Dixie Diary 7: Living Off Cornbread

Block 7

Living Off Cornbread

8" Version

Southern shortages affected everyone, even spoiled girls like Sarah Morgan who lamented she could find no strings for her guitar or seed for the pet birds. By the end of the war these minor complaints might have embarrassed the older, wiser woman she became. Food for people was becoming scarce in Louisiana and would become scarcer.

A 12" version with a 1" frame, set on point

By Sandi Brothers.

A child and a fancy birdcage

September 4, 1862 Clinton

Ouf! what a country! Next time I go shopping, I mean to ask some clerk, out of curiosity, what they do sell in Clinton. The following is a list of a few of the articles that shopkeepers actually laugh at you if you ask for:  Glasses, flour, soap, starch, coffee, candles, matches, shoes, combs, guitar-strings, bird-seed,---in short, everything that I have heretofore considered as necessary to existence. If any one had told me I could have lived off of cornbread, a few months ago, I would have been incredulous; now I believe it, and return an inward grace for the blessing at every mouthful."

 The Morgans were probably better off at the crowded boarding house in Clinton. Photographer Andrew Lytle captured breadlines outside his studio in Baton Rouge.

The pieced block is #2039 in BlockBase,
 called King's Crown by the Kansas City Star in 1931.

Cutting 12"

A: Cut 1 square 6 1/2".

B: Cut 1 square 7 1/4". (5-3/16" if you use the 1/16th" default) Cut into 4 triangles with 2 cuts. 

C: Cut 4 squares 3 1/2".

D: Cut 4 squares 3 7/8". Cut each into 2 triangles with 1 cut. 

Cutting 8"

A: Cut 1 square 4-1/2".

B: Cut 1 square 5 1/4" (5-3/16" if you use the 1/16th" default). Cut into 4 triangles with 2 cuts. 

C: Cut 4 squares 2-1/2".

D: Cut 4 squares 2 7/8". Cut each into 2 triangles with 1 cut. 

Add smaller triangles to either side of the B triangle. Make 4 of these. 

Add the squares on either side.

Make 2 of these rectangles for top and bottom.

Add the remaining rectangles to either side of A.

Piece the 3 strips together.

Optional applique:

Applique a star or a heart after piecing.

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