March 27

WINDMILL

Windmill and Outline is the full name for today’s block. It was first published by Ruby McKim as a block to be alternated with embroidered squares.

According to Barbara Brackman, “McKim Studios in Independence, Missouri was a mail-order source for patterns and she also syndicated a newspaper column with full-size patterns in the late 1920s and 30s” (2012). This pattern was also re-published as part of Ruby McKim’s 101 Patchwork Patterns in 1962.

Download March 27 instructions (as .pdf)

March 28

TWIST

Let’s have some fun with partial seams!

This block was called Bright Hopes by Farm Journal and Farmer’s Wife in 1945. That is probably the name I should give it; however Maggie Malone also called it Twist. This name seems so much more evocative of the movement in the block. Either way, it is the perfect introduction to partial seams.

Fabric Key for Cutting

Download March 28 instructions (as .pdf).

March 29

FRIENDSHIP STAR

This is a variation on the Friendship Star block. The original version has half-square triangles; but I’ve changed the block so it has fewer pieces and so we can practice our partial seams.

Traditional Friendship Star block

The block didn’t get the name I know it by, Friendship Star, until 1973. Initially, it was called Good Home in 1907, when it was submitted to Good Stories with the following: “it was made and presented to me by some of my good neighbors at a ‘housewarming’ held when we moved into our new home after the old one was burned”.

This block has also been published multiple times by the Kansas City Star: The Lost Goslin’ and Wings in a Whirl in 1939, and The Pin Wheel in 1953.

Download March 29 instructions (as .pdf).

March 30

ECCENTRIC STAR

Again, I’ve adapted this traditional pattern so that we can practise partial seams. The original block contains half-square triangles looks like:

Please feel free to make the block in this colour scheme. It merely means swapping the sides for the colours on the flying geese units in the pattern; no additional cutting.

Eccentric Star is a pattern from women’s page of the Capper’s Weekly newspaper, according to Barbara Brackman. It was published sometime between 1927 and 1935, and syndicated to other newspapers during that time, and the Famous Features mail-order pattern booklets after the 1940s. The pattern designer was most likely Louise Fowler Roote.

Download March 30 instructions (as .pdf).

March 31

FLYING KITE

A fun block for the last day of the month!

Our block was published in the Kansas City Star under the name Flying Kite in 1937; however, it was originally published as Pinwheel in one of Winifred Clark’s pattern booklets (Booklet #21) in 1932. My sources dispute the name of the booklet. It was either Grandmother Clark’s Old Fashioned Quilt Designs, or Grandmother Clark’s Authentic Early America Quilts.

It took me quite a while to figure out the mathematics to piece this block simply. Enjoy!

Fabric Key for Cutting

Download March 31 instructions (as .pdf).