Quilting BOM – 2020

As the New Year approaches the Quilting BOM Facebook group was asked what kind of BOM’s they wanted to do for 2020.  The survey said that the majority would like to continue with 12″ finished sampler blocks.

The blocks that I have decided to do for 2020 have a special meaning for me.  While I have sewn all my life, I just started quilting about four years ago. I learned to sew from my paternal grandmother, Virginia Kinsey, when I was around 5 years old,  She loved to sew and was very crafty all her life. 

When my sister-in-law found out that I like to quilt, she told me that my father-in-law still had a bunch of my mother-in-law’s Quilting books, and if I would like to have them I could have them.  Well, when we started looking (my husband and myself), we came across a lot more than just the books. We came across patterns that she had made from old Library index cards and other cards. An old Quilt Frame for hand quilting. Unfinished quilts, including the beautiful Cathedral Window top. Several unfinished, hand quilted blocks. 

I also came across a picture of my husband’s grandmother, Irene Hampton, and an article on how she learned to quilt.   She was being honored by her quilting guild, and the picture was in the newspaper along with an article about her. Her mother did not quilt, and really only patched clothing when needed.  She learned to quilt by borrowing the “One Hundred and one Patchwork Patterns” by Ruby Short McKim. The book was published in 1931. I found her type written information that she wrote (and corrected in pen) about how she started to quilt in some of the dresser drawers in the garage.  

When I was looking thru all the books that I had received, not only did I find the 1931 edition, which was the one that she borrowed from the library to learn to quilt, but the 1962 edition.

In my Grandmother-in-law’s honor, Irene Hampton, this year’s Blocks are all going to come from the “One Hundred and One Patchwork Patterns” by Ruby Short McKim.  While some of the blocks were 7″ and other much bigger, the blocks I select will be recreate to be 12″ finished blocks. Maybe, I will pull out some of the templates that Irene had used to make quilts, and use these as inspiration.

The picture at the beginning, is from another article in the newspaper:

“Mrs. Russell Hampton gave in  interesting lesson on ‘Pillow Talk’, She explained finish pillows With tapered corners and discussed types of filling used. Twelve beautiful pillows she had made with various colors and designs were shown and she told about the patterns of each. ” (April 1982)

For the 2020 block, I’ve decided on around 20 of the blocks, so we hope to release more than one a month.  Most are going to be pieced blocks, but this books has lots of really neat applique blocks, and blocks that have lots of curves.  

If you would like to see the original directions for the blocks, the 1931 edition is available to download free on the web, by McKim Studios at http://101patchworkpatterns.com/. The templates for the blocks are on the pages you can download, but they are all in the original sizes of the blocks. 

In our Facebook group, feel free to make suggestions of blocks from this book that you would like to learn to make.  They may be already selected, or we may add more if people would like.

I look forward to seeing all the fabric variations of the blocks in the coming year!

If you are not a member of our Facebook Group, Quilting BOM, please join us.