October 29, 1939

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

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A Quilt Club Corner Column introducing a new quilt pattern- The Circus Parade.

New Pattern For Children's Quilt Called 'The Circus Parade'
Romping Animals Are Motifs
By Edith B. Crumb
Everybody from three to 83 years of age love a circus parade. The only disappointing part of it is that it comes only once or twice a year and vanishes after a few short hours.

You can have a delightful reminder of this joyous time throughout the year by making a quilt from the Detroit News pattern called the Circus Parade.

You may be too old to use such a quilt but you are not a minute too old to make one for some young friend or relative. The youngster will enjoy having the quilt, and think what fun you will have making it.

While all of the motifs have been designed for applique work, they may be embroidered in an outline stitch. Many little girls (and we know of some little bonus who make quilt blocks) will find it is very entertaining occupation on a rainy day. All blocks may be embroidered in the same color or they may have individual color schemes.

With the parade starting at the bottom, the very first person we see is the animal trainer. He must have been very patient, for the dog is certainly humping through that hoop with neatness and precision. Use your own taste in selecting the colors for the trainer, but remember he is very dignified, and should be dressed accordingly.

Next in the parade starting at the bottom, the very first person we see is the animal trainer. He must have been very patient, for the dog is certainly jumping through that hoop with neatness and precision. Use your own taste in selecting the colors for the trainer, but remember he is very dignified and should be dressed accordingly.

Next in the parade is the little monkey who has run away from the organ grinder and is begging for your pennies. Be sure to put a bright red cap on him.

And what is a parade without clowns? Not much - so there are four in this one, the two at the right have a gorgeous lion between them. He is ferocious, to be sure, but is being good at least during the parade.
Then comes the bare back rider with her short, full skirt and perky hair ribbon. The balloon man at the top is busy selling his wares and with each balloon in a different color this can be an especially gay block.

The tight-rope walker doesn’t ordinarily parade, but she was included on this quilt because she is a favorite circus character.

The tiger between the other two clowns and the seal balancing the large ball complete the circle of the parade, while the large and friendly performing elephant in the center of the quilt cuts a fine figure for this position.

In each of the four corners are three balloons which I hope you will make of very gay colors. The parasol of the tight rope walker may be in a fine sprigged print, and perhaps you can find a striped fabric for the lion. Do try to include a bit of bright red in every block if possible.

Note that the border is of scalloped stripes in plain white and a figured material, which makes it look like the side drops of a circus tent. The background of the blocks with designs may be white and the alternating blocks may be of plain material, polka dotted, striped, or checked fabric.

The 35 blocks which make up this quilt measures 10 inches square each-23 are plain and 12 appliqued. When finished with the eight in border, this quilt should measure 66x68 inches.

While these gay and fascinating designs have been made, especially for a quilt, they may be used for many other things. Perhaps you would like to have a circus parade around the walls of your nursery. If so, just use carbon paper and transfer the designs to a painted wall and color them with water colors, oil, paints, or crayon.

Do not put this parade up next to the picture molding. This used to be the rule for nursery borders, but mothers have since come to realize that inasmuch as these are for the children they should be placed at their eyelevel or slightly above.

Lamp shades waste baskets and even painted furniture may be decorated with these motifs. Maple or pine furniture may have them as well as painted furniture. For curtains, these motifs are delightful. Unbleached muslin with clowns in the lower inside corners would be amusing. These should be appliqued as they should be brilliant.

Another idea is to have the balloon man in the lower inside corner of each curtain and in addition to the balloons he holds in his arms a large cluster scattered about the curtain, an embroidered string holding it in his hand.

The curtains may hang from a painted wooden cornice board on which may be painted a series of balloons.
This series of patterns is presented in four News leaflets.

Leaflets are one cent each if called for at the Detroit News Public Service Bureau or branch offices in Majestic or General Motors Building. By mail, one cent each with five cents, extra for postage up to 10 leaflets, and seven cents up to 25 leaflets. Stamps accepted.

Send For Pattern
The motifs of this gray quilt from tiger to tight rope dancer, lion, to trained seal, have been so designed that they may be worked in applique or embroidered in outline stitch. Patterns for "The Circus Parade" are given with simple directions in four news leaflets.

Leaflets are one cent each if called for at the Detroit News Public Service Bureau or branch offices in Majestic or General Motors Building. By mail, one cent each with five cents, extra for postage up to 10 leaflets, and seven cents up to 25 leaflets. Stamps accepted.

It's as much fun as a circus- This new Detroit News quilt pattern for children for it's a regular circus parade animal, performance and everything. Jerry Burger picks the clown as her favorite figure and points it out gleefully to young Richard Curry, by her side, and Neil Peterson at the left.

​Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.