Sunbonnet Sue

2010-10-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

Booo!!!
New Fall Catalog - Get *15% OFF

*Overseas customers please see below before ordering.

Go to Prairie Cottage Corner to place your order.

After ordering, get a *15% rebate by commenting here and telling me: "Why I love to quilt" OR "Why I love Sunbonnet Sue"

Thank you, lovely Quilters all,

KD

*Offer good for online debit/credit card or PayPal orders only until 31 October 2010; No E-Checks, please. Overseas buyers please email me direct with your order so I can add postage.

Prairie Cottage Corner - Fields of patchwork......

Prairie Cottage Corner Quilt Patterns - Get one Free!!!!
http://www.prairiecottagecorner.com/free.html

2010-10-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

New quilt designs are coming out weekly at Prairie Cottage Corner

Here is a "Straw Bonnet Sue Pattern" for a single bed quilt....

And a "Southern Sue Pattern" with her lovely parasol....

And a little wall hanging pattern we call "Avian Jardin" (with block detail below).....

Please visit us and see for yourself!

Happy Stitiching!

2010-10-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

The Last Rose of Summer Wall Hanging Pattern
FREE with Purchase

Free pattern with purchase of $10 or more at Prairie Cottage Corner. Here's Sue and her kitty picking the last roses of the season in a darling wall hanging made from rose fabric panels. This is a fast and easy applique project.

Have a look at our latest new offerings: "Strawbonnet Sue" and "Southern Sue". These two quilt patterns are just what you have been seeking for the young lady on your Christmas list. It's not too late to start and finish such a quilt! Or make it up into a kit and give it to your Secret Santa Sister in your local quilt guild.

Happy Stitching!

!!!NEW!!! Nursery Sue (or Sam) Crib Quilt

2010-09-01T00:15:00.000-07:00

Nursery Sue Crib Quilt (44" x 52")

Fast and easy pattern using fusible webbing or freezer paper applique; a 14" square center block of Sue and Baby Sue (or Sam) in the pram, is framed by an 8" border with corner blocks. The corner blocks depict Sue knitting, soothing Baby, helping Baby walk, and swinging Baby. Choose the fabrics you like best, either bright prints or demure florals for this one; make it blue or make it pink; lively or restful. I hope you will think these blocks of Baby and Mom are the sweetest ones you've ever seen.

Visit my store to buy this latest new pattern from Prairie Cottage Corner

http://www.prairiecottagecorner.com

Happy Stitching from the prairie.....

KD

Simply Sue Block of the Month # 2 Is Posted

2010-08-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

Simply Sue in crayon colors. Perfect for a school girl's bedroom decor. Get each block each month free or buy the whole pattern now at http://www.prairiecottagecorner.com/store.html

The Newest !!!FREE!!! Sunbonnet Sue - Simply Sue - block has been posted at http://www.prairiecottagecorner.com/free.html A sample is below. You can download the PDF file and get detailed instructions and piece-cutting patterns with it.
Next month's block will be "Back to School". Please check out the latest buys in our catalog, too.

Coming soon.....more applique' tutorials. KD

New Flower Basket Sue Quilt Pattern

2010-04-24T23:06:00.000-07:00

New Flower Basket Sue Quilt Pattern

Flower Basket Sue is a quilt pattern for a 59" x 73" quilt designed with an applique block of a teen age Sunbonnet Sue holding a basket of flowers and a traditional Flower Basket Block, on point. Above is the pattern layout; below is a photo of the actual quilt.

This is a fun quilt to make. The triangles are a little more complicated and might be a challenge for the beginning quilter, but make a nice statement in the composition of the quilt. Learning to place triangles in a quilt is an important step in quilting. The instructions are written to help quilters successfully cut, handle and stitch them. Below are a few pictures of blocks from the quilt.

To purchase this pattern, go to http://www.prairiecottagecorner.com/free.html

Sunbonnet Sue or Sam - Stick Pony

2010-02-08T09:50:00.001-08:00

Here's a drawing for Redwork, Embroidery or Applique' of a little Cowboy Sue or Sam riding a Hobby Horse or Stick Pony. We had these when we were kids and had so much fun with them. The best I ever saw, though, were the ones the Mouseketeers had for the wild west day they did each week.

To do this in applique', right click on the image and save it to your hard drive. Open it in a graphics program and re-size it how you want it to be:

1. Bump the dpi up to 200.
2. Check the pixel or inch-size of it. You'll want it to be about 5" tall for a 6" block. SAVE IT!
3. Print the image.
4. Trace the image through the back of the sheet of paper it's printed on, if you want the end result to face the way it is facing now.
5. For Redwork or Embroidery - Using a daylit window or light box (or your computer monitor!), trace the image to your fabric using a finely sharpened pencil or the new SEWLINE pencil (these are really great).
6. For Applique' - Trace the different pieces onto 2-sided fusible or freezer paper (add 1/4" margin all around each piece for freezer paper), depending which method you like the best.

I use embroidery for the small details for applique': hatband, reins, bridle, eye, forelock, belt, pockets, boot soles, stick, hand........ That way, you only have to cut out 7 pieces: 2 boots, 1 arm, 1 shirt, 1 hat, 1 pony's head, 1 pants.

Please visit Prairie Cottage Corner for a special on three quilt patterns for the price of two, including a quilt called Pony Sue.

(http://www.prairiecottagecorner.com - Go to the CATALOG page when you get there.)

Happy Stitching!

The Hearth is the Heart of Home

2010-01-25T23:12:00.001-08:00

The Hearth is the Heart of the Home - A Redwork and Log Cabin block quilt for Valentine's Day. The Redword blocks are sewn on a white on white background with a rose pink print heart overlay. The embroidery is worked both on the white background and between the white and the rose pink. These pictures reflect the story of Sue and her Golden Anniversary Valentine's Day, which you can read in the blog a few days ago. The Redwork blocks include: Sue's Chilly Walk, Girl with Tea & Kittens, James & Sue Courting, The Kiss, Mother & Child

Valentine, Girl with Cookie & Kitten, Sue by the Hearth, and

Twilight Sweethearts. Girl with Tea & Kittens is shown above. This is an easy quilt to construct and a good project for beginners who like embroidery work. The quilt is sized for a twin bed. Watch for the pattern to go on sale at Prairie Cottage Corner soon. Happy Stitching.

Be Prepared

2010-01-25T01:09:00.000-08:00

The world's troubles abound in the news. In one place or another in the world, there is commotion and suffering. One thing is sure, no matter what happens, whether it is earthquake, tornado or flood, people will be on their own for at least three days after the emergency. It takes just about that amount of time for emergency services to rally and come to the aid of those in need. So, what do you do for 3 days?

Whether you are at home or have been evacuated, you may be without power and water. During that 72 hours of privation, you will wish you had been prepared.

We have built and maintained 72-hour Kits for our family for the past 25 years, refurbishing and replacing them every 6 months. Our kits fit into small wheeled suitcases; the kind you take on an airplane. One could also use a backpack or a tote box. We like the wheels, though, for easy transport by us older persons who cannot carry heavy loads.

Here's a list of suggestions for a 72-hour kit:

72 Hour Kit

2 Granola Bars
2 Hot Chocolate Packets
2 Beef Jerky
2 Apple Cider Drink Packets
1 Can or Packet of Tuna
6 Crackers
24 Pieces of Candy
2 Packages of Peanuts
2 packages of Raisins
2 Fruit Roll-ups
2 Packages of Soup Mix
Can Opener
Mess Kit
Toilet Paper
Handi Wipes
Medications
Change of clothing suitable to the season
Sleeping Bag
1-Man plastic tent
Space blanket (Mylar)
2 large garbage bags
2 Liters of Water
3 Emergency Candles
Box of wooden matches
Tuna Can or Sterno Stove
Flashlight + batteries
First Aid Kit
Toothbrush and Paste
Bar of Soap
Washcloth
Towel
Personal Hygiene Items
Cell phone charger
Emergency Radio
Digital Camera
Cell phone
Scriptures
Sketch book
A good paperback mystery
$100 in small bills and change
List of credit/debit cards, emergency numbers, insurance and other vital information
2 Bungie Cords with hooks
Swiss Army Knife on belt
Extra set of car/house keys

Pack items in the suitcase. Attach the sleeping bag to the top with the bungies. Store the kit near the door or in a vehicle you would expect to use in an emergency.

Valentine Sunbonnet Sue

2010-01-24T00:17:00.000-08:00

I wrote a little story for Sue for Valentine's Day. I'm making a quilt that goes with this little story. It won't be finished, I don't think, until after Valentine's Day but I will offer the pattern as soon as it is done....well in time for 2011.

Sue is remembering something from long ago, as she sits by the fire, waiting for her Dear Heart, James, to come in from feeding the livestock. She and James have been married almost fifty years and it's 1913. In her mind, she relives a wintry day all those many years ago, when they were young, and James was courting her.

In her mind's eye, she remembers walking along through the snow with her sweetheart's Valentine under her arm, taking it to him a few miles from her home.

It's 1863 and the Civil War is rumbling on. James, lies in his bed at home, recovering from a wound in his leg. Plans for their wedding had to be postponed when, instead of coming home on furlough, he came home wounded. James' mom and dad had a farm adjacent to Sue's parents' place and both sets of parents had laid off land for James and Sue to have when they married. The doctors say James will recover fully, but then, she asks herself as she walks along, will he be called back to fight? She hopes not, yet, she so wants the war to end.

She and her neighbor women in the farms along the Wabash River have met weekly to make clothing, quilts and blankets for the troops. In the winter just upon them, they had even cut up carpets, canvas, old clothes and old curtains to make warming items for the soldiers in their camps across the war front. Cotton fabric had to be imported and was expensive but wool was still available on the bolt.

Sue made herself a wool coat and jumper, especially for Valentine's Day to cheer and impress James. It was an extravegence, she knew, but warm and comforting against the clear, freezing day. The day before, she had taken James a new quilt for his bed, made of woolen scraps from old clothes. She longed to make an Ohio Star quilt for him but materials were too dear. She had to settle for the old wool and velvet crazy quilt instead. He loved it, he said, and spread it over the couch, where they visited, for all to see.

They had talked about marriage but with the war and all, Sue didn't even have an engagement ring. She knew she wanted to be married right away, whether James went back to the front or not, so didn't see the need for a ring or an engagement. She loved him so much. These were her thoughts as she walked along, the chill wind blowing her scarf and slowing her progress. They had talked of a summer wedding, after James had built their new home. Even now, the beams and lumber lay under tarps along the creek at the homesite, ready for saw, hammer and nail. Progress to build the house in the autumn had been stopped when James had gone off to fight. Many in the township had gone off to fight; some, never to return. It was a somber country in those days.

Sue's heart was full of love and hope and dreams for the future. The South couldn't hold on much longer. She wanted to beat them, even though she had many cousins there in Tennessee from where her family had come a generation before. No word had come from them for many months, since the outset of the conflict and she wanted her family to be safe. Her cousin, Tassie had not been to visit since they were both sixteen, four years ago! In years past, Sue's Indiana family would have gone to Tennessee at least once a year to buy and sell stock and visit the old neighborhoods. Their hearts were as much in the South as they were in the North. It was a troubling thing to have to be so divided in thought and affection.

She turned in at the road leading to James' place and looked up to where the house stood in a stand of trees about a quarter of a mile on. Smoke rose from the chimneys and it looked cozy and warm. Most of the cattle were in the barn that morning but some stood in the cold sunshine and perked their ears at her approach to the farm. She heard James' mare, Pixie, whinney, stretching her head out over the top of her stall door and nodding a greeting. Sue thought, a sleigh ride WOULD be fun, if it weren't so cold. She trotted up the steps and across the wide veranda. James' mother, Mrs. Pace, opened the door to her and said, "Come on in, Sue, you must be frozen stiff!" Sue whisked into the house and was enveloped in the warm cheer of the fireplace and the aroma of baking bread.

She took off her coat and went over to where James sat on the couch, his leg on a hassock and covered with the wool quilt. Her cheeks were rosy from the walk in the cold and her curly auburn hair had begun to form into little ringlets around her warm face. She held the Valentine behind her back, leaned down to kiss his cheek and said, Happy Valentine's Day! When she drew back, James brought his hand out from under the quilt and opened it to reveal a tiny velvet box.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he said to her. Sue's mouth fell open and she looked from the box to James' eyes and back to the box again. She pulled up a straight-back chair to sit close to him, putting her Valentine aside. Taking the box in her hand, she opened it and inside was the most precious little amethyst ring she had ever seen. The amethyst was centered among a ring of tiny diamonds in a platinum setting. James took if from the box and held it for her to place it on her finger.

"Will you marry me?" he asked.

"Yes," she said.

He reached for her and she leaned into his arms and thought how happy they were and how happy they would be together all their lives.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you, too," she said, and she turned her face up to him. He kissed her softly on the lips.

The sound of stamping feet and the draft from the chill outside air, interrupted Sue's reverie. James, tall, white-haired and cold, the snow melting on his jacket, came into the kitchen and said, "It's begun to snow. Melody's going to calve tonight, I'm afraid, and I'll have to break the ice out of the troughs in a little bit, again."

He stopped and looked at Sue, where she stood by the table, wearing a red woolen skirt with a white lace blouse, her once-auburn hair turned up and smoothed under her cap. He hung his coat on the hook, kicked off his boots and keeping his eyes on her, he came toward her in his stocking feet. She looked as beautiful as the first day he knew he loved her, so many years ago. Something about that red dress, brought back the memory of that early Valentine's Day...... Sues rosy cheeks, smiling eyes and cheerfulness in all weathers, were a treasure to him. Her simple and abiding faith in the Lord had sustained him and their family many times and taught them to bend their knees and pray. She was a treasure....a virtuous and humble and gentle woman. He still felt like the luckiest man on earth, when he was with her.

Looking into her eyes, he pulled a tiny velvet box from his pocket, offering it to her in his palm.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he said. He opened the box and revealed a precious little diamond ring, the center stone flanked by a row on each side of all the birth stones of her children, six in all.

"Oh," Sue, whispered, as tears sprang to her eyes. James took the ring from the box and placed it on her finger. Then he took her up in his arms and held her close. He leaned close, drawing her up to him and kissed her lips. She kissed him back.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you, too," he whispered.

Fifty years of loving and living; of laughing and sighing; of good times and hard times; of prayers and hopes; of peace and danger; were embodied in the two as they sat together, remembering it all. Outside, the snow fell softly through the night, covering the world with a beautiful blanket, which, from the lofty reaches of the angels, looked like the palest of patchwork quilts. KD

Welcome "Sue For All Seasons"

2009-12-29T19:41:00.000-08:00

The drawings for "A Sue for all Seasons" were done several years ago. Since then, I've offered them as a BLOCK OF THE MONTH from time to time.

Now, for the first time, they are offered in a small medallion quilt format just 46" x 46". The center block in the pattern is a simple nine-patch. The center block is actually a great place to hang a calendar, if the quilt is to be used as a wall-hanging.

You can purchase the pattern for $12 on my site at http://www.prairiecottagecorner.com or http://www.prairiecottagecorner.com/html Just follow the links to the Catalog.

My Sue-sister quilters all around the country who share quilts and projects are so creative. They are experts at finding ways to place Sue in the most interesting quilt designs and layouts. I hope any who have already made this little quilt or who will, in future, buy the pattern, will write to me and show me how you used "Sue for all Seasons". I'll post your pictures here, gladly. The same goes for any of my other quilt and craft patterns.

Beginners should try this quilt. The applique technique using double sided fusible webbing and a hand buttonhole stitch almost guarantees success. Some of the elements of the applique seem tiny in the picture and they are small, when you consider cutting and fusing and stitching them. However, for years, I have used embroidery to fashion the smallest elements of my Sue blocks. The pattern gives instructions for all the basic embroidery stitches you will need. Places where embroidery is useful include hatbands, flowers, shoes, the pets, and any other small details that need emphasis. KD

New Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Pattern - Halloween Ghosties

2009-10-21T23:09:00.001-07:00

Halloween Ghosties have arrived just in time......

Go to http://www.prairiecottagecorner.com to buy this new pattern. Buy 1 Halloween wall hanging pattern and get 1 FREE!! until 31 Oct 2009.

Sunbonnet Sue Singing in the Rain...with umbrella

2009-10-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

Several people have written to me over the past few weeks about Sunbonnet Sue with her umbrella. I did a Calendar Sue pattern years ago by Betty Alderman that had a really cute Sue with Umbrella in it. Her Sues are so energetic and expressive. Then, this morning, Janie, on the SBS Chat asked for a drawing, so I whipped one out for her. It's a free pattern, so please enjoy. I hope those of you who wrote will find this little Sue to your liking. Thanks, Kathie

Oriental Chicken Soup - Another Quilt Retreat Treat

2009-10-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

Great Quilt Retreat Recipes

Place in a crockpot:

2 qts. chicken broth

2 c. celery, thin-sliced on the diagonal

1 c. carrots, thin-sliced on the diagonal

When these are tender, add the following:

1/3 head of fresh green cabbage, cut in 1" pieces

1/2 c. sliced fresh or canned mushrooms, drained

1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained

1 can chopped mild green chillies

6 cloves fresh garlic, sliced thin

2 T. fresh ginger root, crushed
2 c. cooked chicken, cubed

1 t. sesame oil

1/2 c. soy sauce

2 T. oyster sauce

1/4 c. Mirin wine

Let cook until cabbage is tender and meat is heated through.

Ladle into bowls of dry Ramen noodles or serve with hot garlic French bread on the side.

Quilt Retreat Recipes

2009-10-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

When we get together on a quilt retreat*, there's nothing like a crock pot steaming away in the other room, cooking up something we can nosh whenever it's ready. Here's a recipe that travels well:

Kathie's Krockpot Kassoulet (an American version of French baked beans)

Serves 12

6 cans Navy or Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
water to cover beans in crock pot
4 large carrots, quartered lengthwise and sliced
3 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 t. of each of the following dried herbs: basil, chervil, tarragon, thyme, rosemary
4 large whole cloves garlic, peeled
2 yellow onions, carmelized***
3 lean German sausages, quartered lengthwise and sliced
20 thin slices pepperoni
1/2 c. deli beef, chopped
salt to taste

1. Place beans in the crock pot and pour over them enough water to cover them. Add carrots, celery, herbs, garlic and about 1/3 of the German sausage. Set crock pot to high for 3 hours.

2. When beans are hot and veggies are tender, add all the remaining ingredients, except the onions, and heat through. Taste the broth for salt and adjust seasonings. More herbs will probably not be needed but a teaspoon of crushed fresh garlic might be desirable. Add the carmelized onions just before serving.

Serve with a green salad, fresh veggie relish tray and/or toasted tortillas**

*What IS a 'quilt retreat'?

A quilt retreat happens when 2 or more quilt friends decide to divorce themselves from the world for a few days; gather in a cozy cottage at least 50 miles from home and sew quilts together. We eat, sleep and live quilting......for a while. To find a quilt retreat facility near you, Google 'quilt retreat [your area or state]'.

**Toasted tortillas

12 flour tortillas
1 pkg. shredded Italian blend cheeses (romano, parmesan, etc.)
garlic granules or powder

Place 1 tortilla on a baking sheet and sprinkle with cheeses and garlic. Toast under the broiler until well-browned. Remove and cut with a pizza cutter into wedges. Continue to prepare and toast the tortillas until there is enough for each person to have 3 wedges each. Place the wedges in a napkin-lined basket and serve with soup or any main dish.

***Carmelized Onions

Place 2 roughly chopped onions in an electric frying pan with 3 T. butter on medium heat. Cook until they turn golden, turning them when they are golden. Remove when all the onions are a deep golden brown. Store in a ziplock bag until ready to use.

Prairie Cottage Dolls Make Their Debut

2009-10-02T01:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a fast and simple pattern to make a toy for your best little girl friend, daughter, niece, grand daughter, etc. The pattern includes traceable drawings for the doll bodies and wardrobes of Sue, a Civil War-era character and her little daughter, Sally.

All the dresses and accessories are easy to make with any sewing machine. They have to be because I had to sew them, and I am not that great a seamstress. The dolls are soft and slightly floppy, so they are easy for little hands to dress and play with.

The pattern includes a little 4-patch decorated purse which will hold Sue and Sally and all their stuff. It's a great toy for church or travel.

Future doll patterns and stories will include the rest of the family: Sue as a teen ager (SuzyQ); Sue as a bride with the groom, Paul; Sue's new baby, Patty; and Jacob, Sue's cousin who comes to help her during the last stages of the war. Inspired by the wide range of new Civil War retro fabrics and the wonderful journals being brought forward from that very difficult time in our nation's history.

You can purchase the pattern at http://www.prairiecottagecorner.com/free

Happy Stitching!

New Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Pattern

2009-10-02T01:27:00.000-07:00

Today, the Hawaiian Sue quilt pattern made its debut. Twelve precious little Sues in bright Hawaiian colors mixed with Splash fabrics by Blank. Susan Ryan quilted the quilt with huge lilies inspired by one of the Sunbonnet Sue's dress fabrics. (Lots of Sues and Susans in this story!). See my earlier post on this quilt for more details.

This quilt is fast and fun to make. The Sues were sewn by Norma Downing who sells them on ebay under the name, Norrich. Look for her many pre-made Sues on Ebay. If you find you don't want to buy the Sues, though, a traceable pattern is included with ideas for fabrics etc for the little ladies.

To buy the pattern, go to http://www.prairiecottagecorner.com/free

Happy Quilting!

Free Pattern Elements - Sue at the Butter Churn

2009-09-27T21:22:00.001-07:00

Several years ago someone on the SonbonnetSueChat asked me to draw a Sunbonnet Sue at a Butter Churn with a little girl, looking on. That's how these two drawings for applique' or embroidery came about.

I was thinking about them today and wondered if that Sunbonnet Sue enthusiast I made them for ever used them in a quilt.

Here are both of the drawings again and a sample block that might go well with the Sue blocks: Churn Dash

I can see this quilt as a twin size with the Sues and pieced blocks horizontal or on point.

See my patterns and design services at http://www.PrairieCottageCorner.com Just click on the Catalog.

Looking for the Perfect Sue?

2009-09-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

I had seen these pre-made Sunbonnet Sues on Ebay several times last year when I finally decided to buy a set of them and see if they were really as beautiful as they looked in the pictures. So I bought a set and when they came, I was so happy. There were 12 in a set; good cotton fabric of quilt quality sewn very carefully all around the edges to one-sided fusible (slit in back and turned inside-out).

I called the set I bought, Hawaiian Sue, and made a twin quilt from them which I showed in the Odessa Spring Fling quilt show this year. It was my first attempt to produce anything that could be shown. As it turned out, I actually showed the Hawaiian Sue, Green Thumb Sue, and Sunday Sue quilts.

The Hawaiian Sue set and all the other lovelies on Ebay of this sort are made by Norma Downing of the Tri-Cities area of Washington State. Her email address is downing2@verizon.net

She makes all kinds of Sues for quilts and will do custom designs as well. The Sues I received came pinned together. Each figure had five pieces and they were exquisite. I hand-stitched them to the block on point, then machine-pieced the alternating blocks to make the whole quilt top.

Susan Ryan, a wonderful professional quilter (her email address is dbltapmomma2@gmail.com), quilted it for me making huge flowers in the alternate blocks to match a lily design in one of the Sue dresses. Then, she echo-quilted the Sues. A vine quilt stitch was used in the borders. It's my favorite Sue quilt, so far and very easy to make. I'm just getting ready to release the pattern for it this next month.

Be sure to look on Ebay or Etsy for Norma Downing's Sues. They are really wonderful. And, if you want a really good quilter person who is artistic and easy to work with, send your quilts to Susan. Happy Stitching!

The Reiter Family Album Quilt

2009-09-26T00:50:00.000-07:00

My other grandmother, who lived in northern Idaho all her life after coming west, made quilts from old clothes. One quilt I loved was made from wool and velvet, linked together with a herring-bone stitch. It was a twin size and really warm. There was a flannel sheet inside it, a cotton backing, and it was tied. I had that quilt when I was small. I could hardly turn over in bed, it was so heavy! I really loved it. What happened to it, I wonder?

In the "American Quilter" this month, there's an article about a quilt made from clothing and, in particular, the uniform of a German Hussar; called The Reiter Family Album Quilt. It's in the collection of the American Folk Art Museum in New York. It tells the story of four generations of women and this quilt. It was made in 1891 or 1892, taken apart, and reassembled in 1976. It was made of cotton and wool.

There's a tiny picture of it here http://books.google.com/books?id=lwSzZArnLeIC&pg=PT134&lpg=PT134&dq=%22Reiter+Quilt%22&source=bl&ots=EcMy8OosNK&sig=UkR1WwHVZhzXVrlJob-5JtAgj_Y&hl=en&ei=-MS9StWJHY-0sgPWycUl&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5#v=onepage&q=%22Reiter%20Quilt%22&f=false but the photo in the magazine is much better. One of the things that may have saved the quilt was the fact it was de-constructed and lay in a box in pieces for many years. It was re-constructed and restored by an expert, Julie Silber, of San Rafael, CA. The owner of the quilt, Leba Wine, has written a book about it called Stitches in Time. I would like to read it.

It's late, again, and I suppose all we Sues should be tucked up in bed. Sweet dreams.....

2009-09-25T18:03:00.000-07:00

Here is the third one of the old quilts made by my grandmother, Ruby, in the 1960's. It is a Dresden Plate Diadem Setting. This quilt is in the poorest condition of the three. We plan to have it repaired eventually. You can see some of the damage in the following pictures.

The biggest problem for this old quilt is that the edge stitching around the shapes has come out. Also, some of the pieces seem to have been ripped off completely. Still the quilt is bright and vibrant. I see a couple of the fabrics from dresses my mother made for me as a little girl in this quilt as well as the other two posted yesterday and the day before.

Some stories about my grandmother's life are in the earlier blogs.

The homesteads in Toole County, Montana, where my grandparents, great grandparents and great aunt lived, were miles apart, because families were homesteading whole sections of land (640 acres). One day Ruby rode out on her pony to visit neighbors who had been expected at a gathering in town the day before. She took her little dog, Gip, with her. No one had seen the neighbors for a while. When she arrived, there was no one around the farm at all and the stock had not been fed. All were thirsty for water and hungry for food. She went up on the porch of the house and knocked at the door.

No one answered. She knocked again and again but no one came. She went over to a window and looked in to see what she could. It was hard to see through the dirty glass but what she could make out was a big shock to her. She ran to her pony, jumped up on her and galloped as fast as she could home. It appeared to her that everyone in the house was dead. There were several bodies in the room she had looked into through the glass. When the authorities sorted it out, the father of the house appeared to have shot his wife and five children, then, turned the gun on himself. Ruby had known them all.

There were hard times on the high prairies, always. The wind blew constantly and, at times, fiercely. Ruby said many times, "Everything blew away....." The families, first, built a house on the land and made the required improvements for ownership, gradually. During the first five years, while they were "proving up" on the homesteads, they lived in Shelby during the winter. As soon as the Allens could afford it, they moved to Portland, Oregon, where some of the Steele family lived. Ruby couldn't get her laundry dry, she said, so they moved up to Spokane, where the climate was drier. She liked Spokane very much and it is a beautiful spot, still, today.

Well, I'm going to go stitch another memory or two into a quilt. Happy Stitching!

Ruby's Old Double Wedding Ring Quilt

2009-09-25T00:28:00.000-07:00

Ruby Mae (Steele) Allen's "Double Wedding Ring" quilt hanging in the 100 years old St. Matthew's Church in Odessa, Washington, this past weekend. The quilt was hand-pieced and hand-quilted by Ruby (1889-1989) in the 1960's. This is the first time the quilt has ever been shown publicly. Three quilts survive from her work: this one, the "Flower Garden" shown in the previous post and a "Dresden Plate Diadem Setting" which will be shown tomorrow on this blog. Below is a portrait of Ruby as a young woman in War Road, Minnesota, about age 16.

See the history of Ruby's life in the previous post for more information. Ruby was an avid gardener in her years in Spokane. She planted about 40 trees in her yard on East 29th, she said, to make up for the barren prairie years in Montana. She grew flowers in border beds all around the yard, especially for Memorial Day each year. Her iris and lilacs graced the graves of all those who were buried in the city. She gardened until she was about 96 years old. She made her last quilt for her great grand daughter, Erin, in 1982.

Grandmother's Old Flower Garden Quilt

2009-09-23T23:51:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, at our annual Deutschesfest celebration, my grandmother's Flower Garden quilt was shown for the first time ever. This quilt was hand-sewn, hand-pieced and hand-quilted in the 1960's by my grandmother, Ruby Mae (Steele) Allen. Here is a detail and a photo of the whole quilt.

Historical Information

Ruby (1889-1989) was born in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and died in Spokane. She came west to Montana in 1906, on the train, and took up a homestead, for herself. She brought her little dog, Gip, with her on the train, but the baggage man forgot to put the little dog off with her luggage. She ran after the train, shouting for her little dog. The man threw the poor little dog off the train. It was unhurt, but Ruby was furious. She stormed into the Shelby Depot where George Allen was in charge as the dispatcher, to give him a piece of her mind. He was impressed by Ruby, courted her, and married her in Great Falls in 1910.

During their courtship, Ruby would ride into Shelby from her homestead in the summer months on her Cayuse pony, Babe. There, on Friday nights, she played the piano for the weekly dance. They would dance all night. In the morning, she would step up on the little Indian pony and he would take her slowly and surely home, while she dozed in the saddle.

Ruby's parents (Julius and Elpha
[Whaley] Steele) and her sister, Pearl (Steele) Soderstrom, joined her on the high prairie in Toole County, Montana. Each of them took up a homestead.

In 1917, Ruby and George struck oil on their homestead. In 1918, two of their little boys died in the influenza epidemic and Ruby, herself, almost died, as well. She was too sick to attend the funerals of her little darlings. A year later, she lost a third son, who was stillborn. In 1944, her youngest son, Donald Allen, died in a plane crash while training for the war in Oregon.

Two of her six children survived to raise families of their own. We are ever grateful for the courage and steadfastness of our grand parents and great grandparents, who suffered mightily to make a future for us in the West. Ruby said about Montana, "Everything blew away......"

Pictures: Top - Grandmother's Flower Garden by Ruby Mae (Steele) Allen
Middle - Ruby at about age 5 in 1893, probably taken in Byron, MN
Bottom - Detail of the Flower Garden Quilt.

Happy Stitching!

Free Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Pattern

2009-09-22T00:46:00.000-07:00

Simply Sue is a free pattern that is available on my website, Prairie Cottage Corner. http://www.PrairieCottageCorner.com Look for the link to the Catalog. It's in the form of a PDF file that you can download on the spot

I wanted to create a pattern for Sue enthusiasts that would really say "Sue" very simply but with a little extra something to make her even more special than she already is.

There are six blocks in the pattern, each used twice: Sue with Kitten, Sue Jumping Rope, Sue with Daisies, Sue in the Rain, Sue in Her Sundress, and Sue with Her Doll.

I chose a bright pallet for the pattern cover so that the shapes would stand out a little more clearly. Sue could be much happier with a calmer, more neutral pallet.

If you enjoy this pattern, show your work here, I would love to see it. Happy Stitching, Always....... Kathie

2009-09-21T01:16:00.000-07:00

Here's another of the Sues from the Christmas Sue wall hanging, the pattern for which is at http://www.PrairieCottageCorner.com Just follow the link to the Catalog to see the whole piece. There are 4 different Sues in the quilt and wall hanging. Each is an angel like this one but each one holds something different: a heart for love; a wand for Christmas magic; one star to light a single candle; five stars to light up the sky. This block was done by hand: cotton fabric with Wonder-under and a button-hole or blanket stitch to finish the edges. Sweet little Sue. Always trying to do something good for someone else! Happy stitching, everyone.

Celestial Sue

2009-09-20T00:13:00.001-07:00

This is a variation on an Angel Sue that circulated the internet several years ago. I've used her in my Christmas Sue wall hanging/quilt/table runner pattern. You can see the pattern at http://www.prairiecottagecorner.com

Just look for the Catalog. There's a link back to this blog on the page, too.

Good little Sue. She's so busy. KD

Sunday Sunbonnet Sue & Freebies

2009-09-19T02:52:00.000-07:00

This is a sketch of the first Sunday Sue idea I had several years ago. It turned out to be a lot like the final quilt, at least as far as the figures are concerned. I used the drawing on the first catalog of Sue designs I've offered at http://www.PrairieCottageCorner.com. You can download a free Sunbonnet Sue quilt pattern on the site so I hope you will visit there. I'll offer free drawings of Sunbonnet Sue here from time to time as well. Sue can do anything, you know. Most of my Sue designs involve embroidery of one sort or another.