"B" is for Bird

The next block is a sweet little bird.

Block 2-The Bird

The alphabet quilt was causing quite a 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 normally 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 a quilt for that size bed. She herself was making Joan’s quilt to fit her junior size 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 blocks are actually cut 6 ½ 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 tow shades of blue. Nancy might have made a robin with its warm coloring. But since she had made the apple a 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 was of the darker blue.

** at this point the instructions for transferring the pattern to the fabric and making the templates repeats from block 1 so I am leaving that out**

                Since the body of the bird was curved she decided to lay it on the 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 appliquéd more easily if the bill on the cloth were cut with a square instead of a pointed end. After cutting the two pieces for the body and wing she basted under a quarter of an inch and pressed the pieces.

                Laying them on the cloth according to the penciled outline she basted them in place then appliquéd them with fine, invisible slanting hemming stitches.

                She cut the body of the bird, remember, as if there were to be no wing appliqué, that is, it was the exact size of the whole bird. Then she later put the wing on top in it’s designated place. Nancy discovered that there was less danger of wrinkling or gathering 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 join with strips of white and color.

                She waited to do this until she had more of the finished appliqué blocks ready.  

click here to download the pattern

OH, and I just have to show you the pack of 1930's solids from Schoolhouse Quilts that I got at the Hershey show! Yummy!

Until next time....can you guess what the letter C will be?