2013 BOM

The new Block of the Month for 2012-13 is called simply -- Vintage Sampler!  I have given it the nickname of "This Old Quilt."  Blocks will be posted on the 1st and 15th of the month, and will be available for free for 30 days.  Then they will be available for purchase on my website.

 2012-13 Block of the Month

May 1, 2013
Dresden Flower # 32 - This is a unique block.  I had never seen flower blocks like this made of dresden fan blades.  Who knew?  If you can find a quilt or block with this pattern send me a note cuz I would love to see one!  Re-creating this one was easy.

Download the Free Pattern for Block 32 Here

Available for free from May 1 to June 1

Sample Block made in batiks by pattern tester Charlene Calhoun

Sample block made in 30's reproductions by Faith Gordon for Quilting Bits and Pieces Shop, Eudora, KS

When I made this block i cut the orange fan blades just a smidge larger on both sides.  That way I could place the yellow and purple blades on top of them so secure the edges when I edge-stitched.

Sample block made by Reeze Hanson using Moda solids

April 15, 2013
Pom-Pom Vine #31 -- Gotta tell ya, I have never seen this block before, and it was so fun to try to re-create.  It was really hard to see in This Old Quilt, so I had to make it up as I went along.  But when I got to finally making the block at a retreat in March, it was a hoot to make.  And I really like the way it came out.  It will be fun when embellished and stitched down.

Download the Free Pattern for Block 31 Here

Available for free from April 15 to May 15

 

Here is the version I made with Moda solids.  I cut the vine as a shape usig a template, but if you prefer to do bias vines -- and glue them down -- that works too.  Edge stitching around those little pom pom flowers may turn out to be a booger, but I am thinking of using a decorative Zig Zag stitch so that it will form an embellishment as well as an edge stitch.  What would you choose?


April 1, 2013
Triple Tulips #30-- Another classic old pattern I found in the Farm Journal magazine.  The leaves are a little different and none of the samples I found have this silly little pot. 

Download the Free Pattern for Block 30 Here

Available for free from April 1 to May 1

Sample made by Faith Gordon in 1930's reproduction fabrics for the Quilting Bits and Pieces shop Block of the Month.

March 15, 2013
Posie Circle #29-- I have actually found a LOT of period examples of this block.  I am sure I don't have the right name but I will ask Barbara Brackman what its real name is at our next guild meeting.  She knows everything!  LOL

Purchase the Pattern for Block 29 Here

Available for free from March 15 to April 15

Here is the picture of the original block in This Old Quilt.

Ass you can see from the original quilt, the flower center are satin stitches and embroidery.  I chose to add layers but you can do it with a solid cirle and embroider if you prefer.  The same is true with the buds.  Gladys Heckorly did this block in the original quilt.  I love the folk art quality of the buds and leaves.



March 1, 2013 
Strolling #28 -- I named this block because the two flowers looked like they were arm in arm strolling.  I know its goofy, but I am so easily amused these days.

Purchase the Pattern for Block 28 Here

Super simple block, these two flowers sort of look like pansies, don't they.


February 15. 2013
Water Lily #27 -- Ok, I got a little behind in posting blocks, and let me tell you I sure hear about it when I am late putting up FREE blocks of the month!  LOL  This month is one of my favorites, the water lily.  What's not to like?  I have an old quilt with this pattern and I will post a picture of it if I ever get time to get into my studio to get a picture.  Life is a bit crazy at present.

Purchase the Pattern for Block 27 Here

Here are a couple of pictures of some of the sample blocks my intrepid pattern testers whipped up. 

February 1, 2013
Poppies #26 -- This is a classic block from the 20's and 30's.  I have found many quilts with this pattern or a variation of it in many block and quilt sources. 

Purchase Block 26 Here

I found this version of the block in an old quilt catalog.

You can see the flower, bud and leaf are very similar.

And check out these old kit quilts with the poppy design.

Note the light red poppy in the lower left part of the picture.

Here is my poppy block made with Moda solids.

I am almost done doing the machine edge stitching and will post a pic when I am done with it.  Hope you enjoy these great poppy blocks.


January 15, 2013
Purple Pot O Posies #25 --  Starting the fifth row of This Old Quilt is the Purple Pot O Posies block.  I named it this because I couldn't identify what type of flower this was and the pot was purple. It might be some kind of lily, except for the calyx.  Any ideas?

Yes, I know, it is a pretty blurry picture, but that was all I had to go on.  Can't even make out the name of the original quilter, but I like her block anyway.

Purchase the Pattern for Block 25 Here

Sample Block by Charlene Calhoon

 

January 1, 2013

Bleeding Hearts Basket #24  -- Now this is a weird block. Just no nice way to put it.  But you gotta love the wierd, since it is from the abberations in nature that true originality emerges.  So let me present the Bleeding Heart Basket Block.

Celia Vecherly must have really loved bias!  She created this amazing basket block in that great 30's green and added red blossoms (perhaps closed up carnations?) and bleeding hearts!  This is really a unique to be represented in applique, but I bet she had some growing in her yard and it became an inspiration for this block.  The two funky leaves fill space micely creating a pleasing overall design.  

I debated changing this block in several ways when I re-created it, but in the final analysis, I left it pretty much the same.  Celia clearly knew what she was doing and I think she deserves to have her block accurately reproduced.

Block 24 Bleeding Heart Basket

Purchase Block 24 Here

I gotta tell you that none of my pattern testers have made up this basket block yet!  LOL  I am working on my version.  Even I haven't had the courage to finish this block.  I saved it till last.  Hehehe.  But, if you do it and send me a picture before January 18, 2013 (my birthday) you will win a free pattern!  The first picture wins! 

Don't forget to upload your block pictures to the flicker site!

  Post pictures HERE.

Part of the reason I dragged my feet on this block is because it went through a lot of changes.  I wasn't sure how I wanted to to do the bleeding heart blossoms - 1 piece, 2 pieces, and at one point, 3 pieces per blossom.  I did a lot of fittsing and fussing with the basket as well.  And finally I decided to quit fussing and keep it as simple as possible.  I like the final result.  Can't wait to see your version!

Tips for Making this Block:

• If you prefer to use actual bias for the stems make up a bunch of it using a 1/4" Clover Bias maker.  Then cut it into the sized you need and use a bit a Roxanne's Glue Baste or other fabric glue to stick it in place until you are ready to stitch it down.  
• My pattern calls for raw edge applique with each stem and basket piece cut individually as a template.  You pick the method you prefer.
• I use 3 different greens in the block.  The original had just 2: a darker green for the basket and stems and a much lighter green for the two leaves.  
• Give the leaves some veins with either machine stitching or hand embroidery.
• I think a few french knots on the bottom of each bleeding hear blossom would give some great interest to the flowers.  I plan to do that on my version.

December 15
Yellow Primrose # 23 -- I don't know if this is really a primrose.  And I am not sure if primroses are yellow.  I just liked the name!  I am sure someone will set me straight.  I always get the best comments from my readers.  If you know what this block is REALLY called let me know.  I have not found an example of it anywhere.

Check out the great orange hand blanket stitch around the edges of the petal done by Bessie Black.  And you gotta love the shape of that leaf!  I made a few changes to Bessie's bud and leaf, but I am definitely going with the orange edge stitching on my version.

Purchase Block 23 Here

This was one of the first patterns I offered to my patern testers so I got lots of samples!  Each is a little different.

Sample made by Jenny

Sample made by Charlene

 And I learned an important lesson when I made this block. The green stem will show through behind the yellow fabric so either line the yellow with interfacing or cut off the green stem really really short! LOL

Sample made by Reeze

 If you want to make the leaf and calyx one piece instead of two that is easy to do, and would save some time.  Just trace the templates from the placement guide instead of the templates, then reverse them for the fusible web.

December 1
Tulip Crossing  #22 --I found this block in several old sources from the 1920's and 30's.  I am always suprised to find old versions of this block since it is fairly unique.

This picture of the Tulip Circle block is from an issue of Farm Journal from 1929.  It is the exact same block as the one in This Old Quilt made by Bertha Garris. 

In my re-creation of the block I put the leaves closer together at the circle so they touch and changed the orange center circle to a purple one.   

Block 22 Tulip Crossing

 Purchase Block 22 Here

When I made up my sample block, however, I put the leaves back apart as in the original block.

I wanted my sample to look more like the original old quilt block and I think I really like it better this way. I just couldn't make myself give it an orange center though.  You are welcome to make your middle any color you like!  It is a great block and super easy to make.

Sample 9" block by Reeze Hanson

Purchase Set 5 (Blocks 21-25) Here



Don't forget to upload your block pictures to the flicker site!

  Post pictures HERE.

Purchase Set 4 (Blocks 16-20)  HERE.

Purchase Set 3 (Blocks 11-15)  Here

 

Purchase Set 2 (Blocks 6-10) Here

Purchase Set 1 (Blocks 1-5) Here

If you subscribe to my newsletter you will also get instructions for the four-motif crossing blocks in a 12" version, and a 16" wreath version. 

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