Falling Leaves Quilt Pattern, Part 1

 

Happy Monday!

Today I'm featuring part 1 of the Nancy Page quilt series, Falling Leaves.  Designed by Florence La Ganke, all kinds of trees were featured in this pattern that was published in newspapers in the mid 1930s.

The interesting thing about this pattern is there are no appliqued or pieced borders.  It was encouraged that the maker use a strip along the sides and top and bottom.  An alternate background block is between each appliqued block.  At the time, the block was cut to 8.5 inches to make an 8 inch block.  I still think this is an interesting set up for the time. 

The marketing was also interesting, perhaps reflective of the lost/foreclosed farms so indicative of the Depression and Dust Bowl era:

"...Think how nice it would be for a person who was brought up on a farm and had moved to the city where there were no trees, on the city streets.  Wouldn't it be a comfort to look at this quilt and see leaves of the yellow locust or the hickory or the sweet gum?  It would compensate for the barren city streets."

Block 1: Redbud

Block 2: Yellow Locust

Block 3: Sweet Gum

Block 4: Tulip Tree

Block 5: Hickory

Block 6: Papaw

Block 7: Cottonwood

Block 8: Wild Cherry

Have a safe and happy day!