A new applique project for May.
It's a combination of piecing and applique.
Collector Mary Barton found a top fragment. When she
donated it to the Iowa Historical Society she called it Double Apple.
The only published name I've found---
from the Farm Journal
Dated 1849 by Mary E. Mills
from Fourth Corner Antiques
One from Cindy's Antiques. There's a lot
of variation. It's a single pieced flower
with a circle in the center and an appliqued stem on one side.
From GBBest on eBay.
Leaves or buds may be along the edges.
The examples I have look mid-19th century.
I've got two from the Quilt Index.
This one from the Minnesota project
Another from Quilts of Tennessee
A relative
The latest version I found. Maybe 1880-1910.
Perhaps someone's pattern block
I wanted a pattern. I realized it's probably related to the structure of a Reel block and I could probably draw it myself.
So I found a pieced Reel block in BlockBase...
#P018
Imported it to EQ for a basic pattern structure
and erased and added lines.
Here's my EQ drawing.
I re-oriented it in Photoshop & added some applique parts from the antique examples.
You get the picture.
You can print these JPGs out at 8"
and then double them for a large block
Here are templates for an 8" block from EQ:
Print it on an 8-1/2 x 11" sheet.
I'd make it at least 150% larger.
(You'll have to redraw the seam allowances if you enlarge it.)
In Kansas we have a sunflowery plant
called Compass Plant or Compass Flower
because it orients towards the sun.
Silphium laciniatum doesn't look much like the pattern
but you draw the quilt design with a compass so....
If you do a web search for Compass Flower
you also find instructions on how to draw overlapping
circles, which is probably where the old pattern comes from.
A link to some mathematics:
http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/57850.html
And here's another relative.
All appliqued.
Becky sends a photo of a May Apple, a shy little shade plant.
You are very clever. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteNice applique block.
ReplyDeleteMary Mills' quilt is a beauty.
I'm very acquainted with Mayapples from wandering the woods on my parents Ohio farm Here are some views of the plant and flower http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/mayapple.htm http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/food/edibleplants/mayapple/index.html
ReplyDeleteI have a big patch of May Apples in the woods. They have just started blooming - I should send you a picture. They look like umbrellas the size of a lunch plate with one bloom on the underside. A sweet flower for an applique.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely variations. I think it was wonderful the way you made the pattern from another pattern. =) Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information, I’ll try to draw my flower and do the pattern.
ReplyDelete