May 31, 1938

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

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A Quilt Club Corner column describing the new "Flower Basket" pattern.

Pattern Calls for Applique
This "Basket of Flowers," which is appliqued throughout, will be a treat to many of you who prefer applique to piecing and because you may utilize scraps for the flowers there is opportunity for originality in this design. Send for leaflet ID-73 and address letter to The Detroit News Public Service Bureau. Leaflets are 1 cent each and 5 cents postage is required for mailing from one to 10 leaflets.

You Can Use Gay Scraps for 'Flower Basket' Quilt
By Edith B. Crumb

This week's Detroit News Quilt Pattern calls for applique instead of the patchwork designs of the last two or three. This pretty basket of flowers can be made with prints or plain materials, whatever your fancy dictates.

The quilt only calls for 31 baskets, and each block measures 11 by 1/2 inches square. Then there is an eight-inch border, which would make the quilt 84x102 inches.

Call for this design at The Detroit News Public Service Bureau by asking for leaflet ID-74, "Basket of Flowers". Leaflets are one cent each and if ordered by mail, five cents postage is required for any number of leaflets up to 10. You could also write or call at the Public Service Bureaus in the General Motors or Majestic buildings.

The leaflet gives many ideas for the use of this design on other things besides quilts. For example, it might decorate the corner of the bedroom curtains and the dresser covers, thus making a complete set for the room.

All blocks can be alike or they can have separate color schemes. If you wish to use up your scraps, however, they can be different and yet you may be sure that you will have a very gorgeous quilt. Inasmuch as the baskets and handles only require one and one-half yards of material, it would be a good idea to have this part of the design the same throughout and then vary it by making the flowers different.

The colors shown on the chart are just for a general idea of the distribution and do not mean that the flowers must be exactly like those and of plain material. For example, the rose may be plain; the pink, figured; the orange an orange design on white and the salmon plain.

Some of the flowers can be of fine stripes and polka dots are fascinating when representing flowers. Three-quarters of a yard is the amount required for the leaves, so it is well to have these the same throughout; and if you wish two of the leaves may be very light and two medium dark.

Mrs. Olive Denison, 2565 McClellan avenue, writes that she has been very interested in the Quilt Club Corner. She has made a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt which she plans to enter in the next Detroit News show. She has attended all that have been held by the News and was interested in every one of them.

Recently she visited in Ohio, and her friend Mrs. Keith Douglas, 814 Bunker Hll road, Ashtabula, O., had a beautifully preserved quilt which was made in 1844 by two sisters who were then 17 and 19 years of age. This was quilted by candle light and Mrs. Denison says it is gorgeous and has been taken care of so well that it is in fine condition. Mrs. Douglas has promised Mrs. Denison she may enter it in the show and I know that you will be delighted to see such an intersting quilt.

Mrs. H. J. Potts, Route No. 1, c.o. Ellis Kourinsky, Birmingham writes that she has some percale pieces which she will send someone who needs them.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.