Antique Bluework block in question
Hi, Pat,
I have always enjoyed reading your articles in quilt magazines. I got a small Bluework quilt today, and was glad to see your article. My quilt has the same reindeer block as yours. That was exciting to see!
I’m really writing about the pillow top block from Helene Middleton. The block comes from the Rainbow Quilt Block Company of Cleveland, Ohio, and is design #3, Conventional. I found this in Rose Alboum’s excellent index. It’s actually on the first page.
Just in case no one has pointed this out before, I thought I would. I hope this helps. I have a real fixation on the Rainbow blocks lately.
Have a great day,
Sylvia Adair
Thanks for solving the mystery, Sylvia! Intrigued, I have ordered a copy of Rose Lea Alboum index that documents the patterns sold by the Rainbow Quilt Block Company. Rose single-handedly has documented thousands of quilt blocks that are available in various volumes. I own her Index to the Clara Stone Quilt Patterns, and Index to the Ladies Art Company Quilt Designs, but there are others!
The source of that Bluework block has been elusive. Sandra Munsey shared the block that is published on my website and in an article for The Quilter magazine a few years ago. In the interim, Helene A. Middleton of Oregon sent a photo of a whole quilt with 9 large blocks of this same design. Here is a link to the file about Bluework.
A series about Bluework that I wrote was published in September and November 2007 in The Quilter.
Have a great week!
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
