Garden Bouquet Quilt ~ The Pansy

Block No.8 ~ The Pansy

“I want to make a purple pansy.” I don’t, I want a yellow one.” “Not for me, I want a reddish brown.” Thus spoke the members of the Nancy Page Quilt Club.

I don’t see why each one of you can’t make the pansy the color you please. Your choice is dependent on the scraps of material you have and on the color you chose for the flowers close to it. If you made a re-orange nasturtium you scarcely want to repeat those tones in the flower next to it. Look your pieces over while I tell you how we will make this flower.

First get the urn block ready, the pattern for that was given much earlier. it is the pieced triangular block which is the pieced triangular block which is the lower half of a diamond measuring 12-1/2 by 12-1/2.

The upper part of the triangle, 17-1/2 by 12-1/2 by 12-1/2 is the piece of white on which the pansy and the two birds are appliqued.

The patterns for the birds were given earlier. They may be appliqued in spare time ahead of each new flower.

Or, if you are varying the color of the birds to match or contrast with the color of the flower you will want to wait until you see what the flower is going to be and until you decide in just what colors you will make it. Once that is decided the rest is simple.

Trace the outline of the flower lightly in place on the upper triangle. This is not necessary. It simplifies the placement of the flower later, but with the small guide inset given each week it is often omitted.

After the pattern, with its accompanying directions, has been cut from the paper trace the flower and leave s and stem onto light weight cardboard.

Now cut out the pattern and you have cardboard cutting pieces.

Lay these on the materials and cut out the cloth. Be sure to allow one-quarter inch on all sides. This is basted under and pressed. And is done before the flowers are appliqued.

In making the stem use bias tape in green. Other material may be used. If this is done, cut the stem on the bias and cut the material twice as wide as the finished stem will be. Turn raw edges back until they meet, baste and press.

Be sure that all materials are color fast and soft and easily stitched. If the flower comes too close to the head of the birds increase the length of the stem slightly. This raises the flower and gives more design in the upper part of triangle.

Work the eye of the pansy with fast color embroidery cotton. Use what is called the satin stitch, just one thread laid close beside another.

When the birds and flower design are finished the eighth block is ready for the quilt. This finishes the second row of flowers across the quilt. The large white diamonds are seamed in between the patterned diamonds in the same fashion as was suggested when the wild rose block was finished.

The group decided the pansy gave them nice thoughts, of which Nancy quite approved for pansy or hearts-ease is Shakespeare’s flower for thoughts.

“garden bouquet quilt, block no.8, the pansy” Newspapers.com, Edmonton Journal, January 16, 1932, https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-garden-bouquet-quilt-b/161760147/