ARABIC LATTICE
FOR those who want something different again and who do not mind fitting around corners to achieve the results we suggest "Arabic Lattice.” The originator of this old pattern must have had a flair for the romantic as witnessed by the name as well as an aptitude for work, as the little blocks are really difficult to piece.
Each finishes 5 1/2 inches square if seams are allowed extra and they must be pieced in A and B style to set together alternately for the all-over pattern. These blocks in a continuing row turn an intriguing corner as well as making a single repeat border that is most effective.
A pieced center of 30 or 42 little blocks, within a wide band of plain color for fancy quilting, then a pieced border and a plain to finish would make a stunning quilt.
Material Estimate: Forty-two of the 5 1/2-inch blocks would finish into a center about 33x38 inches — 6 blocks wide by 7 long. This center plus a 12-inch border of light blue, then a 5 1/2-inch pieced border, and last a 3-inch border of green, will make the completed quilt top 74x79 inches. This requires 5 yards of light blue and 4 1/2 yards of green, or a total of 9 1/2 yards of material.
For the intricately pieced center, layout in straight lines for quilting and repeat the Tulip or Snowflakes designs for quilting the wide plain border.
FEATHER EDGED STAR
A FEATHER EDGED STAR, such as the block sketched here, is not such ?. quick and easy thing to achieve, and yet when you consider that only 9 blocks are required for a quilt — and such a quilt — the undertaking is not so tremendous after all.
Little white and red triangles piece together into squares, then strips; they edge a triangle marked "8 yellow" and complete a larger triangle by adding the small diamond to which 2 tiny white triangles have been added. The large diamonds have triangles added to them to piece the center square, and the corner squares of white may be cut square instead of pieced from triangles if the star is worked up in this sequence.
Seams are not allowed. The borders of plain which are added to make the complete top the desired size are often wider top and bottom than side borders, so the finished top may be longer than wide.
Materials Estimate: Nine of the 25-inch blocks finish into a quilt top about 75x75 inches square, 3 blocks wide by long. It requires 4 yards white, yards red, and 2 yards of yellow, or a total of 10 yards of material. This does not include border, In quilting an all pieced design, like this, simply follow the sewing seams. Small feather circle might be transferred onto the center star, and cable or feather band borders for edge bands.
INDIAN HATCHET
"WARLIKE and treacherous as the name may sound, we guarantee this to be one of the most peacefully simple little blocks to put together of all the old-time patterns. Many a little girl has learned to sew on Indian Hatchet blocks, although a mother perhaps supervised the cutting out
This should be accurately on the true bias with threads running parallel to the right angle sides. Seams may or may not be allowed additional to the sizes here given. Some women like their cardboard patterns to make the
line upon which to cut, while others prefer to mark around, cut a seam larger, then sew back to this line. If the pencil lines are on the wrong side of cloth, when the right sides face together to seam, this pencil line assures that accuracy which is the prime requisite of “piecing."
Material Estimate: Allow extra for seams to make these blocks 11 inches square. Twenty-eight pieced blocks set together with alternate plain squares make a quilt top about 77x88 inches, 7 blocks wide by 8 long. It requires 3 1-3 yards light, 2 yards dark, and 2 2-3 yards white for plain blocks, a total of 8 yards.
GRANDMOTHER'S FLOWER GARDEN QUILT OR THE FRENCH BOUQUET
THE lovely hexagon block quilts so popular at present are called by a variety of names and there are many ways of setting the hexagons together, too. Hundreds of precise hexagons ready-cut means a real labor saving. If you are cutting your own, be careful to have one edge with the weave of the goods and all sides equal.
Seams are allowed on the unit hexagon pattern, although this may be larger or smaller to suit, just so the angles are the same and the six sides all equal. We have seen them only an inch across when finished, but a quilt of such small blocks is no temptation to the busy woman.
To make one block sew six orchid around 1 yellow center, 12 peach hexagons around this, then 18 green.
Straight seams may be run on the machine first, two orchid hexagons together, three groups of three peach, and six groups of three green. Then the other seams which fit in at an angle are best run by hand. A pillow is one such block, appliquéd onto white.
Setting the hexagons together is most easily done by sewing three white hexagons on opposite ends of blocks which alternate with plain ones into a strip 41/2 hexagons long. This will be about 63 inches or the width of the quilt center. Six such strips will finish about 76 inches long. A five-inch border of white all around augments this size to 73x86.
Yardage Estimate: Allow 1/4 yard yellow, 1 yard orchid, 2 yards peach, 3 yards green, and 33/4 yards white.
WRENCH
THE wrench design is an authentic, old-time quilt pattern, and a very typical one, too. Simple to piece, adapted to the use of odd scraps, "dark and light," it still makes a charmingly conventional coverlet when carefully completed.
Patterns for parts do not allow for seams to make a 10-inch block. Blocks may be set into a quilt top either with alternate plain squares or lattice strips 2 inches wide plus seams.
If using print and white for the blocks, we suggest the lattice strip method using a plain tint for this which matches the print in color.
Materials Estimate: Three yards plain pink, for instance, with 3 yards each of white and a pink print — 9 yards in all — would make a pretty, full-sized quilt.
BROKEN DISHES
THIS is another example of charming quilts evolving from the simplest of cutting units. Here triangles are arranged into a sort of four patch as shown. Then four of these are four-patched together again into the broken dish block. These are all pieced exactly alike but turned at the different angle in alternate rows with the large plain white blocks between.
If seams are added the blocks will finish 11 inches square; if not, about 10 inches square.
This is an excellent pattern to select for using up odd bits of wash materials, especially if the complete top is planned carefully, with the lighter tint blocks to the center, and blues, pinks, etc., so placed that they repeat a color and balance each other. Old-time quilt makers always "laid out" a top on the bed and thus figured the number of blocks, color placing and the complete size.
Material Estimate: Twenty-eight 11-inch pieced squares set together with 28 white blocks as in the diagram, 7 blocks wide by 8 long, finishes about 77x88 inches. It requires 3 1/2 yards of white for the alternate plain blocks, 2 1/2 yards of light and 2 1/2 yards of dark for the pieced blocks, or a total of 8 1/2 yards.
The Snowflakes quilting pattern would be particularly good on the plain squares that alternate with the pieced broken dishes.
FLOWER POT
COULD you see a Flower Pot block pieced with its four gay diamond flowers in their angular pot you would instantly know the reason for this quilt’s popularity. It is a charming block when made with a pink, blue, yellow and lavender print diamond all in a green pot with white background spaces. Or a still more modern effect of cactus may be obtained by using a terra cotta pot with alternate light and dark green diamonds on an unbleached background.
Add seams to the sizes here given for marking patterns and the block will finish about 7 3/4 inches square or 11 inches on the diagonal. If making a Flower Pot quilt, set the blocks together diagonally with alternate squares of white which may be quilted in a design made similar to the pieced blocks, or by using a Feather Circle or a Thistle.
Materials Estimate: Using 7 blocks wide by 8 blocks long, 56 pieced blocks. 42 plain blocks, 36 plain half blocks cut diagonally, and 4 plain fourth blocks for the corners will be needed. The finished quilt measures about 77x88 inches and requires 5 yards white, 2 yards variegated, 2 1/2 green, or 9 1/2 yards complete.
CLAY'S CHOICE OR STAR OF THE WEST
A QUILT pattern is ever so much more interesting if one knows its story. "Clay's Choice" is a very lovely block in its own right, but when it is traced back to the bitter Calhoun and Clay days one finds it as “Harry’s Star," "Clay's Star," or "Clay’s Choice" in the soft brown-tone prints of prewar days.
Then it becomes "Henry of the West" as the tide of empire surges Westward and another generation forgets Clay entirely and calls it "Star of the West."
"Clay's Choice" or "Star of the West” is easily pieced if developed as shown in the sketch. It might be set together with alternate plain squares of either white or yellow.
Materials Estimate: Blocks finish 10 inches square. Set together with alternate plain squares of either white or yellow it requires 36 pieced blocks, 36 plain blocks. This allows 8 blocks wide by 9 blocks long so that the quilt finishes about 80x90 inches. It requires 1 1/2 yards of medium yellow, 1 1/2 yards white, 1 yard orange and 4 yards of either medium yellow or white for the plain blocks. This is a total of 8 yards. A Pineapple or Feather Circle would be effective for quilting pattern on the alternate plain blocks.
THE STRAWBERRY
THIS intricate block has another name less luscious than "Strawberry," but perhaps more colorful. It is sometimes called "Full Blown Tulip" and pieced with turkey red center, orange and lemon, set together on all green background it is gorgeous. Lattice strips instead of alternate squares make a beautiful all-over pattern when the top is completely set together.
The complete pieced circle with four corner triangles properly placed almost forms a square. Add to this the four outer strips each pieced of two odd white flanking a green triangle, and the block completes 12 inches square, or the pieced Strawberry may be appliquéd onto a 13-inch square, disregarding the odd pieces marked "8 white."
Material Estimate: Twenty-one 12-inch pieced blocks set together alternately with 21 white blocks, 12 inches square, make a quilt 6 blocks wide by 7 blocks long and finishing about 72x84 inches. This requires 1 1/2 yards green, I 1/2 yards red print, 3/4 yard plain red, and 6 yards white, or a total of 9 3/4 yards.
A quilting pattern exactly like the pieced block can be made by tracing the Strawberry design onto a brown paper, or use a 10-inch Feather Circle.
THE BUTTERFLY QUILT
HERE is an entirely new quilt that you will want — it's so dainty, different and altogether stunning. Twenty-one butterflies in prints and plain colors of yellow, pink and blue are all in one delightful, rainbow-hued scheme. Or, you may use scraps of prints for top wings and plain cloth for lower wings; all different would surely make a quite permissible plan for butterflies.
For the entire quilt 9 yards of material are required which includes the white for plain blocks, color prints and plain percales in all three tints, and boil-proof black for the bodies.
The Butterfly quilting design, shown on the quilted pillow in the sketch, would be lovely on the 21 alternate plain white blocks using a straight line lattice on the pieced ones.
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