English Rose Quilt Block - Vintage Quilt Patterns

This beautiful quilt won first prize in the appliqué division in a quilting bee contest conducted by Capper’s Weekly in the late 20’s. The original block was yellowed with age and made of quaint, old, printed calico. The tiny stitches and the workmanship were exquisite. It was brought to this country from England in 1839.

While the design is not so easy to make, the result is worthy of the effort. And, because the design forms a large 24-inch block, only five of them are necessary to make a full bed-size quilt if they are set together with plain blocks the same size. These large plain blocks, if quilted attractively, will add as much beauty to the quilt as the appliquéd blocks themselves.

English Rose Quilt

In making the appliquéd blocks, the large center motif should be appliquéd first; then the corner motifs set on. Next the ball-shaped buds placed between, then the stems and leaves appliquéd on to connect the pairs in a complete design. The stems are made of 3/4 inch bias strips. This will allow for 3/16 seams on either side and will leave stems 3/8 of an inch wide.

With a 10-inch border on the sides and a 12 inch border on the ends, the finished quilt measures 92 by 96 inches.

FABRIC:

Green - 5 of A
20 of E
40 of J
80 of K plus bias strips cut 3/4 inch wide for stems – 3 1/2 yards

Red - 5 of B
20 of F
40 of I – 1 1/4 yards

Rose - 5 of C
20 of G – 3/8 yard

Yellow - 5 of D
20 of H – 1/4 yard

White - 2 strips 10 x 96 – for side border
2 strips 12 x 72 – for top border
9 blocks 24 inches square – 8 yards