Chapter 3

QUILTS

the patchwork quilt is part and parcel of our coun­try's past—and present. While many things on the American scene have changed since Colonial days, the same precise and beautiful quilt patterns that great-great-grandmother made out of scraps of fabric are being fol­lowed by women today.

There is a wonderful feeling of continuity, of time flow­ing and still remaining constant, in seeing re-created, generation after generation, designs that were familiar and alive two hundred years ago. The very names of some of the patterns speak out of the past, evoking in us memories and pride.

Quilts are of two kinds—patchwork and applique—and are at home in either rambling ranch house or the most modern of apart­ments. At one time a bride's trousseau was not complete without a baker's dozen—perhaps you will not want a dozen but surely you won't be satisfied until one of these colorful designs spreads its gayety and warmth across your bed.

PATCHWORK AND QUILTING

Patchwork and Quilting are two separate arts which were combined by the early settlers of this country to make beautiful quilts. Patchwork is very simple, requiring only accuracy in making the units. The sewing of Patchwork consists only of a straight seam. Fabrics . . . Choose only closely woven fab­rics with a firm weave and a soft texture such as calico, percale, chintz, muslin or gingham. Colors . . . Fast dyes must be chosen or colors will run when quilt is laundered. Materials . . . All yardages specified are ap­proximate and are figured on 36-inch fabric unless otherwise specified. Sizes . . . The measurements for the quilts included in this book have been planned for standard size beds. The illustrations show the setting of the quilts.

HOW TO MAKE A PATTERN

(All units illustrated are actual size)
The number of each unit to be. cut will be specified with each direction.

1. Trace the design onto a piece of tracing or tissue paper.
2. Cut along tracing line.
3. Place pattern on top of a glazed blotter or sand paper and, holding it firmly in left hand, cut around paper pattern (Fig. 1). Make a number of patterns at one time so that when one pattern is worn a second may be easily picked up.

HOW TO CUT UNITS

1. Even material off by pulling a thread or earing it.
2. Press material through a damp cloth.
3. The threads that run lengthwise and cross­ wise are known respectively as the lengthwise and crosswise grain. Place the pattern on the lengthwise grain of the material and with a pencil make a tracing line (Fig. 2).
4. Trace number of units for 1 block, leaving 1/2inch space on all sides between each tracing line for seam allowance (Fig. 3).
5. Cut out the units 1/4inch away from tracing line on all sides (Fig. 3).
6. Place pattern directly over the tracing of cut unit and with a moderately hot iron press back the seam allowance over the pattern, thus making a distinct guide line for sewing (Fig. 4).

HOW TO SEW UNITS TOGETHER

The central principle of patchwork is joining the units from the center out. All joinings are made by stitching the units together with a running stitch on wrong side (Fig. 5). A thread approximately 18 inches long is the correct length for sewing.

PRESSING

Pressing the seams frequently improves the appearance of the quilt.

SETTING THE QUILT TOGETHER

This is combining the blocks and the border of the quilt. All borders are described where required. Blocks are joined in strips and then the strips sewed together. The border is sewed on last.

LINING OF QUILT

The backing should be cut the same size as the top unless you wish to bring the edges of the backing over the top for a binding. In the latter case it should be 21/2 inches larger all around. The material should be of the same quality as the top. A percale sheet which is soft and free of starch may be used.

INTERLINING OF QUILT

Cotton batting is the most popular and prac­tical interlining. One batt is sufficient for a single size quilt.

PLACING THE THREE LAYERS TOGETHER

Lay the lining flat, smoothing it out. The cotton batting is placed on top of the lining and also smoothed out so that there are no wrinkles. The top is placed over these two layers (Fig. 6), and all three layers are very carefully basted together.

BASTING THE THREE LAYERS TOGETHER

Starting at center of quilt, baste out to each side through all three layers. Then, starting at center again, baste to each corner diagonally. Then baste all outer edges together (Fig. 7).

QUILTING FRAMES

The purpose of a quilting frame is to hold the work taut. All quilting frames have two hori­zontal bars, 2 inches wide and deep and about 92 inches long. These are held in place by 2 vertical bars, 2 inches wide and about 24 inches long, which have a contrivance for con­trolling the horizontal bars. To place the quilt on a frame, remove the 2 horizontal bars, then nail a tape, 2 inches wide, to one side of each horizontal bar. Sew the top and bottom edges of the quilt to these tapes. Roll one end up until you reach the width of the vertical bars. Place quilt on frame and roll until it is taut. To hold the sides taut, thread a needle with a strand of Pearl Cotton, Size 5, and make a knot at one end. Insert needle 1/2inch in from side edge and draw thread through. Then wind thread over the vertical bar and insert needle in quilt 1 inch away from previous thread. Continue in this manner across the en­tire length of the vertical bar and fasten end securely. Repeat on the opposite side (Fig. 8).

QUILTING HOOPS

Large hoops, 22 inches in diameter, are also used for quilting.

1. Each quilting design is transferred to them ock by pricking the outline with a needle.
2. Thread a needle with an 18-inch length of thread and make a knot at one end.
3. Place the forefinger of left hand over the spot where the needle should come through.
   

With right hand push the needle from under­ neath up through the three layers of material until needle touches the tip of forefinger of left hand, thus indicating that it is coming through at the correct spot (Fig. 9).

Remove forefinger of left hand and with right hand draw the needle and thread through until the knot is concealed in the interlining (Fig. 10).



4. Place the forefinger of left hand under the spot where the needle  hould come through. With right hand push the needle downward through the three layers, until needle touches the tip of forefinger of left hand (Fig. 11). Remove forefinger and with right hand draw the needle and thread through.
5. Alternate Steps 3 and 4, taking care to fasten the end of each thread securely. The upward and downward movements through the three layers of fabric and the alternating of the position of the hands are the only correct ways of quilting. When you com­plete the quilting within a comfortable each, rip out the strands on the sides, roll the quilt
   toward you and begin again.
6. After the quilting is completed, bind the edges.

Yankee Pride

This pattern is an adaptation of a popular quilt design which originated in New Orleans. It was named the LeMoyne Star in honor of Jacques LeMoyne, Sieur de Bienville, founder of the city. After Louisiana was purchased by the United States in 1803, American women called the design the Lemon Star, and it began to appear in different parts of the country in various forms.

Materials: For Single Size, 72 x 108 inches—10 yards of white, 6 yards of yellow, 2 yards of red print and 11/4 yards of red. For Double Size, 96 x 108 inches-Make 56 blocks set 7 x8 before adding border. Use Best Six Cord, or Heavy Duty or Quilting Thread.

See pages 54, 55 and 56 for general directions. Each block is made of 4 different kinds of units. Patterns are given for Unit Nos. 1, 2 and 5; Unit Nos. 3 and 4 are respectively a 13/8 inch and a 31/2 inch square.

Number of Each Unit to Cut for 1 Block . .. Unit No. 1: (diamond) 8 print, 24 yellow. Unit No. 2: (triangle) 12 white. Unit No. 3: (13/8 inch square) 16 white. Unit No. 4: (31/2 inch square) 4 white.

For Single Size, multiply the above numbers by 40. For Double Size, multiply the above numbers by 56.

How to Combine Units to Form a Block . . .

See Fig. 5, p. 54, for sewing units together.
Step 1—Join 8 print No. 1 units. Step 2—Join 8 No. 3 units to star. Step 3—Join 8 No. 1 units. Step 4—Join 4 No. 1 units. Step 5—Join half star. Step 6—Join No. 2 units. Step 7—Join all other No. 3 units. Step 8—Join No. 4 units.

Setting the Quilt . • . For the border, using red cut 2 strips 11/2 x 63 inches and 2 strips 11/2 x 99 inches. Using white, cut 2 strips 21/2 x 66 inches and 2 strips 21/2 x 102 inches. Sew corre­sponding red strips to each side of quilt, miter-ing corners. Then sew on the white strips. With red, cut 116 No. 5 units; with white, cut 116 No. 5 units. Make a border by sewing a white and a red triangle together as shown.

Quilting . . :

1. On all No. 1 units quilt 1/8 inch away from all seams.
2. On No. 3 units divide squares into 3 equal parts on all sides and work 2 vertical and 2 horizontal rows.
3. Divide each side of No. 2 unit into 3 equal parts and quilt as shown.
4. On No. 4 unit make 5 diagonal lines of quilting, working from inner point out—these lines join points on each side.
5. Trace two No. 1 units in corner as shown and quilt. When completed, finish edges by turning in edge of border and lining 1/2inch, then slip stitch together.

Roman Stripe

Early New England women, remembering the thrifty custom which they had observed in Holland, pieced together their scraps of pre­cious material to make comfortable bed cover­ings. The early patterns were called Crazy Quilts or Hit-and-Miss. The Roman Stripe was an attempt to give a more formal arrangement to this piecing.

Materials are not given for this quilt, because it is an excellent way to use up scraps. Use Best Six Cord, or Heavy Duty or Quilting Thread.

Number of Each Unit to Cut. . . See page 54 for making the pattern and cutting the units. For 1 block cut 1 print and 2 solid color units each 11/2z x 31/2inches.

How to Combine Units to Form a Block . . .
Sew a solid color on each side of a print unit.

Setting the Quilt.. . One block is placed hor­izontally and the next vertically throughout entire quilt (see illustration).

Quilting ... Quilt each unit 1/8inch away from seams on all sides. Then quilt along the center. Bind edges with a solid color.

HARVEST SUN

Materials: For Single Size, 72 x 108 inches: 31/2 yards blue polka dot, 21/2 yards of yellow print, 4 yards red, 3 yards green print, 11/2 yards gold, 5 yards of white

A Star That Traveled

This star first appeared in New England. The wives and daughters of seafaring men made it in the shape of a Ship's Wheel. The design traveled westward with Cape Cod families. In Pennsylvania, a farm woman saw the doves that gathered at the openings high under the eaves of the great barns. She used the star to put them in a quilt and called it Four Doves In a Window. Farther west in the rich farm lands, the harvest and the autumn colored trees glowing in the sunlight inspired a bril­liantly colored star called the Harvest Sun.

For a Double Size, 96 x 108 inches, make 56 stars set 7x8 before adding border. Use Best Six Cord, or Heavy Duty or Quilting Thread.

Only 1 unit is required.

Number of Each Color to Cut... See page 54 for making the pattern and cutting the units.

For 1 Star cut . . . Harvest Sun—8 polka dot, 16 yellow print, 24 red, 16 green print, 8 gold. Ship's Wheel-16 red print, 32 white, 24 blue print. Four Doves In a Window—16 blue, 16 red print, 40 white.

For Single Size multiply the above numbers by 40. For Double Size, multiply the above numbers by 56.

How to Combine Units to Form a Star . . .

Harvest San—(Fig. 1) Make 8 sections as shown and join. Ship's Wheel— (Fig. 2) Make 8 sections as shown and join. Four Doves In a Window— (Fig. 3) Make 2 sections as shown. Make 2 more sections replacing blue with red print. Fig. 4—Make 4 sections. Join Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 alternately, as shown.

Setting the Quilt . . . For each quilt cut 67 squares each 43/4 inches, including seam al­lowance, in color shown, and join stars as in illustration. Cut 28 squares each 61/2 inches in­cluding seam allowance and join as shown.

Allowing for seams, even all sides by cutting rectangles half the size of the large square and triangles half the size of small squares. Corners are one fourth of a large square.

Harvest Sun (Inside border): Join 6 Fig. 1 sec­tions for each corner. Make 44 Fig. 1 sections and alternate them with triangles around the quilt. Cut 4 strips of polka dot 3 inches wide and long enough to fit between the stars. Com­plete corners as shown. Ship's Wheel: The widths of the strips are blue 21/2 inches, white 11/2 inches and red 31/2 inches. Cut strips long enough to miter corners. Four Doves In a Window: Cut 2 strips of blue each 61/2 x 721/2 inches and 2 strips 61/2 x 1081/2 inches. Sew to corresponding sides, mitering corners. Join 2 red and 2 white units together and applique to center of border just sewn on. Repeat around as shown.

Quilting . . . Quilt diamonds 1/8 inch away from seams. Quilt other squares as shown.

Hearts and Gizzards and Borrow and Return
Identical parts plus the magic of arrangement result in these two distinctive patterns . . . one. a beautiful geometrical design, the other a diagonal effect.

Allow for Seams

HEARTS and GIZZARDS

Materials: For Single Size, 71 x 111 inches: 81/2 yards of gold and 7 yards of white fabric. For Double Size, 95 x 111 inches: 10 yards o) gold and 9 yards of white fabric. Use Best Six Cord, or Heavy Duty or Quilting Thread.

BORROW and RETURN

Materials: For Single Size, 72 x 104 inches: 41/2 yards of fawn and 7 yards of white fabric. For Double Size, 88 x 104 inches: 5 yards of fawn and 9 yards of white fabric. See pages 54, 55 and 56 for general directions.

Number of Each Unit to Cut for 1 Block . . . Borrow and Return—Unit No. 1: 1 white, 1 fawn. Unit No. 2: 2 white, 2 fawn.

For Single Size, multiply the above numbers by 59; cut 58 white squares, each 81/2 inches. For Double Size, multiply the above numbers by 72; cut 71 white squares, each 81/2 inches.

Hearts and Gizzards—Unit No. 1: 1 white, 1 gold. Unit No. 2: 2 white, 2 gold. For Single Size, multiply the above numbers by 104. For Double Size, multiply the above numbers by 143.

Each 8-inch block is made up of 2 units. Pat­terns are given for half of Unit No. 1 and for Unit No. 2 (page 63). For Hearts and Gizzards the border consists of 2 units (No. 3 and No. 4) page 63.

How to Combine Units to Form a Block . ..

Sew a contrasting color No. 1 unit to a white No. 1 unit across center. Sew 2 white No. 2 units to each side of contrasting color No. 1 unit. Sew 2 contrasting No. 2 units to each side of white No. 1 unit. Sew No. 2 units across center.

Setting the Quilt.. . Borrow and Return—For Single Size, set 9 x 13 blocks, alternating white and color. For Double Size, set 11 x 13 blocks, alternating white and color.

Hearts and Gizzards—For Single Size, set 8 x 13 blocks as shown. For Double Size, set 11 x 13 blocks as shown.

Border .. . For Single Size, cut 168 white No. 3 units and 176 gold No. 4 units. For Double Size, cut 192 white No. 3 units and 188 gold No. 4 units. Alternate No. 3 and No. 4 units along all sides. Fill in corners with remaining units.

Quilting . . . Borrow and Return—Quilt all units 1/8 inch away from all seams. Quilt No. 1 units of colored blocks following the curved lines of No. 2 units. Quilt horizontal and diag­onal lines in each white block, having each row of quilting 1 inch apart. Bind edges with fawn.

Hearts and Gizzards—Quilt all units 1/8inch away from all seams. Quilt No. 1 units as de­sired. Place a white piping around scalloped edge of Border and then bind with gold.

Double Irish Chain

This variation of the most universally known quilt pattern, "Irish Chain," lends itself to the free use of gay colors. The white background accentuates the contrast. "Single" and "Triple Irish Chain" are other well known variations.

Allow for Seams

Materials: For Single Size, 77 x 110 inches: 1 yard of light print, 9 yards each of dark and contrasting print, 11 yards of white fabric. For Double Size, 99 x 110 inches: 2 yards of light print, 12 yards each of dark and contrast­ing print, 14 yards of white fabric. Use Best Six Cord, or Heavy Duty or Quilting Thread. See pages 54, 55 and 56 for general directions.
Number of Each Unit to Cut for 1 Block . .. Unit No. 1: 4 white. Unit No. 2: 4 white. Unit No. 3: 4 white. Unit No. 4: 20 white; 16 dark print; 16 contrasting print. Unit No. 5: 1 light print.

For Single Size, multiply the above numbers by 70. For Double Size, multiply the above numbers by 90.

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