Tuesday, April 12, 2011

150th Aniversary of start of the Civil War

April 12th, 2011 is the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. I designed this quilt out of our Classic Wovens homespun line using the Lincoln's Platform block to commemorate the event.


After making the quilt, I thought to ask Barbara Brackman about the history. Here's what she said: The block was given that name by the Ladies Art Company, maybe at the end of

the 19th century. I think they were trying to draw a block off an old quilt

and got confused by what was block and what was sashing. It would be better

drawn as a regular monkey wrench with a sashing and cornerstone, but it

turned out so interesting with the four-patch behind it I'm glad it's an odd

block. As far as how old is the block? Those Monkey Wrench Churn Dash quilts

seem to turn up about the time of the Civil War (maybe the 1840s) but when

did somebody start calling it Lincoln's Platform?????


My friend Tori did most of the piecing. She's brand new to quilting and this is a visually complex quilt so a couple of the blocks are a little wonky but I think it adds to the charm. The piecing is easy - just triangle squares, squares and strips - but when you make the blocks, each corner churn part goes to a different churn. It can mess with your mind. If you'd like to buy a kit, click here.
The free download for the pattern was on April 12th.

Either way, let's stop for a moment and reflect on the lives that were lost, families and friends that were torn apart and the horror that the war brought to our country. Now it's interesting history - then it was not. You can follow the course of the war on Barbara Brackman's Civil War Blog by clicking the blog button on the right.

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28 comments:

  1. ColleenApril 12, 2011 at 7:02 AM

    Thank you, thank you, thank you! I opened this and immediately looked at my special basket I keep my homespun fabric collection in ~ now I have the perfect pattern! So simple but so spectacular! Just what I needed. Did I say Thank you?!
    And, I think Tori did a fantastic job!

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  2. AnnaApril 12, 2011 at 7:45 AM

    yeh for you and Tori and wonderful quilt!

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  3. LorraineApril 12, 2011 at 8:31 AM

    Thank you for your generosity in giving us the pattern for this visually STUNNING quilt!

    I love the simplicity of it as well...

    I can hardly wait to make it.

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  4. JolandaApril 12, 2011 at 8:33 AM

    Thank you for sharing this beautiful quilt. I saved a lot of shirts from my husband and think I will try to sew it with those fabrics. Hugs. Jolanda

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  5. Impera MagnaApril 12, 2011 at 8:43 AM

    I'm working on throw-size quilts for my nieces and nephews... and the nephews are proving much harder to sew for... but now (!) I have the perfect pattern for those ultra manly men, thanks to your kindness and generosity! Can't wait to get started on this one...

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  6. Cheryl's Teapots2QuiltingApril 12, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    Thank you for the pattern. It is a nice quilt. Thanks for the historical information you gave with the pattern.

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  7. WoolenSailsApril 12, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    Beautiful quilt and nice design to do in homespuns or primitive prints.

    Debbie

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  8. Marsha BApril 12, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    Thank you, I really love your patterns! I have some homespuns just waiting.

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  9. Cherie in St LouisApril 12, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    This pattern is wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing it with us :)

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  10. UnknownApril 12, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    Thank you Jan,
    this is very nice of you to share this pattern.

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  11. UnknownApril 12, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    I just came back for touring the Shiloh Battleground and the Battle of Corinth. I also picked up a bunch of shirts that belonged to my dad and this quilt would be the perfect pattern.

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  12. CandaceApril 12, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    Churn Dash is one of my favorite blocks! Thanks so much for the download! Being a west coast gal we never learned much about the Civil War. Then Ken Burns came out with his documentary which I've now seen 3 times along with wonderful fellow quilters who help us learn even more! I can't think of anything better to do in tandem - quilt and learn history!
    Cheers!

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  13. CarinApril 12, 2011 at 11:50 AM

    Thank you very much !

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  14. LunedApril 12, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Thank you so much for the pattern. I'm going to try to match your colours as best as I can with my homespuns stash to try to recreate this lovely quilt.

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  15. Jeanne April 12, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    Wow ! Thanks for the pattern, Jan. I have a ton of homespuns, that will be perfect for this quilt.

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  16. DeniseApril 12, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    Many thanks for this wonderful pattern, is perfect for my homepun fabrics!

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  17. CathiApril 12, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful pattern with us. I don't have any homespuns, but maybe a trip to the quilt shop is in order!

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  18. Betty LouApril 12, 2011 at 1:44 PM

    Thank you Jan, I am a Civil War history buff and appreciate you sharing this pattern.

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  19. LindaApril 12, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    Thank you Jan. I am itchin' to get out my homespuns and start planning!

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  20. SharonApril 12, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    Thank you for so generously sharing this pattern with everyone! I love this one, and I have an entire drawer full of homespuns just waiting for a project - I think this will be it! Thank you!!

    Tori did a fantastic job, and I love the little wonkiness - it's just perfect for a primitive quilt. Adds so much charm!

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  21. Mad about CraftApril 12, 2011 at 3:22 PM

    Thank you so much for this pattern.

    Although I'm British and my family have absoluately no connection with the USA I can identify with the suffering that must have gone on during that time. The English civil war was in the 1600's it has had a long lasting effect in our history so I would assume so will the US civil war.

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  22. VivianApril 12, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    Thank you for sharing this pattern. I know I'll enjoy making it. My stash is short on homespuns, so I'll probably try it with some of my calicos.

    I also appreciate the added historical info. This CW anniversary year has been wonderful for those of us interested in history as it relates to our beloved quilting.

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  23. Nat PalaskasApril 12, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    Thank you for sharing such treasure. I'm making CWQ blocks from Barbara's blog and love the look of Lincoln's Platform block. I love this quilt you have created out of the block. I have been saving men shirts for something and I think the something is this quilt. Thanks so very much for your generosity Jan - Hugs Nat

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  24. RachelApril 12, 2011 at 6:41 PM

    I am in love, thank you so much for sharing!

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  25. LeeanneApril 13, 2011 at 1:49 AM

    Thank you so much! What a great way for me to use some of my plaids.

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  26. StrladyApril 13, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    Well that is interesting. I looked at it and would have never guessed it was pieced that way. i love when a pattern surprises me. Thank you!!

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  27. AnonymousApril 13, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    I love this pattern.

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  28. 2neApril 13, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    A great pattern :-)

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