January 26, 1939

Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser; Clarke, Harriet

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A pattern for the Blossom Time quilt

The Detroit News
Public Service Bureau
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Radio Station WWJ
Interior Decoration

Blossom Time Quilt Pattern - Part Two

Here are the four designs which complete the set for the Blossom Time quilt.

It should be rememberd that there are many other uses for these decorative floral motifs. They may be used on the ends of dresser scarfs; in the centers of boudoir pillows; in the lower inside corners of curtains or draperies carried out in either applique or embroidery, and if traced on parchment paper lamp shades and colored with crayon or water colors they are really charming.

Another use for them is to trace the designs on bread boxes, canisters, waste baskets and other metal containers, and then paint them with oil colors.

A skirted dressing table would certainly be enhanced by the addition of a border of these designs around the bottom, the colors in these repeating those in the quilt.

The large flower in the center of this design has five petals of different shapes, so petals must not be confused with one another when patches are cut. The center is an applique patch. It may be of yellow, brown, green, or even black, depending on the color-scheme selected and the intensity of the surrounding colors. There are six leaves in this design, all different shapes. The flower at the upper left should have its fancy center embroidered.

1968 - ID36

One pattern is used for each of the 15 leaves in this design. This facilitates matters when appliquing the patches, for the leaves do not have to be numbered, and there is no danger of placing the leaves in wrong places. Also the three flowers are made of one pattern. Centers of the flowers are embroidered (they are very small to be appliqued) and surrounded by a row of French knots. There are 18 patches on this block, but they will work up quickly.

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At first glance this design may appear to be much work and the patches tiny, but the little bells are not hard to applique and they are all the same size, so that one pattern does for all seven bells. They should be appliqued in plain colors, but each group many be done in a different shade. Each of the three large flowers has a little embroidery to finish it off. These flowers may be appliqued in tiny prints if the rest of the patches are in plain colors.

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This design lends itself well to blues and lavender shades, though any color may be used if one prefers to stretch the imagination and not stick too closely to the garden. Only six patches are required on this block (two leaves, and two patches to each flower), but there is more embroidery to set it off. Lines may be etched in outline stitch, using two strands of six-strand embroidery cotton, and embroidery should be done in a little darker shade than the predominating color of the patch which is to be embroidered.

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Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.

2016.5.77; 6119.82.38