Michigan State University Museum; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Cuesta Benberry Quilt and Ephemera Collection

United States

A pattern for an embroidered wildflower quilt.

2071
Wild Flower Quilt

Clover
Cal. Poppy
Daisy
Thistle

The beauty of wild flowers in easy embroidery makes a lovely quilt! You'll find it fascinating to make and ever so nice to use.
SIZE: Without Border -- 60" x 108"
With Border -- 70" x 118"

NUMBER OF BLOCKS and SIZE:
Each block will measure 12" square in completed quilt: 12 Embroidered; 24 Pieced; 9 Plain to be quilted in the Spider-Web Motif.

NUMBER OF UNITS: A - White, Pieced Block 1, Quilt 24
B - White, Pieced Block 8, Quilt 192
B - Blue (or color desired) Pieced Block 8, Quilt 192.

MATERIALS: (All yardages specified are approximate and of 36" wide fabrics unless otherwise stated.)
2 1/2 yds. of White and 2 yds. of Blue for Pieced Blocks.
2 1/2 yds. of 39 wide White for Plain and Emb. Blocks.
2 yds. of Blue for Border.
O.N.T. SIX-STRAND EMBROIDERY FLOSS - See Color Chart on Back for colors.
Lining: 3 1/3 yds. of 72" wide bleached white muslin sheeting. (Launder before cutting to size.)
Interlining: Cotton Batting. If your quilt is larger than size printed on wrapper of cotton, do not stretch to fit -- this leaves thick and thin spots. Piece cotton by splitting thickness about 1" from edges of both piecs to be joined. Cut away upper half along edge of one piece and lower half along edge of other piece about 3/4-inch back. Lap two thicknesses over one another 3/4 inch and baste together with long stitches.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS:
Fabrics should be closely woven and color-fast -- such as percale, calico, gingham or chintz.

HOW TO MAKE A PATTERN: (Pieces illustrated are the actual size.)
Step 1: Trace piece onto tissue or tracing paper.
Step 2: Cut along tracing line.
Step 3. Place this pattern on top of blotter or sandpaper and, holding it firmly in left hand, cut around pattern (Fig. A). Make a number of patterns at one time -- when one is worn a second is available.

HOW TO CUT PIECES: (Allow 1/4" for seams on pieces.)
Step 1: Even fabric off -- tear or pull a thread.
Step 2: Using a damp cloth, press fabric.
Step 3: Lay pattern on lengthwise grain of fabric, and make a tracing line (Fig. B).
Step 4: Trace number of pieces needed, leaving 1/2" space on all sides between tracing lines (Fig. C).
Step 5: Cut pieces 1/4" away from tracing lines on all sides (Fig. C). This allows for 1/4" seams.
Step 6: Place pattern directly over tracing line on each cut piece; using moderately hot iron, press back seam allowance -- a guide line in sewing seams.

SEWING PIECES TOGETHER:
Join from center out. Joinings are made by stitching the pieces or units together with a fine running stitch on wrong side. To give a professional look to quilt, press seams to one side as you go.
PIECED BLOCK:
Making 1/4-inch seams, stitch a White-B-Unit to a Blue-B-Unit to form a block. Make 8 blocks in this way. Stitch four of these blocks to a Blue-A-Unit being careful to have white sections surrounding the Blue-A-Unit. Fill in corners with remaining blocks, having white edge to white edge and blue edge to blue edge of blocks stitched to center unit (See Diagram).

EMBROIDERED BLOCK:
Cut 12 blocks from white, each 12 1/2" square -- this allows for 1/4-inch seams.
Cut out design, center same on block, then transfer following Transferring Directions. Embroider in colors and stitches as shown in Color and Stitch Keys.

PLAIN BLOCKS: Cut 9 Blocks from white, each 12 1/2" square -- this allows for 1/4-inch seams.

PIECE A: Trace off complete 4" square.
PIECE B: Trace off the triangle shown in grey.

SETTING QUILT:
Stitch blocks together to form strips of 5 blocks across, following Diagram for placing of pieced, plain and embroidered (E) blocks.

Pieced Block
Quilt Diagram

BORDER: Cut the 2 yards of blue fabric lengthwise into six strips, each 5 1/2" wide. Stitch 2 strips together to form side border. Repeat for second side. Use remaining strips for top and bottom borders. Find center points of border strips; top, bottom and sides of quilt. Matching center points, stitch border strips in place on quilt. Miter the corners.

LINING and INTERLINING:
Cut 1" smaller around than quilt-top with border. Place quilt top, wrong side up, on flat smooth surface; interlining on top of it; lining (right side up, smoothing out all wrinkle) on top of interlining. Baste from center out thru 3 layers -- see diagram. Turn in border seam allowance: whip-stitch in place.

QUILTING:
Using a fine running stitch and matching quilt thread, quilt around each unit of the Pieced Blocks.
On the Embroidered Blocks, try to run the needle under the embroidery floss when quilting around the Outline of each motif, and fill-in sections.
On the Plain Blocks, using a pencil and ruler -- draw diagonal and straight lines as shown to form a spider-web, being careful to keep lines very light. Then use a matching or contrasting thread and fine running stitch to quilt over these lines -- being careful to work thru all 3 layers of quilt.

TRANSFERRING:
Cut away TRIAL designs and any parts not desired. Separate designs, leaving as much paper margin around edges as possible. Place fabric right side up on ironing board and transfer on material with printed side down. Center design carefully. Pin or baste in place for stamping.
For best results, test TRIAL before transferring (on a scrap of material to be used) to determine the correct heat and pressure needed for your iron.
Press over motif with a hot iron, giving it approximately 10 seconds; lift corner to see if design is properly transferred. You may have to count more or less -- depending on your iron.

Stitch Key
D - Lazy Daisy
F - French Knot
L - Long & Short
P - Spoke
S - Satin
O-Outline

Color Key
1 - Pink
2 - Yellow
3 - Orange
4 - Dark Rose
5 - Medium Blue
6 - Lavender
7 - Purple
8 - Chartreuse
9 - Medium Green
10 - Dark Green
11 - Rust
12 - Gold
13 - Brown
14 - Grey

Black-eyed Susan
Chicory
Buttercup
Lupine
Violet
California Poppy
Gentian
Daisy
Thistle
Wild Rose
Dandelion
Red Clover