Orphan Blocks to Quilts, Day 1

I came across this quilt I put together back in 1998. My editor at Quilt Magazine had a set of vintage appliqué blocks that she wanted me to set into a quilt. I was game! She sent the blocks to me and I arranged them on point, added borders and we had it quilted. What a beauty!

Magnolia Blossom: 7" block; 48" x 58" quilt

This is what was written in the 1998 issue of our magazine: 

“Let Spring bloom in a quilt.” So said the Weekly Kansas City Star for its January 11, 1936 offering of a quilt block entitled “Flower of Spring.” This old-time block was contributed by Miss Margaret L. Bosworth, Agnos, Missouri and many home sewers quickly cut out their own versions of this beautiful pieced block, sewing up several during the cold winter months in eager anticipation of the coming spring. Barbara Brackman lists this as #799 with other names of “Floral Patchwork” and “A Tulip Pattern in High Colors.” 

I transformed these 12 blocks into a larger quilt with simple setting triangles to make them sit upright. Then somehow I got creative with those green and white outside setting triangles that mimic a set in border. Yes, it was a "fool the eye" trick.

Let's see some artwork. We included templates for these easy patches, but when you see the parts separated, you can understand how it works. Fun, huh?

Here is an image for the block (remember - this was from 25 years ago and I was newish to designing in Adobe Illustrator!)

7" Magnolia Bud block

I never in my wildest dreams would undertake to make 9 appliqué blocks like this, but I'm glad someone did!

We don't know the maker of the blocks, but I'm sure she would be delighted to know that they were transformed into a lovely quilt that has made someone very happy. That's why we quilt, right?