Category: Civil War Quilt

“Yee-haw! I Get My Quilt!”

That was my daughter’s reply when I e-mailed that the quilt was ready for her to pick up.  After one year, twenty-five days and fifty-three blocks, the Barbara Brackman Civil War Quilt is completed.

I’m not good at free-motion quilting, so the quilting was stitch-in-the-ditch with decorative stitching in the sashing and borders.

The finished quilt measures 63×83 inches per my daughter’s specs.  She prefers a fleece backing and I used a pretty, gently-used fleece blanket as both batting and backing.  This made a very heavy quilt which was difficult to wrestle through my Bernina, but it will be a toasty-warm quilt for my daughter to use.

I used the label that Barbara Brackman provided and made it into a pocket big enough to hold an 8-½ x 5-½ list of all of the block names by row, printed on a sheet of printable fabric which was cut in half and sewn together so the printing shows on both sides.

It was quite an adventure throughout the weeks of 2011 and I thank Barbara Brackman for the series and thank heaven the quilt is finally finished and in its new owner‘s hands.

Civil War Quilt – The Label

I have received a couple of e-mails regarding printing the label that Barbara has provided for the Civil War Quilt.  This is how I did it:

  • Use the cursor to drag the picture to the size you want it.
  • Print the picture onto printer fabric – I use June Tailor Sew-In Colorfast Fabric Sheets for Ink Jet Printers.  I use a high quality picture setting for plain paper.  Be sure to leave a seam allowance around the picture.
  • Use a permanent marker to fill in the information on the label.  I have a software program that allows me to type the information rather than handwriting it

  • Press to set colors and then wash label according to manufacturer’s directions.  Dry.
  • Since the printer fabric is difficult to hand-sew, I make a border with enough fabric to turn under 1/4 inch and hand-stitch to the back of the quilt.

  • I plan to make my label into a pocket big enough to accommodate a 4×6 laminated card which will include the names of all of the blocks row-by-row.

Civil War Quilt – Putting it Together

Now, that the 53rd block in Barbara Brackman’s Civil War series is completed, I’m ready to begin putting the blocks together.  I don’t have a large design wall and I’m too old to get down on the floor to lay out blocks, so I turned to my Electric Quilt software.  I took pictures of the blocks as they were sewn, so it was easy to import the images in that order.  (I was waiting for the final block to be posted on this printout.)

Since my daughter who will be receiving the quilt wanted a particular custom size, I created a layout using 47 of the 53 blocks and made up one extra Sawtooth block so I could use an additional family picture.  I planned on 1 inch finished sashing and borders measuring 3 inches at the top, 2 inches at the bottom and sides to reach the required dimensions.

I used this printout to choose which blocks to eliminate and to switch the blocks around the way I thought they would look best.  This was all done on the computer – then I had another layout to work with.

In a large binder, I have been keeping the blocks in a plastic holder along with the original instructions and my notes.

Using the printout of the revised layout, I placed the blocks and instructions in sets according to row.

I took one row of blocks with me when I went shopping for fabric.  I already had colors in mind because I had auditioned them in the software ahead of time.  For the border, I chose a maroon with little gold stars and the same color of gold for the sashing.  For the cornerstones I chose a green that was in some of the fabrics in the blocks.

Now, it’s time to make up a block and see if it is what I expected it to be with the sashing and cornerstones.

I think this is going to work out well and today I finished the first row.

I’ll continue sewing the blocks row by row, and assembling them to make the quilt top.

Note:  Barbara has posted two labels that can be printed for the Civil War Quilt.

http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2012/01/label-for-quilt.html

Civil War Quilt – Block 53 – Union Shield

This is block #53 in the Civil War block-of-the-week series offered by Barbara Brackman.  It is called Union Shield.  Go to Barbara’s blog to get the pattern and to see the story and pictures related to this block.
http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2011/12/53-union-shield.html

This is an easy block.  This is how I assembled the block.

  • Download and save templates from Barbara’s post.  Print 2 copies of the page and cut out the 3 templates.

  • Using the templates, cut out the pieces.

  • Note that you will need a mirror image of triangle C to fit on either side of D.

  • Lay out the pieces on a mat in the proper order.

  • Stitch the corner triangles A to B on either side.  There should be a ¼ inch tail on either end.  Piece should measure 8-½ x 3-¼ inches.  Press and trim tails.

  • Stitch triangles C to either side of D.  There should be a ¼ inch tail on either end.

  • Piece should measure 8-½ x 5-¾ inches.

  • Join the top and bottom sections.  Block should measure 8-½ x 8-½ inches.

See the previous blocks in this series in my category list on the right hand side of the page – Quilting – Civil War Quilt.

This is the last block for this commemorative Civil War quilt.  There will be more posts on Barbara’s blog following the progress as the quilts around the world are completed.  I’ll be continuing my own posts describing how I finish my quilt.

Thank you, Barbara Brackman, for this series of 53 blocks along with interesting historical stories and pictures throughout the year of 2011.

Civil War Quilt – Block 52 – Christmas Star

This is block #52 in the Civil War block-of-the-week series offered by Barbara Brackman.  It is called Christmas Star.  Go to Barbara’s blog to get the pattern and to see the story and pictures related to this block.

http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2011/12/52-christmas-star.html

This is a very pretty block with a lot of half-square triangles.  For new quilters, this is how I assembled the block.

I cut and sew the A pieces a little differently.

  • Cut the A squares as directed but not cut diagonally.  Place right sides together 2 background squares and 2 light green squares.  Draw a diagonal line on the background square on each set.
  • Stitch ¼ inch from the line on both sides.  Cut on the line to make four background and light green half-square triangles.  Press toward darker fabric, trim tails.  Squares should be 2 x 2 inches.

  • Continue in the same manner with 4 background squares and 4 dark green squares.
  • Continue in the same manner with 2 red squares and 2 light green squares.
  • Cut the B and C pieces as directed by Barbara.
  • Lay out the pieces on a mat in the proper order.

  • Join as directed by Barbara:  Sew four patches for the four corners.  Press seams in opposite directions so they will interlock when joined.  These four pieces should measure 3-½ x 3-½ inches.

  • Join the light background and dark green B pieces, making 4 patches that will measure 2-½ x 3-½ inches.

  • Make the center strip by placing two B units on either side of center square C.
  • Make 2 side units by adding 4-patches on either side of a B unit
  • Complete block by adding side strips to center strip.  Block should measure 8-½ x 8-½ inches.

See the previous blocks in this series in my category list on the right hand side of the page – Quilting – Civil War Quilt.

Civil War Quilt – Block 51 – New York

This is block #51 in the Civil War block-of-the-week series offered by Barbara Brackman.  It is called New York.  Go to Barbara’s blog to get the pattern and to see the story and pictures related to this block.

http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2011/12/51-new-york.html

This is an easy block.  For new quilters, this is how I assembled the block:

  • Cut out pieces per Barbara’s directions.
  • Lay out the pieces on a mat in the proper order.

  • Follow Barbara’s instructions for stitching:  Piece a white strip B to either side of red strip B.  The piece should measure 4-½ x 4-½ inches.
  • Piece red strip C to either side of white strip C.  The piece should measure 4-½ x 8-½ inches.

  • Piece blue field A to the left of the B strips.

  • Join the two units to make a flag 8-½ x 8-½ inches.

See the previous blocks in this series in my category list on the right hand side of the page – Quilting – Civil War Quilt.

Civil War Quilt – Block 50 – Grapes of Wrath

This is block #50 in the Civil War block-of-the-week series offered by Barbara Brackman.  It is called Grapes of Wrath.  Go to Barbara’s blog to get the pattern and to see the story and pictures related to this block.

http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2011/12/50-grapes-of-wrath.html

This block is a little more difficult and is a very pretty block.  The fabric in my light purple  grapes shows up better in person than it does here.  I probably should have used a slightly darker color.  For new quilters, this is how I assembled the block:

  • Cut out the pieces according to Barbara’s directions.
  • Lay out the pieces on a  mat in the proper order.

  • Piece according to Barbara’s directions:  Piece a light E to either side of a B triangle.  These two pieces should measure 2-½ inches x 4-½ inches.

  • Add a square A to one of these units on the left hand side.  This unit should measure 2-½ x 6-½ inches.

  • Piece one light purple E to a dark E to make a square.
  • Add a dark E to either side of that square to make a larger triangle.

  • Piece that triangle to the medium triangle B.  Piece should measure 4-½ x 4-½ inches.

  • Add the shorter edge unit to the side.  Unit should measure 4-½ x 6-½ inches.
  • Add the longer edge unit to the top.

  • Piece one E triangle to the C rectangles.  Be sure you have them going in the right direction.

  • Add those units to the sides of the basket.

  • Finish out the block with D background triangle.  Block should measure 8-½ x 8-½ inches.

See the previous blocks in this series in my category list on the right hand side of the page – Quilting – Civil War Quilt.

Civil War Quilt – Block 49 – Yankee Puzzle

This is block #49 in the Civil War block-of-the-week series offered by Barbara Brackman.  It is called Yankee Puzzle.  Go to Barbara’s blog to get the pattern and to see the story and pictures related to this block.

http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2011/12/49-yankee-puzzle.html

This is an easy block and fun to make.  For new quilters, this is how I assembled the block.

  • Cut pieces according to Barbara’s instructions.
  • Lay out the pieces on a mat in the proper order.

  • Piece according to Barbara’s instructions:  A light triangle to a medium light triangle; a dark triangle to a medium triangle.  Press toward darker fabric.  Join these two pieces to make a square.  Repeat with the remaining 3 blocks.

  • Press and trim tails.  The squares should measure 4-½ x 4-½ inches.
  • Join the top row, pressing to the left.
  • Join the bottom row, pressing to the right.

  • Join the two rows.  Piece should measure 8-½ x 8-½ inches.

See the previous blocks in this series in my category list on the right hand side of the page – Quilting – Civil War Quilt.

Civil War Quilt – Block 48 – West Virginia

This is block #48 in the Civil War block-of-the-week series offered by Barbara Brackman.  It is called West Virginia.  Go to Barbara’s blog to get the pattern and to see the story and pictures related to this block.

http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2011/11/48-west-virginia.html

This block is a little more difficult to sew but makes a pretty block.  For the center square, I chose to scan a picture that my daughter and son-in-law had taken in Gettysburg.  The picture was printed on a June Tailor Sew-In Colorfast fabric sheet.  I should have made the photograph a little larger so the border doesn’t show.  For new quilters, this is how I assembled the block.

Go to Barbara’s blog to get the pattern.   Cut the B and C pieces as directed.   This is how I cut the A pieces.

  • On the 5-¼ x 1-7/8 rectangles, make a mark at 3-½ inches from the end.

  • Place the right angle of a ruler at the mark and draw a line to the point of the rectangle.

  • On the opposite end of the rectangle, draw a  right angle line from the point to the 3-½ inch mark.

  • Measure to be sure you have 3-½ inches between the two right angle lines.  Cut on the right angle lines.

  • To cut the blue fabrics in reverse, an easy way is to place the red piece on top of the blue, right sides together, and use the red piece as a pattern to trim the angles.  Since I wanted to be sure my blue fabric was going in the right direction, I laid the pieces out on a mat, then flipped over one of the red pieces and trimmed the angles on the blue.

  • Place a blue B strip on one side of A and a red B strip on the other side.  Make 4 of these pieces.

  • Add these pieces to the center square C on two opposite sides, stopping and back stitching ¼ inch from each end.

  • For one of the remaining sides, mark ¼ inch from each end of the B/A piece, place on center square C and stitch between the ¼ inch marks, back stitching each time.

  • Fold to match the B strips and the corner of C.

  • Stitch from the ¼ inch mark to the end.  Press.

  • Repeat with the other side of the B/A piece.
  • Repeat with the remaining side to complete block.  Block should measure 8-½ x 8-½ inches.

See the previous blocks in this series in my category list on the right hand side of the page – Quilting – Civil War Quilt.