I am in the process of making a quilt for the Susan G. Komen Three Day Breast Cancer Walk (second time around - made one last year - raffled off - $5.00 each or 5 tickets for $20.00 - made scads of money). This year I am in the process of making a Sampler Quilt and I always write a book with my quilt, talking about the weather, news, sports, little sayings or adages, jokes, hints and what's going on around our home, a little bit about Miss Bess, our dog, please note sweet puppy at left sitting on a baby quilt! Anyhow, to the point -- I would like to know if there is a book or a website, something from the library that would let me tell the story of the quilt block. I am doing a 35 block quilt. "Clay's Choice" has a political meaning, "Churn Dash" has a home life/farm life meaning and I would like to have a story behind each of my blocks. I know some of them never had a name, and that names have changed throughout the years, but I would like to know which ones they are and be able to work it so that when the person that wins the quilt and gets the book can lay the quilt on the floor and look at the blocks and know that there is a story behind each block. That is my plan - I have seven blocks done so far, which means 28 to go and a lot of research to go with it. I have until May to get this done so it can go on display and tickets can be purchased until August when it will be raffled off.

Any help anyone can give me would be so appreciated. If I should write down the names of the blocks I am making, I can do that and put that in here, just let me know.

Thanks in advance for all of your help. Edie

I know in NH that once a year a museum dwtn puts on a quilt show. I know they have quilting books when the show is there, I quess I'm wondering if someplace like this would have this info for you. I went to this show years ago and can't quite remember exactly what they had.

Very thoughtful project!!! Good Luck :-D

I just found these sites. It may have some of what you're looking for.

http://www.quilt.com/QuiltHistoryPage.html
http://www.quiltersmuse.com/
http://www.quiltersmuse.com/republic...uiltblocks.htm
http://www.fabrics.net/LaurettePatterns.asp

I think any nice size library would have some good resources, Give us the list and I bet we could come up with the books,credits etc... Good luck with the raffle...

I checked our library the other day and they have nothing. Actually, I could only find two books, but then I could hit all the other libraries in the city and surrounding areas, but I didn't see anything on the list for other libraries. I haven't tried our link to other libraries in the state and surrounding states.

These are the blocks I am going to use. So far so good. It is turning out.

1. Shoo Fly
2. A Dandy
3. 1930's Square
4. Amish Star (think that is just a design of the Amish)
5. Ranger's Pride (I think that had to do with Texas Rangers)
6. Card Trick
7. Cubed Lattice
8. Box Quilt
9. Hole in the Barn Door (Farming)
10. Dutchman's Puzzle or Return of the Swallows
11. Kansas Star
12. Candle in the Window
13. Flying Shuttles (weaving?)
14, Weather Vane (Farming?)
15. Broken Pinwheel
16. Churn Dash
17. Churn Dash with a Twist
18. Balkan Puzzle
19. Comforts of Home
20. Friendship Scrap Block
21. Cedars of Lebanon (Bible)
22. Ohio Star
23. Next Door Neighbor
24. Salem
25. Solomon's Star (Bible)
26. Dove in the Window
27. Hidden Star
28. Lady of the Lake
29. Swing in the Center
30. Flight of the Swallows
31. Cups and Saucers
32. Columbian Puzzle
33. Flying in Circles
34. Antique Tile
35. Patience Corners

AS you can see, I have quite a job ahead of me. I think the hardest part is finding the origin and meaning of the block. I think this would also be the best part of the book.

I have seven blocks done now for the cancer quilt and three done for my granddaughter's graduation quilt. I am also doing a book for her, except I am using colors and fabric designs that would fit her (no soccer balls in the cancer quilt)!

Again, for all your help, I thank all of you. Edie

great sites.

Below is a book that has 4000 patterns in it. If you google it you will find it. Also they have a reprint out of it with a cd for the blocks. :-)

Barbara Brackman, “Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Pattern Names,” 1993. American Quilters Society.

Also when I looked at a couple of those sites from earlier. Shoo-Fly was from farming.

Thank you!~ I found this one at the library and put in a request for it. I will check it out and probably order it for my own "library"! Edie

Hi Edie
Just stumbled on this while looking for history on quilt bloacks.
I'm sure this quilt is long-since finished, but I'd be very interested to hear what all you found out about the history if each quilt block.
Regards
Sharon

I am wondering if you found all the answers you were seeking? As I want to create a quilt for a Soldier in Afghanistan and well, I am looking for blocks that would represent the type of person he is and the honor he deserves and the thanks from the bottom of my heart to him. He is a friends son and is feeling a bit depressed from having to be so far from home and his family and friends. Any help would be greatly appreciated!