True Lover's Knot quilt block

True Lover's Knot

June 1, 1933-True Lover's Knot was also known as True Lover's Chain in 1933 according to Nancy Cabot in her Chicago Tribune column. Today, it is more commonly known as a melon block.  It is also called an orange peel design.

This allover design is made "with a few magic twirls of the compass" Nancy wrote.  When the blocks are set together they form "an endless chain of interlacing circles."

Nancy said this design dated back to Virginia and early colonial days even though some were proclaiming it was "modern."

I did not make this block because I don't think it's a good one for a sampler quilt.  Like the Double Irish Chain design, it's an overall design that loses it's effect when you have just one block.


Here's a more modern variation of the True Lover's Knot design at Pitter Putter Stitch-

To see an antique two color version, click here.  To see an antique version used to raise money for a church, click here.  There are 196 names on the quilt and it cost 25 cents to have your name put on the quilt.  The quilt sold for $40.00.

Tomorrow-Colonial Pineapple

Double Irish Chain quilt

Double Irish Chain

May 31, 1933-In contrast to yesterday's  very new block, the Double Irish Chain is a very old pattern. Nancy Cabot said that many quilters feel this block came from Ireland because of it's name but she believed that "it never has been definitely decided just where it did originate."  She stated that the design is "correctly made in combinations of prints and plain colors."

I didn't make this block because I don't think it's one to use in a sampler quilt.  You can find a free pattern for  15" block at Quilter's Cache.

It's a very easy pattern to make.  It's made from two alternating blocks.  One block is a 25 patch block and the other a square with sashing and cornerstones for lack of a better description.





Here's an example of an antique Double Irish Chain quilt from Nancy Cabot's era-

And look at this really scrappy version-

There are several antique Irish Chain quilts to look at here at the Quilt Index.

Tomorrow-True Lover's Knot

Tulip Wreath quilt block

Tulip Wreath

May 30, 1933-"Tulip Wreath" is relatively a newcomer to the tulip family and growing in popularity daily" wrote Nancy Cabot about this applique pattern.

She felt it was an easy block to make and that "it's charm lies in it's originality and simplicity, and in the opportunity it presents for clever color combinations."

I drew this applique block in Electric Quilt but did not make it.











The only example of a Tulip Wreath quilt that I could find is this one.  It sure looks like Nancy Cabot's design to me. I love the triple border.  I wonder if that was part of Nancy's design? This quilt is for sale on ebay.  There are several more photos included in the listing.

Tomorrow-Double Irish Chain

Whirling Pinwheel quilt block

Whirling Pinwheel

May 29,1933-Nancy Cabot introduced her Whirling Pinwheel block by saying,"The dazzling pinwheel provided the incentive in the designing of this quilt pattern."  She explains that older quilts were "pieced in red and white, portraying as realistically as possible the flaming sparks of the exploding pyrotechnical piece in motion."

She has me confused!  She starts by talking about pinwheels and switches to fireworks I think.

She also noted that "other colors or prints might be used to produce an equally effective result."

Notice that the center of the block is the Swastika design that was introduced back on February 27, 1933!

This Whirling Pinwheel block is from a German blogger.  The post is quite interesting.

There is an old pattern called Rolling Pinwheel from 1895 here.  The pattern suggests using white, deep green and light green fabrics.




There are several ways this block can be sewn together. The red and gold one above was paper pieced.  I made mine from half square triangle blocks and flying geese blocks.  It could also be made from half square triangle blocks without any flying geese units.

Here's what my parts look like-

To make a 6" block like this, you need-

4-1 1/2" squares of background fabric
4-1 1/2" X 2 1/2" rectangles of background fabric
8-half square triangle blocks-1" finished
8-flying geese blocks-1"X2" finished (4 of each with colors reversed as shown)

To make 8 half square triangles at once use the Magic 8 technique using 3 3/4" squares.

The Whirling Pinwheel block can be found in Electric Quilt's Blockbase program as #1350.

Tomorrow-Tulip Wreath