Barbara Brackman's MATERIAL CULTURE: Daredevils Block #11: Elsa's Wheel

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Daredevils Block #11: Elsa's Wheel

Daredevils Block #11: Elsa's Wheel
Scroll down to see the pattern for a 15" finished block.

Dorry Emmer's #11

Becky Brown's block #11 with an empty center.

How it really looks.

A sunflower style circle seemed a good fit for a Daredevil block. I started with one published in Hearth & Home magazine, probably about 1910, BlockBase #3417. I shrunk the center circle and lengthened the points in EQ8.

They may have called it Charity Wheel because it was the kind of design popular for red and white signature quilts used to raise money for charities. People donated a dime and some good soul would embroider their names in Turkey red thread on the blocks.

Elsa's Wheel by Denniele Bohannon. You can see she used the original Charity Wheel proportions. She drew it in BlockBase.

The Block

Daredevils pattern for a 15" block.

Cut paper templates. Add seams to the fabric.

How to print:

Create a word file or a new empty JPG file that is 8-1/2" x 11".
Click on the image above.
Right click on it and save it to your file.
Print that file out 8-1/2" x 11". The small square should measure 1"
Adjust the printed page size if necessary.

The real daredevil here is me. My New Year's resolution was to get better at digital patterns. This one is evidence I'm not good enough yet---small crash. Ellen noticed that in the pattern I drew for the PDF you bought that the large circle is not round and some of the points don't touch the circle.

This is an EQ operator error. I should have made more snaps.. If there aren't enough pinpoint snaps you can't match the circle to the points. I fixed it, at least I hope so. You will see that on the pattern above it says revised. If you bought the PDF pattern you might want to redraw that large arc. Ellen says on her pattern she redrew a radius of 5 5/8+ or 5 11/16" with a compass. Thank you, Ellen.