Here we are at the second block in this alphabet quilt – The Bird. It sounds like all the members of Nancy’s Quilt Club are each making their own alphabet quilts!
The alphabet quilt was causing a great stir in the neighborhood.
All of the mothers who saw it wanted to start one immediately. A newly made aunt was sure that her little nephew would adore the quilt.
They discussed sizes. Nancy told them that a crib quilt was usually 36 inches wide and 42 inches long. the next size was 42 inches by 56. But the youngsters outgrew these cribs so soon that it seemed foolish to make the quilt for that size bed. She herself was making Joan’s quilt to fit her junior bed. The quilt was to be 60 by 90 inches when finished. If a mother wanted to make the smaller size she could change the size of the connecting blocks, but would keep the 24 alphabet blocks the given size. These are 6 inches square when finished, although the blocks are actually cut 6 1/2 inches square. This extra half inch allows for seams on all four sides.
The “B” block which Nancy is working today is a study in two shades of blue.
Nancy might have made a robin with its warm coloring, but since she had made the apple of rosy hue she used a different color scheme. Anyway she had two scraps of blue in fast color gingham which would make the body and wing. The wing way of the darker blue.
She took the newspaper pattern and cut out the whole square. Over this she laid her square of white. Holding the two against the window pane she was able to outline the pattern with a sharp pencil. She outlined the letter as well as the bird.
Next she laid her paper pattern on a square of light weight card board or tag board and pasted it on. She dried this under pressure.
When thoroughly dry she cut the pattern for the body of the bird.
Since the body of the bird was so curved she decided to lay it on a bias piece of blue. Curves are turned more easily when the material is on the bias.
In cutting she allowed one-quarter inch on all sides for turning in. Then she cut the piece for the wing, allowing one-quarter inch for turning in. She discovered that points like the bill could be appliqued more easily if the bill on the cloth were cut with a square instead of a pointed end. After cutting the two pieces of material for body and wing she basted under a quarter inch and pressed the pieces.
Laying them on the cloth according to the penciled outline she basted them in place and then appliqued them with fine, invisible slanting hemming stitch.
When cut the body of the bird, remember, as if there were to be no wing applique, that is, it was the exact size of the whole bird. Then she later put the wing on top in its designated place. Nancy discovered that there was less danger of wrinkling or getting the pattern askew if she did this.
When she had outlined the letter B with four strands of fast color embroidery cotton in the same shade of green as she had used for the letter A in the first block. She now had two alphabet blocks ready to be joined with strips of white and color.
She waited to do this until she had more of the finished applique blocks ready.
“Nancy Page Quilt Club – Alphabet Quilt – Block #2 – Bird” Newspapers.com, Edmonton Journal, October 26, 1929, https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-nancy-page-quilt-club/81119408/
Remember, if you want to purchase your own pattern you can get it as a block-of-the-month from here. This is NOT an affiliate link.
Alphabet Quilt – Block “A” – The Apple
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