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Three Little Maids Quilt Pattern
July 19, 1938
Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser
Detroit, Michigan, United States
A pattern for the Three Little Maids quilt.
The Detroit News
Public Service Bureau
Radio Station WWJ The Home Newspaper Interior Decoration
Three Little Maids Quilt Pattern
Everyone knows how difficult it is to embroidery faces and that is why there are so many sunbonnet girls and other similar designs in which faces are hidden from view by little poke bonnets, big hats or parasols; and it is a very good idea if the design is well drawn. In this "Three Little Maids" quilt pattern the designer has endeavored to give you well drawn figures. While the designs are not as simple as many sunbonnet girl designs, they are interesting enough to make the working of them worth while.
Those who are not interested in doing fine applique work will find that this design lends itself easily to a plain outline stitch; or what might be more effective, the applique might be combined with embroidery by applying only the larger patches which are easiest to put on. For example, the dress and bonnet of each little maid is simple enough to be appliqued easily and then the shows, arms, hair, etc., may be outlined in plain embroidery.
If the dresses are appliqued, one should be sure to use bits of narrow lace for the pantalets and for the petticoat of the little lady who is watering the flowers. Also the little maid who is looking for rain may have lace on the edge of her parasol. She hight also have a touch of real ribbon for her sash.
It would be a good idea to have a blond, a brunet and a black haired maiden. Be sure to use very shiny silk thread in embroidering the hair.
The mitts on the parasol lady may be made of coarse black net and the buttons on the back of her dress might be of shiny glass beads.
In selecting material for the dresses, only those with very small designs should be selected; and the lady who is looking for rain (and who is also wearing mitts) has a coat which should be of different material than the dress. The coat might be of sateen to give it a rich shiny effect.
The shoes should be embroidered with shiny silk thread also and the stitchery on these, and also the hair, should be of very fine solid embroidery, even though the rest of the design is outline.
The small flowers might be done in a button-hole stitch with six-strand embroidery floss (mercerized) and the leaves may be of the Lazy Daisy stitch.
One should be certain that all materials are fast color and percale is the best quality for this work.
The squares in this quilt may be joined together with nothing but seaming, or they may be joined with a colored strip; and the quilting would be effective if nothing more than a diamond lattice design is used.
This is the kind of design which is so delightful worked into pictures and framed and the background for this purpose may be black, white or any colored satin or taffeta.
Needles which are No. 9 "betweens" and No. 70 waxed thread prove satisfactory for working this quilt. Knots should be hidden and the finest of stitchery should be used throughout the quilt.
If the design is embroidered, either four or six strands of mercerized embroidery floss would be a wise choice for this. The general outline should be done in the thicker strands and the details in the thinner.
This quilt should be made of blocks not less than 10x12 inches; otherwise the figures would appear crowded. The Little Maids should be distributed throughout the quilt, and every other block should be one which has the little group of flowers appliqued on it. Then the quilt would consist of 49 blocks, 25 of which are appliqued or embroidered with the Little Maids and 24 with the flower group. This would make a quilt 70x84 inches.
The following materials will be required for a start:
6 1/2 yards of white for blocks.
2 yards for the five-inch border.
7 yards for the back of the quilt.
1/8 yard for each flower in the flower group.
1/4 yard for the leaves in the flower group.
1/2 yard of half-inch lace for petticoats, pantalets, etc. Also various prints and plain colors for dresses, hats, etc.
Whether the design is to be appliqued or embroidered it should first be outlined on the blocks. This may be done by holding the cloth over the design and against the window pane. Then each part of the design is easily copied in the same manner on the material to be appliqued.
1946-ID24
Read "The Colonel's Lady and Others," By Judy O'Grady, every day in the Detroit News
Follow The Detroit News "Hostess" Column For Suggestions On New Ways to Entertain
Read "Child Problems," A Column By Mrs. H. S. Mallory, Child Psychologist, Every Day in The Detroit News
Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.
Public Service Bureau
Radio Station WWJ The Home Newspaper Interior Decoration
Three Little Maids Quilt Pattern
Everyone knows how difficult it is to embroidery faces and that is why there are so many sunbonnet girls and other similar designs in which faces are hidden from view by little poke bonnets, big hats or parasols; and it is a very good idea if the design is well drawn. In this "Three Little Maids" quilt pattern the designer has endeavored to give you well drawn figures. While the designs are not as simple as many sunbonnet girl designs, they are interesting enough to make the working of them worth while.
Those who are not interested in doing fine applique work will find that this design lends itself easily to a plain outline stitch; or what might be more effective, the applique might be combined with embroidery by applying only the larger patches which are easiest to put on. For example, the dress and bonnet of each little maid is simple enough to be appliqued easily and then the shows, arms, hair, etc., may be outlined in plain embroidery.
If the dresses are appliqued, one should be sure to use bits of narrow lace for the pantalets and for the petticoat of the little lady who is watering the flowers. Also the little maid who is looking for rain may have lace on the edge of her parasol. She hight also have a touch of real ribbon for her sash.
It would be a good idea to have a blond, a brunet and a black haired maiden. Be sure to use very shiny silk thread in embroidering the hair.
The mitts on the parasol lady may be made of coarse black net and the buttons on the back of her dress might be of shiny glass beads.
In selecting material for the dresses, only those with very small designs should be selected; and the lady who is looking for rain (and who is also wearing mitts) has a coat which should be of different material than the dress. The coat might be of sateen to give it a rich shiny effect.
The shoes should be embroidered with shiny silk thread also and the stitchery on these, and also the hair, should be of very fine solid embroidery, even though the rest of the design is outline.
The small flowers might be done in a button-hole stitch with six-strand embroidery floss (mercerized) and the leaves may be of the Lazy Daisy stitch.
One should be certain that all materials are fast color and percale is the best quality for this work.
The squares in this quilt may be joined together with nothing but seaming, or they may be joined with a colored strip; and the quilting would be effective if nothing more than a diamond lattice design is used.
This is the kind of design which is so delightful worked into pictures and framed and the background for this purpose may be black, white or any colored satin or taffeta.
Needles which are No. 9 "betweens" and No. 70 waxed thread prove satisfactory for working this quilt. Knots should be hidden and the finest of stitchery should be used throughout the quilt.
If the design is embroidered, either four or six strands of mercerized embroidery floss would be a wise choice for this. The general outline should be done in the thicker strands and the details in the thinner.
This quilt should be made of blocks not less than 10x12 inches; otherwise the figures would appear crowded. The Little Maids should be distributed throughout the quilt, and every other block should be one which has the little group of flowers appliqued on it. Then the quilt would consist of 49 blocks, 25 of which are appliqued or embroidered with the Little Maids and 24 with the flower group. This would make a quilt 70x84 inches.
The following materials will be required for a start:
6 1/2 yards of white for blocks.
2 yards for the five-inch border.
7 yards for the back of the quilt.
1/8 yard for each flower in the flower group.
1/4 yard for the leaves in the flower group.
1/2 yard of half-inch lace for petticoats, pantalets, etc. Also various prints and plain colors for dresses, hats, etc.
Whether the design is to be appliqued or embroidered it should first be outlined on the blocks. This may be done by holding the cloth over the design and against the window pane. Then each part of the design is easily copied in the same manner on the material to be appliqued.
1946-ID24
Read "The Colonel's Lady and Others," By Judy O'Grady, every day in the Detroit News
Follow The Detroit News "Hostess" Column For Suggestions On New Ways to Entertain
Read "Child Problems," A Column By Mrs. H. S. Mallory, Child Psychologist, Every Day in The Detroit News
Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.
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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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