Monday, September 25, 2017

Identifying An Antique Quilt Pattern

             Identifying An Antique Quilt Pattern

One of our quilting group members shared a gorgeous family heirloom with us last week.  Annette wanted to know what the pattern was.  We thought perhaps it was something with Lemoyne Star.  

Seems that the basic part of a pattern is used, and often embellished, then given a totally different name.  So out came the reference books.  
Family Quilt Circa early 1930's Shared By Annette Hoeft



Updated and Modernized version of the quilt.  
StarFlower Blocks Courtesy of Sarah Eischen, Tammy Coiner, Toni Devine and Karen Fulbright.  (photo by Karen Fulbright)

These next two photos are excerpted from the book:  The American Quilt Story  The How-T and Heritage of a Craft Tradition  By Susan Jenkins and Linda Seward.  (I will bring this for everyone to enjoy on Thursday)   
I got very excited when I ran across this one... not exactly the right pattern, but on the right track.  This is circa 1860, made at a "Bee" in the north to raise funds for the Union Cause.  
This "Snow Crystal" quilt was made in Oklahoma in the 1920s.  Love the dark blue sashing with white cornerstones.  The blue/white colorway is reminiscent of mosaic or maybe Arabic tiling... 

After much searching, the pattern was found.  It is called "Snow Crystal"  
It was indeed started with a "Lemoyne Star"  (from Pinterest)


So....  What is the difference between all these star patterns.  Having just finished a big block quilt with the "Starflower" block, I was curious.  Our Starflower was an eight point star done entirely with whole blocks in the corners and in everything else (the star itself) done with half-square triangles.  

The specific difference in these two types of blocks is that the Lemoyne Star has diamonds and triangles and squares, requiring advanced setting skills and "Y" seams.  If you look carefully at the construction of the individual units you can see that the diamonds in one piece are more elongated, and the triangle between each set of star points is considerably shorter than a half-square triangle, requiring the dreaded "Y" seam to connect the units.  

Starflower units of half square triangles are more evenly balanced and require less finesse in the piecing... lending themselves wonderfully to chain piecing and quick construction. 

So hats off and a toast to the "SNOW CRYSTAL"  a peek back in time! 







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