Tag Archives: Quilt Blocks

Tree Toad Tongue Twister/Inez’s Clippings

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Though faded with age, I have my grandmother’s handwriting in this example of her saved pieces.

It’s pretty hard to read even with the filter possibilities I tried…so here’s a clearer version.

Tree Toad Tongue Twister

A tree toad loved a she toad
That lived up in a tree.
She was a 3-toed tree toad
But a 2-toed toad was he.
The 2-toed tree toad tried to win
The she toad's friendly nod;
For the 2-toed tree toad loved the ground 
that the 3-toed tree toad trod.
But vainly the 2-toed tree toad tried
He couldn't please her whim;
In her tree toad bower
with her V-toe power
the she toad V-toed him.

In the poem, it described a ‘She Toad’ who loved her sanctuary, as most women do. And she didn’t want to be bothered with the ‘He Toad’. Where is Your happy place?? Here’s Mine in pictures. Crazy Anne II quilt is ready for binding….

  • Crazy Anne II only needs binding
  • Back view in the hoop
  • Last section to quilt
  • Hand quilting
  • Reference

Another KC Star quilt for the books. Note: Some call this pattern Wheel of Fortune but I’m referencing the 1949 version as you can see in the photo from The Kansas City Star Quilts Sampler by Barbara Brackman. And just think, this quilt top came from Facebook marketplace in a tub of scraps for $15. About as good as it gets!! Yep, time spend quilting is synonymous with me in my sanctuary.

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Letter P for Pinwheels/AtoZ 2019

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The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!

  • Pinwheels Redraft Options fro Star Quilts
    Pinwheels Redraft Options fro Star Quilts
  • KC Star Pinwheel 1930
    KC Star Pinwheel 1930

As the book states, “Simplicity recommends this quilt block”, you can’t go wrong with a pinwheel block. Lots of options for layouts as you can see in the redraft version to the left. The Kansas City Star first published the pattern on April 19, 1930. Pretty good staying power after 89 years I’d say.

  • Checking right sides are correct
    Checking right sides are correct
  • Fabric Choices
    Fabric Choices
  • Pinwheels Layout
    Pinwheels Layout

Be sure to keep right sides and wrong sides flipped accordingly or you’ll have a ‘dull’ spot in your quilt blocks. There’s nothing that stands out more than the wrong side of a fabric in one little area. This is why I lay my blocks out beforehand. Just saves me from spending time with that seam ripper.

Pinwheels Completed
Pinwheels Completed

Also known as Flutter Wheels, these Pinwheels make a quilt cheerful. Hope you’ll recognize them next time you see them in an old quilt.

Did You Know?

Remember the Our Gang and Little Rascals Movies? The classic films with Alfalfa, Darla, Spanky, Buckwheat, Stymie, Porky and more?? Our small town of Sedalia, Missouri is birthplace to an actress, Grace Ivadell Carter. Her birthdate is January 7, 1914 and she did parts in 3 of these different short movies (or shorts) in 1923 and 1924. Her appearances in these shorts totaled 8. Saluting yet another Missourian in the A to Z Challenge this year.

Grace Ivadell Carter
Grace Ivadell Carter

Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in

Letter M for Milky Way/AtoZ 2019

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The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!

  • Vintage MIlky Way quilt from Star Quilts
    Vintage MIlky Way quilt from Star Quilts
  • Milky Way as in KC Star 1930
    Milky Way as in KC Star 1930

If you’re making a whole quilt of this block you may notice that you need to alternate the middle block or ‘star’ from lights to darks to get the desired results. But for this challenge, I needed only to create the one block.

Strip Piecing
Half-square Triangles
blocks ready to combine

Above you’ll see the yellow and white half-square triangle. In whole quilts that would need to alternate as a blue and white color scheme. (refer to quilt picture above)

  • Last Seam
    Last Seam
  • Milky Way Layout
    Milky Way Layout

Essentially, you have a 9-patch block here. Sewn in 3 rows and finally attached with 2 long seams.

Milky Way Block Completed
Milky Way Block Completed

Did You Know?

In keeping with the era of the 1930’s I’m sharing with you about an astronomer, Robert Julius Trumpler today. He revealed that the size of the Milky Way Galaxy was off. And give us the ‘real’ map of stars and clusters, a way was needed to get a view through that dust. The tool itself wasn’t invented until the 1950’s but, “Thank You!” Trumpler for paving the way!!

Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in

Letter L for Maple Leaf/AtoZ 2019

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The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!

From Star Quilts- a vintage Maple Leaf block quilt
From Star Quilts - Kansas City Star 1930 version

In 1930, the Kansas City Star said ‘green makes a pretty maple leaf quilt’ That may be, but the maple leaf’s splendor is the colorful display it makes in the fall. Everyone knows that right?? Well if not, look it up.

Half Square Triangles
Half Square Triangles

The colors in this block won’t necessarily reflect the colorful scenes of a forest full of maple trees. But it is going to make a nice addition to the quilt top. Even if I did have to adjust nearly every solid colored square by trimming away 1/4 inch on 2 sides of them. I’m not complaining. But I have to say I never saw this coming when I planned a Kansas City Star quilt project. I wonder what the quilters of days past would have said about these measurement issues? Did they not make samplers??

Image result for eye roll meme

Ok I am complaining.

Just a little adjusting goin’ on around here. If you sew quilts, you’ll see the number this block has played on me by not being correctly published. But it is the way of the A to Z right? Adjust your schedule, time, photos, etc. You get the idea. So maybe this is a life lesson for me. Let me continue to the end. It did work out ok, just shy of an inch.

Maple Leaf Block Completed
Maple Leaf Block Completed

Measuring 11 inches, I present the Maple Leaf block. I will forever remember the trimming and holding my breath til the very end. I salute you quilt professionals out there.

Did You Know?

The Maple Leaf Rag, by Scott Joplin, was published in Sedalia, Missouri in 1899 by a local music store owner, Joh Stark. It became a classic model for ragtime tunes and Sedalians are pretty proud as it holds the annual Scott Joplin Festival each year during the first weekend of June.

Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in

Letter K for Flying Kite/AtoZ 2019

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The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!

From Star Quilts book
From Star Quilts book

In 1937 Flying was a pretty big part of the news with Amelia Earhart, the Hindenburgh and Jacqueline Cochran (who set a national speed record for women). Why not create a quilt block called Flying Kite?!

  • Flying Kite Layout
    Flying Kite Layout
  • The chosen colors
    The chosen colors

Confession time…I went shopping with mom and in a big way. A local store (fabric store) went out of business after the owner passed away and a couple fabrics you see here were fat quarters, not scraps. Sigh. Couldn’t help it. Sometimes a girl has to go for the bargains.

For portions to connect
Center Seam

And who can pass up a great sale?

If you like pinwheels, this is a spinner variety you should love.
If you like pinwheels, this is a spinner variety you should love.

Did You Know?

So on the topic of sales, in 1937 I thought I’d share the cost of living for some things.

  • New House $4,100
  • Yearly wages average $1780
  • Gallon of gas 10 cents
  • Loaf of bread 9 cents
  • New car $760

Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in

Letter J for Jacob’s Ladder/ AtoZ 2019

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The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!

Jacob's Ladder in all it's glory
1928 Kansas City Star Version of Jacob's Ladder in Star Quilts.

I’ve made this quilt block before but not for the A to Z Challenge. My own quilt made with multiple Jacob’s Ladder blocks is here. Scroll to the bottom of my Completed Creations page and you’ll see Patriotic Jacobs Ladder.

Jacob's Ladder Pairs
1/2 Square Triangles
The Layout

Using a good mix of dark, medium and light colors will give you the desired effect in creating the whole quilt or the single block.

Jacob's Ladder completed
Jacob’s Ladder completed

Did You Know?

Considered one of the most tragic Explosion Disasters of the year 1928 was in West Plains, Missouri. A gas explosion at a dance hall killed 36 where there had been 40 couples dancing. The dance floor during the explosion was lifted to the ceiling and dropped. It’s believed that when the garage door opened in the floor below, the explosion occurred due to gasoline stored there.

Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in

Letter I for Jack ‘I’n the Box/ AtoZ 2019

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The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!

1929 Kansas City Star 'Jack in the Box'
1929 Kansas City Star ‘Jack in the Box’

I chose this block for Letter I instead of the Irish Chain. It was one I hadn’t made before and even though it’s not technically an ‘I’ block, I am pulling the It’s my blog card. So here we go…..

  • Jack in the Box Variations
    Jack in the Box Variations
  • Before and after ironing
    Before and after ironing
  • Lines drawn and ready to sew
    Lines drawn and ready to sew
  • More Lines drawn for sewing
    More Lines drawn for sewing
  • Last seams
    Last seams

A lot of movement goin’ on with the direction of this block. It was important to have a layout first and a picture reference or it would have been easy to turn one piece the wrong way.

Jack in the Box Completed
Jack in the Box Completed

Vintage materials can make a one of a kind quilt block. In a sampler, it’s just plain fun to use up those fabrics you love but can’t find any other use for.

Did You Know?

Speaking of Vintage, I found a little gem from 1929 that not too many of my hometown folks may know of. Let me introduce Jack Bland. I chose to talk about him both because he was born in Sedalia, Missouri and he happened to be a successful American jazz banjoist and guitarist in the Midwest and Chicago. For me personally, the banjo part is close to my heart. My close friends and family know my banjo connection. I play 5-string 🙂

Special Thanks to YouTube

Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in

Letter H for Heart’s Desire/ AtoZ 2019

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The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!

From the Kansas City Star Quilts Sampler book
From the Kansas City Star Quilts Sampler book

This 1932 block took a lot of piecing and for me personally it took 3 sewing sessions. My quilt time is usually in small stretches though. Still, it was pretty intense for a single block.

Let’s just say you had better have a lot of desire to finish a whole quilt of this block. I only had desire to make one at this time 😉 The following gallery of photos are just the quilt during the sewin process. Not going to describe everything in a paragraph. If you happen to have any questions, just leave them in the comments.

HeartsDesireCenter
HeartsDesireCenterPanel
FlyingGeesePortion
Triangles
Layout
Organizing
MirrorImages
Before&AfterIroning
FinalEdging

I truly love the end result of this block. The measurement ended right, the piecing instructions weren’t bad and it’s visually interesting. Sometime in the future, a whole quilt would not be out of the question.

Heart's Desire Block complete
Heart’s Desire Block complete

Did You Know?

With this block I’ll celebrate an outstanding female Missourian, Susan Elizabeth Blow. In my circle of life, there are children. Many children. So her achievement is close to my heart.

Susan founded the first public Kindergarten in St. Louis, Missouri and ran it 11 years without being payed. Of course she was priviledged, being the daughter of a wealthy family. Nonetheless, she believed in the importance of this early childhood introduction to school. Kindergarten readiness is how I spend my days with infants and children–guiding them with developmentally appropriate practices. Thanks to Susan for this wonderful contribution to our children!

Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in

Letter G for Garden Walk/ AtoZ 2019

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The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!

Fold of Goods is referring to those feed sack fabrics in 1932
Fold of Goods is referring to those feed sack fabrics in 1932

In antique shops, auctions, and at online sites such as Ebay or Etsy, you will still find feed sacks from days gone by to create your own quilts. Me? I just used a lot of scraps from my stash.

I Stored cut pieces individually
I Stored cut pieces individually

When preparing for a challenge such as this one or when creating a larger quilt, it helps to be organized so you have everything ready to go once you hit the sewing machine, or if you’re really ambitious, once you are ready to hand stitch. I don’t hand stitch unless it’s applique just for this record on my life called a blog.

Completed Garden Walk block. I should have used a flash.
Completed Garden Walk block. I should have used a flash.

This 1940 block is a different take on either a star or a compass style block. I personally think it would work for either category. It’s easy to make and offers many possibilities in color variations.

Did You Know?

In 1940 long-range weather forecasting was introduced. It covered 5 days and was issued twice a week. What a innovation for farmers, gardeners and many who ‘watch the skies’ for weather changes.

Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in

Letter B for Bear’s Paw/ AtoZ 2019

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The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!

Did You Know?

Black bears are a native animal to Missouri, are depicted on the Missouri state flag, and nearly became extinct until lately. Pettis County has been marked on a map
in 2008 and 2010 created by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Locals will tell you there are more recent sightings but apparently it’s not something people report. They’re on the comeback and if you are interested, the Missouri Department of Conservation has a Black Bear Sightings map. click here.

Size Comparison
Size Comparison

First off, a complaint. This is not a 12 inch block as stated in the book. It’s a 14-inch block. And do you know that nearly all of the tutorials online offer 14-inch blocks. I’m sure it’s a quilt dimension thing, like making it a desirable size when completed. But it’s frustrating for me personally when I need all 12-inch blocks. Enough said about that though. On with the block.

Both photos above are cellphone captures of mine from the Star Quilt book. They show a completed quilt on the left using only Bear Paw blocks and a photo as depicted in the Kansas City Star in 1937.

Stacks of lights and darks sorted, Darks counted out, and the Marked Blocks ready to sew are in the 3 pics above. Organization is pretty important in quilting, as is fabric choice, accurate cutting and correct seam allowances. I’m blessed to have years and years of tutoring from my own mother and grandmother in making this daunting task to some come so easily for me. But remember, there’s always Youtube when problems arise. 😉

Finding out the size at the start is something I neglected until the moment I began this layout process. By the time I made it to the last seam (Middle Photo), I knew I had a pretty large block on my hands. So what to do?

Bear Paw completed

By the end of the A to Z Challenge I’ll have a solution for this large block. It may or may not fit into my quilt in this instance. Other options may include a new block with the correct dimensions, or a pillow creation, or possibly a whole quilt with only Bear Paw blocks? Each of these are possibilities that I’ll consider.

Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in.