Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt #1 – Crocus

The first flower used in the Grandmother’s Quilt, was the early spring crocus. There was great discussion among the members as to whether the flower should be purple, lavender or yellow. Nancy had pieces of Peter Pan gingham in the three colors. Also she had pieces of oil boiled small patterned printed calicos which looked like Grandmother’s day. These were In lavender and yellow.

“Why don’t you choose which ever one you like best, Cynthia? It’s your block and you can have the color you want.” At Nancy’s suggestion Cynthia took figured yellow.

“I wish we could show the deep yellow stigma of the flowers. Of course, we can’t but It would be Interesting since it is from them we get saffron.”

“Oh, have you had saffron cake and buns,” asked’ Marjorie, who had Just returned from a year in England. “We had them over there at Easter time. And I heard that old super Grandmother’s Garden Quilt, Block 1, the superstition that saffron dyed linen had a health value. Henry VIII had to forbid his people to use the dye since they colored cloth with it and said this cloth had sanitary value and needed less laundry than white material.”

The club laughed over that and while they were still smiling Nancy told them of the first crocus.

“Once upon a time there was a noble youth named Crocus who loved a shepherdess called Smilax. But, according to the laws of the old Greek gods. Crocus could not stoop to wed a shepherdess. He killed himself In grief. The goddess Flora felt so badly for the bereft Smilax that she turned both Crocus and Smilax Into plants. He became the jaunty yellow flower we know and Smilax was the beautiful vine with tendrils which clings to Crocus. For Greek marriage festivals they used garlands bound together with smilax tendrils.”

The story stopped while Nancy gave direction for making flowers and leaves.

Lay the pattern as printed In today’s paper onto a sheet of lightweight cardboard or tag-board. Paste It to this backing with library paste. Dry under pressure.

When dry cut on outlines with sharp scissors. Use the small insert to show way flowers are placed on upper part of basket block.

Use soft green for leaves and stems. Be sure to make allowance for turned in edge.

In cutting stems use bias piece material cut twice as wide as pattern. Fold raw edges over until they meet at centre back. Baste in place. Press with warm iron.

Cut flowers from figured material. Allow one-quarter Inch on all sides for turned in edge.

Run fine stitches close to edge. Lay cloth on ironing board. Put cardboard pattern on top of cloth. Gather by means of running stitch until edge of material lies flat on pattern. Press with warm iron. Clip stitches and remove patterns.

Pin and baste pieces In proper places as shown by basket insert. Use invisible hemming stitch to applique flowers, stem and leaves to white material.

Applique handle in same way.

The club wondered what flower Nancy would have ready for the second basket, but she kept It a secret the following week.

Edmonton Journal
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 01 Dec 1928, Sat  •  Page 41

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Cynthia chose a saffron colored small patterned calico fabric for the tulips.

I had expected to post this on Saturday – July 17th. This would be in the spirit of the original weekly series. My plan was to also post my progress in the making of my quilt along with the series. I have been unable to print out the patterns at the original size. I realized that I had gotten bogged down in trying to get the basket pattern done first. I realized that I could work on the baskets the whole time, keeping up with the flower appliques.

Hopefully there will be progress to post this next Saturday. 😉

next week – The Fushcia