The Calico Garden Quilt: A Pattern Review

by Patricia Lynne Grace Cummings

The Calico Garden quilt is a joy to re-create. The variety of colors make it a cheerful little quilt. Actually, it is very hard to stop working on it, once you get started. The floral designs are varied enough and sufficiently intricate to challenge even the most seasoned quilter. This quilt is a good place to practice bias stem appliqué.

                                     "Calico Garden"

Originally designed by Florence Peto, circa 1950, the quilt is a scrap bag effort which uses colors more indicative of the late nineteenth century. Double-pinks, cadet blue, brown, bright yellow calico, puce and lime green fabrics are a link to that time frame. The quilt is multi-colored (polychromatic), with every color family represented. Florence was well known in the quilting world. She was a writer and a teacher. One of her stated intentions was to preserve old fabrics and she loved the look of fabrics from an earlier time.

All of the blocks in the main section finish to 3" and are set on point.  Forty eight are nine patch units and 35 are appliqué blocks. The most challenging block is the flower basket with its 15 pieces. On the average, it took about four hours to complete each block. For construction, I used either the freezer paper on top method or needle turn appliqué.

Froncie Quinn of Hoopla Designs in Essex Jct., Vermont was the person responsible for creating a pattern of Florence's quilt, in conjunction with the Shelburne Museum, where the original quilt is now housed. 

A portion of the revenue generated by pattern sales is returned to the Museum, for the ongoing care and maintenance of its large collection of antique quilts.  Even though directions for the quilt also appear in the book, Enduring Grace, by Celia Y. Oliver, the commercial pattern is very helpful because it comes with freezer paper templates, already drawn to scale and ready to cut out and use, whereas the book's patterns need to be taken to a copy center to increase their size.

A nice color photograph of the original quilt is provided with the Hoopla pattern. To be able to see the fabrics a little more clearly, since I was attempting to duplicate those in the original quilt, I used a photographer's 10X loupe magnifier. While exact duplicates are not easily found, it was a challenge to try to come as close as possible, using reproduction fabrics.

The finished quilt is only 39" x 49". On first glance, it looks like it would a quicker project than what it turns out to be. Strip piecing was mentioned as an option for the nine patch units. This would have resulted in faster piecing, but would not have achieved the more scrappy look I sought.

Another nice feature of the pattern is that it gives suggestions for placement of hand quilting, as it was done in the original.  In addition, there is a certificate of documentation that can be sent when the quilt is finished, along with a photo of the quiltmaker and the quilt, for the permanent file at the Shelburne. For a small processing fee, I was sent a lovely document and several very nice letters signed by both Hoopla Designs and the Shelburne.

Pieces of the past have much to teach us. I hope that I have encouraged you to try this and/or other reproduction patterns. This quilt will draw on a lot  of your previous experience with quilt making, and it will also become apparent why the quilter who designed this one was a prize-winner!

©Copyright 2002. Patricia Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH. Contact:  pat@quiltersmuse.com

The pattern is available from Hoopla Designs, 35 Woods End Dr., Essex Jct., VT  05452. (802) 872-8839.