Misty, one of my readers mentioned,  I have a quilt that is made of six point stars. I don’t know the name of the pattern.  I would love to.So I began searching for names of six-pointed star patterns and came across these few.

Star of Bethlehem
Rising Star
Lone Star (one variation)
Double Star
Texas Star

Some of these also are made as eight-pointed stars.  Or, at least there were some with eight points bearing the same name as these six-pointed ones. 
Misty, perhaps if you searched the Internet and quilt books for these names, you would find one that resembled yours, unless the quiltmaker created her …read more

In keeping with the Theme of the Week – Nature, in my Blisstree Parenting posts, I thought it would be fun to come up with at least 13 quilt patterns with names relating to nature.  I know there are many more, but here are 13 I selected from among the traditional patterns.
You may work in nature related themes in your fabric art.  Share with us something you’ve done in this area, whether it’s an original pattern or a traditional one.

Butterfly Quilt
Dresden Flowers
Blazing Star
English Flower Garden
Grandmother’s Flower Garden
Honey Bee
Maple Leaf
Ocean Wave
Palm Leaf
Spider Web
Strawberry
Sunbeam
Wild Goose Chase

What else can you think of?

In my Parenting posts here at Blisstree, I’ve been featuring Theme Weeks throughout the summer with information and activities for youngsters.  Since this is Mountain & Camping Theme Week, I thought I’d see what suggestions there are for mountain quilt patterns.
Among the older and traditional pattern designs, I found:

Rocky Mountains
Moon Over the Mountain
Delectable Mountains
Rocky Mountain Road
Saw Tooth (there also are mountains of this name)

Many quilters nowadays are creating quilts, quilt hangings and mixed media from pictures of mountains, either photos they’ve taken or ones that have inspired them.  They also print photos onto fabric, from their computer, to make the …read more

Many of the traditional quilt patterns of yesteryear carried names of  patriotic events or people.  As a celebration of the Fourth of July (sometimes called Independence Day), let’s discover these.
(From your knowledge of American history, do you recognize these patriots’ names or the event?)

Clay’s Choice
Lincoln’s Platform
Little Giant
Old Tippecanoe
Union Square
Union Star
Whig Rose
Democrat Rose
President’s Wreath
Alexander Hamilton’s Quilt
Burgoyne Surrounded
Yankee Pride
Fifty-Four-Forty-or-Fight

Do you have favorite patriotic quilt patterns…those of yesteryear or today?

I’ve discussed previously, in Floral Designs in Arts and Crafts, and explored various ways and places you could use them.  Quilts, over the ages, have reflected many floral designs with numerous patterns named for flowers.
Here’s a collection of thirteen:

Bud and Rose Wreath
Cactus Flower
Flowers in a Pot
Wild Rose Wreath
Rose of Sharon
Rose Petal
Star Flower
Peony
Prairie Flower
Kansas Sunflower
Mexican Rose
Triple Sunflower
Tulip

Do you have any favorite floral patterns you’ve made as a quilt or other craft?

Thursday 13 – Take a look at star patterns with the names of states.
Have you made any star pattrns?  I made the Missouri Star  in a quilt for a customer.  It was a lot of work, but was a lovely quilt in the colors the customer chose.
My daughter created the Ohio Star in a wall hanging for her grandmother’s room in assisted living.  Her grandmother grew up in Ohio.

Ohio Star
Missouri Star
Lone Star (Texas)
Iowa Star
Tennessee Star
Virginia’s Star
North Carolina Star
Kansas Sunflower
California Rose
Indiana Puzzle
Kentucky Rose
Rocky Road to Kansas
St.  Louis Star (not a state, but a well-known city)

 Have you made any of these…or ones named …read more

The basic 9-Patch Quilt consists of nine squares, arranged in rows of three, each square alternating.  This is one of the oldest patterns used in quilts, but quilters have developed many variations.
Although it’s fairly simple to make, usually in blocks of two colors or two fabric designs, Penny Halgren, at How to Quilt, shows us, step-by-step, how to create a 9-patch quilt even faster by strip piecing.
I’ve also made simple and more complex 9-patch pillows when I had a quilting business.  These also are good patterns for beginners, patterns I used when I taught quilting workshops.
What experiences have you had …read more

The other day we discussed the Irish Chain pattern in connection with the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day.  Why not a Double Irish Chain?
Penny Halgren, at How to Quilt has posted the pattern and directions for the Double Irish Chain.  She says that even though it looks complicated, it’s really fairly straight forward since the quilt is made by using only two basic blocks.
(Amazon image)
If you give it a try, let us know how you make out?

I’ve received a number of questions about identifying quilt patterns various quilters have acquired.  I don’t have pictures, but from the descriptions, does anyone have an idea what it might be.  It’s simply fascinating, too, to learn some of the stories surrounding the quilts you own.
Ruthie asked:
Recently i was given a rather strange unfinished quilt. It was made of scraps of fabric, I think mostly of old clothing. The fabric is a real mixture of texture and colors and probably from th depression era. Going through it is a white 2 inch wide curving strip. It continues through each square. …read more

In a previous post, I asked, “Were Any First Ladies Quilters or Needleworkers?”  I haven’t discovered any yet, but I’m still researching.
However, there were some quilting blocks named for a few First Ladies and their official residence.

White House Rose
White House Steps
Dolly Madison’s Star
Martha Washington’s Wreath
Mrs. Cleveland’s Choice
Aunt Martha’s Wild Rose (Would this, by some stretch of the imagination, be named for Martha Washington?
Ladies’ Delight (I suppose this could be for all the First Ladies.)

There must be more patterns for the White House and the First Ladies.  I’ve only begun my research.