Aster quilt block

Aster

June 21, 1933-The Aster flower design was "comparatively new" in 1930 when Nancy Cabot introduced her pattern in the Chicago Tribune.

She suggested  a color scheme "with the petals cut of two contrasting colors and pieced sunburst fashion around a standard yellow center ; or all of the innumerable colors of the gay aster may be used."

The fabrics I used in my Aster quilt block came from a vintage Aster block like this one that I had in my stash!

Vintage Aster block

The block was poorly made so I just cut it apart and used each petal to make a smaller one for my 6" block. I decided to use the standard yellow center.

I almost didn't make this block because the petals are so small but it went together quite easily.

I used spray sizing to make the little pieces of feed sack fabric very stiff which I think helped tremendously.  I used invisible thread and a very small zigzag stitch to attach the applique to the background block.  I hand stitched the center though.  I think it's easier to applique a circle by hand because I feel like I have a little more control over it's shape. I love the look of this little block!

We would more commonly know this design today as Dresden Plate.  There's a beautiful Dresden Plate quilt at Eagle's Wings Quilts

There is an example of an Aster quilt  here, a very scrappy version here and a friendship version with names here.

To make your own Aster or Dresden Plate quilt block, you can watch a video tutorial by Missouri Star Quilt Company or follow this written tutorial at Ginger Quilts.

There is an old pattern for the Aster block, attributed to The Progressive Farmer, that shows that the petals were not stitched like shown in the tutorials mentioned above.  The edges were turned under like any other applique pattern of the day.  Here's the back of an old block I have that is done this traditional way-

The Aster block can be found in Electric Quilt's Blockbase program as #3485.  You can download my templates for a 6" block here.  There is a petal included for both the traditional applique method and the more modern version of sewing a seam to make the point as shown in the tutorials mentioned above.  I used the wedge shape template and sewed a seam.

Tomorrow-Rocky Mountain Puzzle