London Roads must have been a popular quilt block, I have a number of antique London Roads in my collection. The design is a 9-patch, so simple piecing and a variety of colour placement.
This is a big block, 15 inches square. Each of the nine patches is a simple pattern that work together to make an interesting patchwork block.
Another big block with some bold material choices. The blue print is a globe encircled by a crescent moon and five stars; the red print might be hockey sticks or little flags.
This block is smaller with some good use of stripes. All of the blocks are hand pieced.
And this one must have been a trial for a beginning quiltmaker. The choice of colours makes arrows pointing the way to London although you may be traveling around and around to get there.
* and I have only just noticed, as I am writing this post, that there is a scrap of a dotted print in the block above, just to extend one the pieces. It's not very big:
In years long past were built the famous English roads that called to mind this attractive quilt block. It was pieced of triangles and squares by one of our early New England settlers who, in a reminiscent mood, arranged the pieces to typify the roads leading to 'London Town.'
Chicago Tribune February 13, 1934
