Block 6
Dreams of Home
8" Version
A square pieced inside a square represents Sarah Morgan's hopes of returning home.
A woman with a birdcage in the window
About 1880
Sarah never went home to Baton Rouge Clinton
Clinton is north of Baton Rouge up by the Mississippi state line.
September
3, 1862, Clinton , Louisiana
"If
I dare hope that next summer would bring us Peace! I always prophesy it just
six months off; but do I believe it? Indeed, I don't know what will become of
us if it is delayed much longer. If we could only get home, it would be another
thing; but boarding, how long will mother's two hundred and fifty last? …But if
we get home, what will we do for bedding? The Yankees did not leave us a single
comfort, and only two old bars [mosquito nets] and a pair of ragged sheets,
which articles are not to be replaced at any price in the Confederacy, so we
must go without. How glad I am that we gave all our blankets to our soldiers
last summer! So much saved from the Yankees!"
Soldiers on both sides were notorious for stealing bedding, as in this detail from
George Caleb Bingham's Order Number Eleven
From the Library of Congress
Clinton, Louisiana is full of historic buildings that were there when the Morgans boarded in in the fall of 1862. Take a virtual tour here:
http://www.felicianatourism.org/tourclint.htm
The pieced block has a BlockBase number
#1193 a
(Don't forget the
"a" if you are searching by number.)
The first published name for this shading was "A Simple Quilt Block"
UPDATE
Texas Jane has proofread and found that I made an error in the directions. So I have fixed it in fuchsia type.UPDATE
You'd have too many triangles if you listened to me. Thank you, Jane.
Cutting 12":
There is only one template.
A – Cut 2 - the correct number is 1-- light and 2 (1) dark squares 6-7/8".
Cut each into 4 triangles with 2 cuts.
A – Cut 2 (1) light and 2 (1) dark squares 4-7/8". Cut each into 4 triangles with 2 cuts.
Cutting 8":
Applique a star or a heart after piecing.
Optional applique:
Go back
to the January 5, 2013 post to see a JPG with the heart and the star.http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2013/01/dixie-diary-1-her-flag-flying.html
Woman about 1865
Sweet little block. Thanks for the monthly historic entries.
ReplyDeleteI look foreword to reading you blog! So interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis history has been as wonderful as the blocks. Each block tells a story about this young women. It makes me wonder how girls of today would survive in a war like this. Could they handle the suffering and depravation?
ReplyDeleteI am sure I am not the first one to notice this, but I don't see another comment. I think there is an error in the directions. Shouldn't it be one cut to make 2 triangles each?
ReplyDeleteLoving making all the blocks and reading the stories.
Jane--Thanks for the proofreading. I fixed it on the post.
ReplyDeleteAnd Judith---Sarah was a pretty silly and self-absorbed girl when the war started. She really matured with tragedy. I think girls today would do the same thing. Most people do what they have to do and learn to live with the loss.
Could the change be that we need to cut four squares, then cut each once diagonally?
ReplyDeleteHELP!
ReplyDeleteI did the block (12') cut 1-lt 1-dk 6 7/8 block with two diagonal cuts comes out 8.5.
So recut block was still to small before I even sewed it.
So do I cut 2-lights and 2-darks 6 7/8 then make one diagonal cut?
I am just now getting caught up on the blocks and am doing 6 and 7, I have the same problem as anonymous.
ReplyDeleteI've got the same problem. Comes out too small.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, what is the correct measurements for this block (12")? I made it and it came out too small. Thanks!
ReplyDeletePlease correct measurements for the 12" block. Thx!
ReplyDeletewondered if anyone figured out. Is it one cut, or use different measurements for the 12 inch block
ReplyDeletethanks
It happened to me too, but i figured it out, i cut 1 light and 1 dark and i cut it 9 7/8 x 9 7/8 and cut it 2 times diagonally,after you sew them you will have a little bit over then 12". Better large then small good luck.
ReplyDeleteHi, it happened to me to. I cut out the measurements for the 8 inch block and ended up with a 6 inch block. I guess I will follow the measurements for the 12 inch block and I should be okay. I wish I had read this first! You guys are really helpful.
ReplyDeleteI want to let you know that there are still errors in the instructions for Dixie Diary 6. The problems stems from the fact that making two cuts across squares yields enough triangles for the block, but it causes the grainline to be wrong, with all the bias at the edges of the block. The block should be made with half square triangles, not quarter square triangles.
ReplyDeleteHere are my suggested modifications:
Cutting 12":
There is only one template.
A – Cut 2 light and 2 dark squares 6-7/8". Cut each square into 2 triangles with 1 cut. You will have 4 light and 4 dark triangles.
(The picture should be a square with one cutting line diagonally across it.)
Cutting 8":
A – Cut 2 light and 2 dark squares 4-7/8". Cut each square into 2 triangles with 1 cut. You will have 4 light and 4 dark triangles.
I am awaiting the instructions for the final border from Becky, the sawtooth, I think. Where will I find it?
ReplyDelete