand how to design your project.

And now you can get it all on a convenient DVD to have so you can follow along using the software on your computer while you watch me work with mine.

Don't miss out!

Since this training was live, I'm probably not going to carry these DVDs as a regular product, so this could be your only chance to get them.

Visit: http://how-to-quilt.com/eq7-training.php to reserve your copy.

The last training session will be next week, and will also be included in this package.

"Hi Penny,

Really enjoyed the webinar last evening and am looking forward to 2nd session. I took your advice and viewed a few of your videos on YouTube which I thought were very, very helpful.

I'm looking forward to finding out how to add fabric to the library. I hope there is a way to pull off display swatches that are available on store/fabric web sites into EQ7 without having to buy the fabric and then scanning it. I've bought alot of Kaffe Fassett material of late and thought it would be easier to import professional swatches than my scanning. I can see where the EQ7 software will help me immeasurably with picking more dramatic color schemes."

Abby"

"This is my very first experience with an EQ program and my very first time participating with an on-line webview. It was excellent, simple, and you did a great job. I can't hardly wait until the next episode. I am actually thinking I can do this!!!!! I also love your website!"

Jane Rhoads

"I really enjoyed the presentation. You went slow enough that anyone, even I, could keep up. Thanks!!

My husband was given a "gag order" while it was going on. He was really cute tiptoeing around while it was going on. I had just gone through the lessons for EQ6 privately, and that made everything make sense. I think I could have made it fine without the prep work, but it did help."

Cynthia Blair

Penny,

"You did a fantastic job. I use to do this same thing for a very large insurance company before I retired. In a way I miss it as I love computers and all they can do. But now I’m concentrating on my quilting.

Documentation: Very good and nice to have ahead of time so we could look it over (those of us who printed it out!!)

Screen Shots: Very good. We were able to ask questions if necessary and see the answers. You also answered questions at the end which was helpful as we could listen to you and miss any other information trying to find and answer to our questions in the display box.

Delivery: Excellent. You spoke slowly and when you had a problem you said you did and worked through it. You went over some things a second time which is helpful.

Information Covered: a very good basic start. I’m excited about the rest of the classes but now since you’ll be changing the day I’ll be missing them. We’ll be in California Aug 4 through 17.

Thanks for doing these classes."

Louise

A Bit of Quilting History

During the Great Depression, Americans relied on their local newspapers for quite a lot.

In some instances, the newspapers printed photos of the local high school’s seniors who used that special edition in lieu of the yearbook the school could not afford to print. There were numerous children who served as a “paper boy,” delivering newspapers to make a little extra money for their families.

Newspapers during that time also provided a service to quilters. Many newspapers published quilt patterns for their readers during the Great Depression.

1930 newspaper quilt patterns were especially common in rural areas of the United States. The Kansas City Star actually began printing patterns for quilters in 1926. The newspaper carried on the tradition until 1961.

The quilt patterns were published weekly at first, then as interest seemed to dwindle, the patterns were printed monthly before being pulled from the publication all together. In all, just over 1000 quilt patterns were published by the Kansas City newspaper. Collectors have found copies of all of them and now offer a compilation for sale.

The Kansas City newspaper was not the only one to publish newspaper quilt patterns. Many other rural papers did the same.

The 1930 newspaper quilt patterns helped preserve part of the country’s heritage. Even though times were tougher than ever economically, the 1930 newspaper quilt patterns focused on the things that were truly important to quilters of that day and served as an emotional boost as well.

One of the popular 1930 newspaper quilt patterns was “The Magic Vine.” The design was presented as a series in a newspaper column written by Florence LaGanke Harris. In addition to providing the weekly quilt pattern, Harris wove a fictional story about a quilting group.

Readers followed the antics of the group and its fictional leader, Nancy Page. As readers followed the goings-on of the imaginary quilting group, they also stitched along with each week’s pattern.

Readers were so engaged by the weekly column and quilting that they submitted their own quilt designs for consideration. The end result from Harris’ column was a quilt of beautifully appliquéd flowers with vines that entwined.

Another of the popular 1930 newspaper quilt patterns included in Harris’ weekly column was the “Memory Bouquet.” The quilt featured 9x12 inch blocks appliquéd with various flowers. Imagine the cheery look of the finished product with its hollyhock, tulips, violets, carnations, zinnias, jonquils and more!

The 1930 newspaper quilt patterns gave quilters much enjoyment. In addition to providing reasonably priced quilt patterns during The Great Depression era in the United States, the quilts also focused on an important part of life in the 1930’s: the children.

Many patterns for children featured nursery rhymes. Some quilts featured one single nursery rhyme while others compiled several children’s favorites onto one quilt top. The patterns were designed so that they could be appliquéd or embroidered. Redwork was popular at the time!

The 1930 newspaper quilt patterns were a direct reflection of life during the Great Depression. Quilters saved money by using the patterns. They continued providing necessary warmth for their families and offered the quilts they made from the 1930 newspaper patterns as gifts for many occasions.

If you would like to create your own quilt from 1930 newspaper quilt patterns, copied images or books will have to do. There are several collections available that could be appliquéd, embroidered or hand painted.

These quilt blocks were handed down to me from my mom's aunt. Apparently they were part of a quilt that got old and worn out. She salvaged the best blocks from the quilt for a future project.

Cool Block of the Month Website

block of the month club

If you love to get quilt block patterns and quilt ideas, our friend Jody and her mom, quilters in Australia, have a cool site that provides original quilt patterns.

This mother and daughter team shares a passionate love of designing and creating quilts. Over the years, they have made many quilts from others' patterns, but they have always been searching for more striking and unusual designs or traditional ideas with a twist, to make their quilts a bit more special.

They have been designing their own quilts for years now. The great comments and praise we've had from friends, family and our Quilting Group have encouraged us to share our unique quilts with you.

You can enjoy creating special "one of a kind" quilts that your loved ones will treasure, from their original Quilt Block of the Month Club Patterns... exclusive quilt designs you won't find anywhere else.

Join "Quilt Block Of The Month Club" and start downloading multiple quilt patterns from our growing BOM range. It's simple and fun!

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

August Free Block Patterns

These free August quilt block patterns will 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 August FREE quilt block patterns