Patchwork Patterns Inspired by Antique Quilts – Part One
Learn how to create your own versions of antique quilt designs from a collection of history-rich quilts spanning the late 1800s through the 1930s.
In a two-part Sewing With Nancy series titled, Patchwork Inspired Patterns by Antique Quilts, we unlock the secrets of quilts from yesteryear with guest Julie Hendricksen. Julie and Nancy Zieman show antique quilts from her collection and teach you how to construct your own reproduction quilts in part one of Patchwork Inspired Patterns by Antique Quilts. Watch today’s episode online.
The Patchwork Inspired Patterns by Antique Quilts book and DVD are available from Nancy’s Notions.
Snowball Crossing
Let’s begin with the vintage Snowball Crossing quilt design. Alternating light and dark Snowball blocks with tiny corners make this quilt look like it’s pieced from circles, but in fact it’s very easy to assemble.
Now for a variation of the theme, a second Snowball quilt, shown on this first episode, features a Snowball pattern too. But here, the snowballs are arranged in a 9-patch formation and then set on point with alternate squares cut from shirting fabrics. This is a classic 2-color quilt, yet it uses more than just two fabrics.
Reproduction Chain
Julie shares her Reproduction Chain quilt on Patchwork Patterns Inspired by Antique Quilts, which is based on a quilt that was made in the 1930s. Julie thought it would be fun to see how it looked in an even older palette of 1890s fabric. The patchwork design is simple to make, and the perfect reason to not let your scraps to go waste!
1930s Checkerboard Charm
Use this 1930s Checkerboard quilt as an inspiration. In part one of Patchwork Inspired Patterns by Antique Quilts, you’ll see the quiltmaker—most likely a saver of every inch of fabric—hand pieced one hundred 1-1/2″ pieces into each 100-patch block. We are in awe of this quilt.
Not to be outdone by a 100-patch quilt, the next quiltmaker, again from the 1930s created another Checkerboard Charm quilt with 289 tiny squares, alternating between prints and muslin. The whole look is tied together with solid-pink sashing.
Birthday Quilt
Julie told Nancy that she had spied the most compelling 9-patch quilt on display at a quilt show; the price tag was $25,000! She didn’t buy that quilt but couldn’t stop telling her friends about it. To her surprise, each time she wasn’t in her shop, Julie’s staff cut a 1″ strip from each reproduction fabric they cut for customers, then pieced all 1,024 blocks and honored Julie with what she calls her Birthday Quilt.
The vintage-inspired quilt featured below—pieced and quilted by Susan Petruske of Pleasant Valley Farm Longarm Quilting—features Julie’s Birthday Quilt instructions as seen in part one of Patchwork Inspired Patterns by Antique Quilts!
Here’s a photo of Susan (right) revealing her vintage-inspired 9-patch quilt—with Julie (left) at the 2016 Quilt Expo!
Watch Patchwork Patterns Inspired by Antique Quilts (Part one and Part Two) on The Best of Sewing With Nancy online.
Share your favorite vintage inspired quilt pattern in the comments for a chance to win a copy of Patchwork Inspired Patterns by Antique Quilts. Thank you to our gift sponsor, Nancy’s Notions.
The random winner of a copy of the Doodle Stitching Book, from Nancy’s Notions, from the April 16, 23 and 30 blog posts is Nancy Sherman.
Her comment is: This is such an inspiring idea. I am going to try making something just out of my imagination. I am excited to see the result. I have an old machine with limited stitches, but I bet I can still create my own work of art. A new outlet!!
Be sure to check out the 2019 Modern Mini Quilt Challenge!
Happy Quilting,
Team Nancy Zieman
Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.
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Susan
Snowball crossing has a lot of visual appear and personality. It could be a great way to use small amounts of fabric in a creative way.
Susan
Snowball crossing has a lot of visual appeal and personality. It could be a great way to use small amounts of fabric in a creative way.
Marylou
I love the 1930’s checkerboard pattern-can see me using up my collection of 30’s fabric for it !
Marilyn Dunstan
I like the Snowball Crossing because I can already see different ways to change it around. Large flower print snowballs and plain color crossing would be my first try.
DebbieW
My favorite vintage inspired quilt pattern…hmm…difficult, but would start w/ the 1930s Checkerboard quilt, would be fun to randomly piece all those tiny squares.
Teresa Williams
I love the 9 patch quilt. Great way to use scraps, but I’m sure it would take a long time to complete. I love a challenge.
Penny B
I love the 1930s Checkboard Charm–particularly the border.
Theresa
I so admire the beauty surrounding these traditional patterns. The Birthday Quilt is such a classic and on my Quilts to Make Bucket List. Thank you
Peggy Bibb
I love retro fabrics from the 30’s. Have collected several to make myself a quilt (like that will every happen). The traditional 9-patch is always a good pattern to use but I also really like the snowball corners!
Enid
I like the Snowball Crossing. Vintage quilts are special.
Barbara
I love vintage and reproduction quilts! I have made a couple quilts with repro patterns and fabrics. The birthday quilt looks interesting. I’ve been wanting to make a quilt with a piece of each of the scraps I have in my sewing room. I hope I live long enough to complete it!
Brenda Nance
I love the bow tie pattern. My mother had a bow tie quilt made by a family member and I loved looking at all the different fabrics in the quilt when I was a child.
Margaret Scott
The 1930s reproduction chain is my favorite quilt. I like how the lights and darks play against each other.
Margaret C.
The 1930s Checkerboard Quilt gets my vote.
Pat
The Birthday Quilt is my hands down favorite. A beautiful example of the beauty and intense labor often seen in antique quilts. These gems need to be preserved for future generations.
Julie Kill
I have lots of scraps that I need to use up, and while I really like the 1930s quilt colors, The Birthday Quilt is my Favorite! My Father is going to be 85 next year, I would dearly like to create a Birthday Quilt for him…..
bethd.
I really use scraps to make a reproduction of a vintage quilt.
Dorothy Vesperman
Love Julie’s Birthday Quilt. The love and patience that went into quilts in the 30’s is amazing to me!! They created masterpieces, one stitch at a time, while also having social time!
Cindy K
The reproduction chain and the birthday quilt are my favorites. Really, I like them all. This is one of my favorite shows from Sewing With Nancy. I have watched it several times.
Clovis
I like the Snowball Quilt.
Beverly
Though I don’t do English paper piecing myself, a favorite find is antique Grandmother’s flower garden quilts that are well- preserved. Each one is so unique and lovely due to the scrappiness of the pieces.
Sharon
Birthday Quilt
Teri
Snowball Crossing is my favorite but I love the look of all the vintage inspired designs.
Hannah W
That vintage inspired nine patch quilt is amazing…lots of lovely quilts in this post!
Wendy
I love the checkerboard pattern quilt. It would be great fun to make one using my own scraps. Seeing new ideas inspires me!
EllenB
The Nine Patch is one of my favorite blocks, and the scrappier the better! Perfect for anyone or any occasion.
Rosie
I love the alternate Snowball quilt offset with the solid blocks. It’s just beautiful.
Kathie Davis
I love the 1930’s checkerboard quilt that inspired the birthday quilt. A great way to use up my scraps. I think I will make that my next project! Love this blog.
Annette
The trends come and go, but the old standards keep coming back in new forms, and never get old. You wouldn’t think you could re-invent a 9 patch, but there are so many variations on it now, you couldn’t make them all in a lifetime!
Marie
There truly is nothing quite as inspiring as a lovely vintage quilt! I have reproduced several and never tire of them!
Lillian K
I love the Snowball quilt. I would use up a lot of my scraps and fat quarters to make this lovely quilt.
Mary Wippold
I absolutely love Snowball Crossing. What stash buster.
Christi
I would say Snowball Crossing is a wonderful quilt. My real antique favorite block is a plain old 9 patch. Just can’t beat it.
Shanta
I like all quilt. I want to learn from you. Or can you mail me some patch pattern .
Thanks
Shanta
Judy
My favorite vintage pattern is the nine patch.
Daisy
The 9-Patch was amazing.
Tunduu
I love all and I want u to send me a book cause I want to used also for making my traditional dresses and hand bags, keep up the good work God bless
Gloria B.
Love them all! I would make the checkerboard one first.
Sue Roy
I love doing Nine Patches. They are great by themselves or with other blocks.
Marilyn Logan
I always enjoy making Maple Leaf quilts in various colors for the various seasons of the year. That is the first pattern I used to make my first full-sized quilt with my grandmother 60 years ago.
KathleenC
All of the quilts were beautiful. My favorite was the Reproduction Chain.
Annette
After watching both episodes last year, I purchased Julie’s 2 vintage quilt books. Beautiful pictures, interesting historical facts, and easy to follow instructions. If you like vintage quilts, you will love Julie’s books.
Diane
I love the birthday quilt! I may just start collecting 1 inch strips of fabric to make one for myself!!!
Anita Phelps
I love the Birthday Quilt! It would be a great way to use up the little fabric scraps that I have saved and can’t bear to throw away.
Rosalind Gutierrez
It is hard to beat the simplicity and appeal of a 9-Patch quilt. It is one of my all time fall back quilt patterns.
Cheryl
Sometimes the hardest part is figuring out where and which direction the pieces are suppose to go. The older I get the harder it is.
Barb K
I love all these old patterns–One of my favorites that I want to try is the Log Cabin.
Michelle Hall
I love the birthday quilt, I cannot imagine being able to make all the fabrics come together so well!