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Wreath of Posies Quilt Pattern
April 19, 1938
Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser
Detroit, Michigan, United States
A pattern for the Wreath of Posies Quilt
The Detroit News
Public Service Bureau
Radio Station WWJ The Home Newspaper Interior Decoration
Wreath of Posies Quilt Pattern
If there is anything that the home-maker who is also a quilt-maker dislikes to do it is to waste anything, especially scraps of material, and it doesn't take long for the scrap basket to get to the point of bulging. For those thrifty and happy women this pattern has been designed.
Scraps are good to the last half-inch, if properly used, and inasmuch as these little conventional floral motifs do not require much material, there is every opportunity for the use of gay bits. Even the circular stem, which should be the same throughout the quilt, does not require much material. If new material must be purchased, and for those who wish to take a short cut, bias tape may be used.
This quilt pattern is unique in that it is left to the quilter to make the arrangement of patches. All that needs to be done is to cut out four or five of each of the little flower designs and lay them around the circle to give the desired effect. More or less of them may be used as indicated in the sketch, which is one-half the size of the finished block.
Plain colors may be used for the flowers, or if preferred, little prints may be used. Really, there is no end to the variety that may be achieved in a design such as this.
The stems, of course, should be plain green, but if the flowers are all of plain material it would be all right to make the stems of some figured green, if the figure is tiny enough.
There is a small amount of embroidery to be done on most of the flowers and this may be in the color which predominates that flower. Perhaps a deeper tint of this color would be more attractive than having it match exactly.
As to the amounts of material required, these little patches are so small that they require nothing in the way of new fabrics. Here is a good opportunity for exchanging patches with friends, and soon there will be enough little left-overs collected so that the whole quilt may be made with no two flowers alike.
This quilt is made of 20 large blocks, each cut 18 inches square. Each yard of material makes four squares. A quilt of 20 blocks will require five yards of material and the finished top will measure about 72x90 inches. If a four-inch border is desired, about one and one-half extra yards of material should be purchased. For the back of the quilt (without the border) five yards of material are required.
Each block requires about two yards of bias strip for the small stems and long circle. For 20 blocks one yard of material should be sufficient from which to cut the bias strips.
Just one-half of the stem of the wreath is given in the diagram but it is a very simple matter to make a pattern of the complete circle by folding a thin piece of paper, slipping this diagram inside of it so that the ends of the semi-circle are even with the fold and tracing through. Then remove the diagram, hold the folded paper against the window and trace the rest of the circle on the other side. When opened, there will be the pattern of the circle to use on all blocks. One should be sure to center the circle in the block so that there will be uniformity thoughout the quilt.
The flower beneath the star is one which may be worked into many delightful schemes. The small part at the top may be of an entirely different material than the larger part. For example, the larger part may be medium rose material with a small floral pattern, the smaller part being plain lighter rose.
The same idea is true of the flower at the left below this one and also that at the bottom.
All edges should be turned in, basted carefully and appliqued with thread to match the material; or they may be left without being turned in and finished with a button-hole stitch which should be very close together to avoid any fraying of the fabric.
The Design Is Just One-Half the Size of the Finished Block
1930-ID68
(See other side)
Read "The Colonel's Lady and Others," By Judy O'Grady, Every Day In The Detroit News
Courtesy of The Detroit News
Public Service Bureau
Radio Station WWJ The Home Newspaper Interior Decoration
Wreath of Posies Quilt Pattern
If there is anything that the home-maker who is also a quilt-maker dislikes to do it is to waste anything, especially scraps of material, and it doesn't take long for the scrap basket to get to the point of bulging. For those thrifty and happy women this pattern has been designed.
Scraps are good to the last half-inch, if properly used, and inasmuch as these little conventional floral motifs do not require much material, there is every opportunity for the use of gay bits. Even the circular stem, which should be the same throughout the quilt, does not require much material. If new material must be purchased, and for those who wish to take a short cut, bias tape may be used.
This quilt pattern is unique in that it is left to the quilter to make the arrangement of patches. All that needs to be done is to cut out four or five of each of the little flower designs and lay them around the circle to give the desired effect. More or less of them may be used as indicated in the sketch, which is one-half the size of the finished block.
Plain colors may be used for the flowers, or if preferred, little prints may be used. Really, there is no end to the variety that may be achieved in a design such as this.
The stems, of course, should be plain green, but if the flowers are all of plain material it would be all right to make the stems of some figured green, if the figure is tiny enough.
There is a small amount of embroidery to be done on most of the flowers and this may be in the color which predominates that flower. Perhaps a deeper tint of this color would be more attractive than having it match exactly.
As to the amounts of material required, these little patches are so small that they require nothing in the way of new fabrics. Here is a good opportunity for exchanging patches with friends, and soon there will be enough little left-overs collected so that the whole quilt may be made with no two flowers alike.
This quilt is made of 20 large blocks, each cut 18 inches square. Each yard of material makes four squares. A quilt of 20 blocks will require five yards of material and the finished top will measure about 72x90 inches. If a four-inch border is desired, about one and one-half extra yards of material should be purchased. For the back of the quilt (without the border) five yards of material are required.
Each block requires about two yards of bias strip for the small stems and long circle. For 20 blocks one yard of material should be sufficient from which to cut the bias strips.
Just one-half of the stem of the wreath is given in the diagram but it is a very simple matter to make a pattern of the complete circle by folding a thin piece of paper, slipping this diagram inside of it so that the ends of the semi-circle are even with the fold and tracing through. Then remove the diagram, hold the folded paper against the window and trace the rest of the circle on the other side. When opened, there will be the pattern of the circle to use on all blocks. One should be sure to center the circle in the block so that there will be uniformity thoughout the quilt.
The flower beneath the star is one which may be worked into many delightful schemes. The small part at the top may be of an entirely different material than the larger part. For example, the larger part may be medium rose material with a small floral pattern, the smaller part being plain lighter rose.
The same idea is true of the flower at the left below this one and also that at the bottom.
All edges should be turned in, basted carefully and appliqued with thread to match the material; or they may be left without being turned in and finished with a button-hole stitch which should be very close together to avoid any fraying of the fabric.
The Design Is Just One-Half the Size of the Finished Block
1930-ID68
(See other side)
Read "The Colonel's Lady and Others," By Judy O'Grady, Every Day In The Detroit News
Courtesy of The Detroit News
6119.82.20
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Legacy
Gasperik Legacy Project, Mary -
Quiltmaker
Gasperik, Mary Mary Gasperik Legacy Project
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Museum
Michigan State University Museum Michigan Quilt Project
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Collection
Detroit News Quilt History Project
Salser, Susan
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Essay
Mary Gasperik and the Detroit...
Salser, Susan
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Collection
Clarke Family Quilt Collection
Michigan State University Museum
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