My guess is Jane Stickel's Dear Jane quilt pattern in book form. The last I heard there were 100,000 copies sold. Brenda Papadakis is the author.

I'll have to go along with Log Cabin for the most frequently 'made' quilt.

For the most frequently 'bought' pattern, I'd probably go with Grandmother's Flower Garden.

Does anyone know the answer?

my guess is log cabin too

It is very difficult to determine what would be the best selling quilt pattern. I remember quilting from the depression days when Mom and friends had a Quilt Guild. They worked on 9 patch, 4 patch both with sashes, Grandmother's flower garden, Pickle dish, Wedding ring (both double and single), sometimes applique, mostly tulips and roses and square on square for the wool quilts. There were no purchased patterns that I know of. They just traded patterns back and forth for the quilt the Guild was working on at the time.

If I had to choose what the best selling quilt pattern is, I would pick Trip around the World.

That's a good question but I have no idea what the answer is. I know during the Depression era they had patterns in newspapers but I've never seen ads for them being sold. I have several books by the historian Barbara Brackman but they are about fabrics. Super interesting!

Elanore Burn's Log Cabin revolutionized quilting. It's popular. My vote goes to oldies like Double Wedding Ring, Dresden Plate and Grandmother's Flower Garden...ones ladies could sit and hand sew. Also a Scrappy Quilt was very popular.

As quilting has been a part of history for so long, I'm not sure that could ever be determined. Lots of possibilities have already been posted, but I don't think you'll ever know.

Most websites that sell patterns have a "best sellers" tab.

i really do not know but i wold say that gmfg would be my vote

I would say a Log Cabin, or a stripped star.

My guess would be long cabin.

Did anybody mention '9 Patch' at least in popularity?

I vote for the log Cabin.

I vote for the log Cabin.

The Double Wedding Ring is the patten that most people know (quilters and nonquilters).
Brenda

Most popular...probably Log Cabin.

It would also be interesting to see what is the most frequently made quilt pattern (i.e. It's not made to be sold but to be used or given away.)

i think i would have to be an old pattern, as they would naturally have higher numbers....i would be interesting to find out........

well lots of people like the BQ pattern. uses a 12 inch focus square to show off your fabric.

the original question was "best selling". Many of the old pattens were handed down from grandparent, to mom, to child (or other family members). Doubt any of the old pattens were "SOLD" prior to the late 20th century.

I would like to know that too... good question.

log cbin was the first thing that came to me

My choice would be a Basket block.

This would be my guess also. :D

My guess ... log cabin

Quiltingnonie

I love your avatar quilt. I am in Charleston, OR for the summer, where in Oregon are you?

Don't know about best selling but I'd be willing to bet SunBonnet Sue and Churn Dash are way up on the list.

Those of you that mention free patterns in newspapers and magazines are correct. I have some of the original Kansas City Star (newspaper) patterns from the 1930's. I also have patterns from Capers Weekly and the Workbasket magazine (1930-50's). In addition to these, the batting wrappers had patterns on the back. I have a few of those also. The free patterns on the internet have replaced them I guess. I know for sure our Grandmothers did not purchase patterns.

The first patterns sold were advertised and published in newspapers in the early years of the 1900s and were sold for small amounts of change - like 5 and 10 cents. The postage was a penny or two....

I rather suspect that the question has no real answer...
because the records just may not have been kept.

If the question is : "Which patterns were most made?"
Then it is probably the nine patch.

The early pioneer quilts were scrappy, and hand sewn, using one cut out square of fabric as the pattern, keeping it, and placing it on a scrap, and cutting carefully around it, and keeping the cut out pieces, perhaps sewing them together until the quilt was big enough.

There are many patterns and books that offer variations on the log cabin, if that counts as purchased patterns.

I would bet recently the best selling would be "turning twenty." Or "yellow brick road" So many people talk about making these and it's almost universally known by quilters and you can't find it free on line anywhere.

You lady's are all wonderful. It was just a thought I woke up with a while back. I guess we will never know for sure but thank the good lord we all have access to all the patterns now be it free or bought.

At least 1921. I have one of my great grandmother's catalogs, "Best new Quilts of 1921." Price: 10/25 cents.

I would say the Log Cabin or the 9 patch, they used what ever fabic they had, these pattern would look pretty scapy.(sp). I know my Mother made a many 9 patch.

I agree with the log cabin

YELLOW BRICK ROAD It comes in several sizes and looks totally different with each fabric choice and it's quick and easy

I live about 25 mi east of Salem, a small town called Lyons. Are you staying on the coast?
If you'd like to read/see more about my avatar quilt, here's the link: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-39298-1.htm

My grandmother made quilts out of old coats flannel and wool shirts did them up in squares sewed them together and tied them with yarn. I remember us kids having them on our beds they really lasted a long time. That was back in the 1900's that she made those quilts and passed them down through the family.
When she seen a dress she liked she would lay newspaper on the floor and cut out a pattern free hand, she really had talent

dltaylor . . . . .Your family tree quilt is absolutely beautiful. Did you create this? I am very interested in the pattern.
iowalady

I have 2 just like that that my grandmother made. They are really warm. We had one made of my Daddy's army uniforms but it disappeared after my sister died. (New wife was a B****)