How the tulip pattern was handed around in the last half of the 19th century remains a mystery.
The color scheme and its bloom of diamond shapes is a characteristic.
North Carolina Museum of History
by Nancy M Steele Mills (1818-1890), Iredell County
In this sad survivor the green has faded to a pale tan.
Once Ruby McKim published her Tulip Applique in the late 1920s her design became a popular source. She must have seen a similar quilt as her design is a lot like the Southern examples. Note that her pattern was for a 16" block.
This one was probably made from McKim's pattern
I bet that block is 16 inches or more.
When I was looking for patterns I found that the Electric Quilt program
includes a pattern for Laura Ella Anderson's North Carolina quilt.
I modified the colors to the traditional palette.
(It's under "04 Classic Applique---Flowers on Point")
And then I decided that Laura's leaves weren't that graceful
so I redrew them.
Here's a free pattern for an 8" block. If you print it 150% it makes a 12" block, which would give it the proper Carolina proportion. Add seams.
(Double it for 16" and go crazy.)
And that is the end of the Giant Tulip invasion.
And the pattern too? Fabulous posts!!!! Again, thank you!
ReplyDeleteGot to love anything with tulips on them. The first flowers my husband, then boyfriend, gave me was a bouquet of yellow tulips (not yet opended) he bought from a street vendor in Washington, DC. He thought they were yellow roses, and since I am originally from Texas, was a good choice for me. I loved those yellow tulips! I have sure enjoyed seeing all the tulip quilts you have shown.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love tulips. Great information and photos.
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