QUILTS & FABRIC: PAST & PRESENT


Friday, February 1, 2013

National Wear Red Day: A Free Pattern



February 1st is National Wear Red Day (February's First Friday) to raise awareness of heart disease in women.  I was reminded of this applique quilt pictured in an online auction a few weeks ago. 1840 is early for a red and white quilt. I don't think I have seen but one other dated 1840 in that color scheme.


Here's one of my favorites in the collection of the Kansas Museum of History.
Read more here:

Like the hand quilt, most of the red and white quilts tend to be from the 1880-1920 period. You don't often see two story houses in patchwork.

This Delectable Mountain variation was popular then


The Millwheel has Turkey red plains for the darks and a dotted shirting print for the lights. The use of a shirting print for a light neutral is quite common between 1880 and 1920.


A few more from online auctions



This is NOT a quilt but a red and white tablecloth by Viennese artist Josef Hoffmann from 1905.
It is in the collection of the Chicago Art Institute.



Here's a free pattern for a pieced quilt I drew in EQ7 in a red and white mood. The blocks are octagons, the sashing turns into stars.

Wall Quilt  52" x 52"



The Blocks (9 )

A Cut 12-1/2" squares.

B Cut 4-7/8" squares. Leave them as squares and sew them on; press open; trim.



The Sashing

[Need 24 rectangular units and 16 cornerstones]

C Cut rectangles 2-5/8" x 5-1/4". Sew them on to D; press open; trim.

D Cut rectangles 4-1/2" x 12-1/2"

E Cut cornerstone squares 4-1/2"

You can make those cornerstones red or white. Red probably works better.



You can also make a queen-sized quilt.

Queen Size Quilt = 100" x 100"
36 Blocks

When I started this I was inspired by this antique quilt that looks to be from the 1840-1860 era. Not the least bit red and white.

I was thinking chrome orange and red and green and blue

But red and white just popped up.

11 comments:

  1. Love the red and white quilts. My first quilt ( I was about 10 ) was a red and white quilt finished by my Grandmother - her friend had started it. It's a complicated pattern - The Lady of the Lake, I think.

    Speaking of finishing a quilt someone else started, my Mom passed on some quilting patterns and block templates to me that were either my grandmother's or one of her quilting group friend's. In it were a finished block, and cut outs for 11 more blocks in the Little Dutch Boy pattern. (Sunbonnet Sue's brother) All in late 60's mini floral prints, mainly pink and blue. Little girls in overalls? Mushroom shaped hats? Just gotta finish up these blocks!

    I think we need another post from you on Sues gone bad. Barb

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  2. You always inform us of the important things in life--Red Day, Polka Dot Day, and so many wonderful quilts!

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  3. workntlthere is just something totally pleasing about red and white...hmmm...must be time to start another one...thanks for this! BH

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  4. I do love the red and white quilts and want to do some for next year, so i have ones to use for the different seasons and holidays.

    My family has a bad heart history, so a nice idea to make one in memory of my Mom.

    Debbie

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  5. That first quilt is amazing! I was blown away. Love the chutzpah putting huge initials in four prominent places.
    Thanks.

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  6. Thanks for the pattern - and the lovely quilt photos!
    Hilda
    Every Stitch

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  7. I hope everybody is wearing red today and thank you for the reminder Barbara! The quilts are just beautiful - I'm finishing up my own red and white (and gray) called Lifeguard. There's just something about that kind of red . . . Take care, Byrd

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  8. Thank you so much for this pattern and another Red & White beauty!

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