Although this quilt dates to the 1800s, the bold, geometric lines of this block lend it an Art Deco feel. The style became popular in France during the 1910s, shortly before World War I, and became widespread in America and Europe in the 1920s and ’30s. Interestingly, the block was first published by this name in 1922 by the Ladies Art Company. Foundation piecing allows you to achieve those sharp, narrow points successfully.
There’s a nip in the air that calls for a fire in the hearth, a cup of hot chocolate, and a thick, cozy quilt to snuggle into.
Pull out your favorite homespun fabrics, flannels, or fall prints to re-create First Frost, which is just as comfortable
on a hayride as it is on your sofa.
This is a great block for the history enthusiast. The name refers to one of the most pivotal battles of the American
Revolution. In 1777, the British tried to take control of strategic ground on the Hudson River. The approximately
6,200 soldiers, led by British General John Burgoyne, were surrounded by American troops, who forced them to
surrender near Albany, New York, marking a major turning point in the war. In this eponymous block, the British
are represented by the large, center squares, and the surrounding smaller squares represent the American forces.
Be sure to check out our quilt of the same name for instructions on making this block into a quilt.
Our Ties to Indiana quilt consists of Necktie blocks, a name used interchangeably with Bowtie. After rising to popularity during the 1800s, the Ladies Art Company published this block pattern in 1895. Just for fun, try rotating and
rearranging some of the Necktie blocks in your quilt to appreciate a few different configurations. This quilt is also a great scrap buster for those quilters looking to trim down their leftover fabrics!
This whimsical quilt block goes by a slew of names, including Windmill, Millwheel, and Water Wheel, among many others. Our instructions for this most traditional of patterns include a contemporary technique to make half-square triangle units eight at a time. With it, you begin with slightly oversize pieces and then trim to size, which helps ensure accurate blocks where the points all meet in the middle.
You may see Tempus Fugit on the faces of some clocks, particularly grandfather clocks. It is Latin for “Time Flies,” and it is our take on the traditional Double Hourglass quilt. Multiple triangle squares are what rank this block in the intermediate level. Cutting and sewing accuracy is important so that you don’t chop off any points, as seen in the photo. Our method of sewing triangle squares slightly oversize and then trimming them down to size helps ensure accuracy.
Although the Blazing Star block featured in this quilt dates as far back as 1850, it enjoyed renewed popularity in the
1930s, which is likely when this quilt top was made. Pink and green were popular color options during the Great Depression.
This sunny quilt is a multigenerational quilt. The top was made by Effie Ella Bryant of Stella, Arkansas. She was
close to her granddaughter, Mona M. Richards, who inherited the quilt top. Mona quilted and finished the quilt,
and when she passed, her daughter, Rhonda Lee Lother, inherited it.
This quilt top was made by Effie Ella Bryant, great-grandmother of one of our editors, Rhonda Lee Lother. Effie
lived in Stella, Arkansas, and was a prolific quilter who carded her own batting from cotton she grew on their
farm.
This quilt was made in the 1880s in Demopolis, Alabama, and was gifted to one of our editors. It is rare to find a Lone Star quilt completed and in such good condition, despite its many years of use.