Introducing Mother's Quilt

This friendship quilt has been in my collection for a few years. It hasn't received a lot of attention. I don't even have a good photo of the whole quilt, it's quite large.  I call it Mother's Quilt because there are not one but two blocks that say "Mother"; the second one has the date 1936.

 I spent two days on Ancestry.com and I now know a lot more about the quilt and its makers.  I found the majority of names in the 1930 census for Richland Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania.  Very conveniently, most of the names were recorded in just three or four pages of the census.

I think that "Mother" is most likely Lizzie Shoup with blocks made by four daughters, three daughters-in-law, three granddaughters, a few nieces and so on.

 

 

 

One of the likely resources for design ideas was Grandma Dexter Applique and Patchwork Designs, Book 36A, published by Virginia Snow Studios about 1932. This 24 page book contained a small picture of each pattern and full size templates to trace. Instructions were minimal.  The applique block at the start of this post is Sweet Pea Wreath.  

This block is Tropical Butterfly.  Note that the template for the insect body is included, then you just "Embroider wings."

 

 

 Baseball. This block shows the quilting, free-form flowers joined with stems around each applique.

 

 

Dervish Star.  This pattern was particularly popular, there are four in the quilt. 

 

 

Grandmother's Flower Garden, a classic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Triple Stripe in Grandma Dexter, more usually named The House Jack Built.  The maker's name is Avanell Shoup, one of the daughters-in-law.

I can't wait for chapter 2 of Mother's Quilt, hope you join me then!