Block 23-Windmill

This weeks block is a cute windmill. I had a little trouble getting the arms to line up the way they were supposed to so don't look too hard. LOL.

Mildred's block

My block

Block 23 –Windmill

Perhaps it was due to the fact that the members had made so many blocks and done them so well that made Nancy ambitious in her next-to-last block of the alphabet quilt.

But she assured the members that the pattern was not as complicated as it looked at first glance.

“As you will see, the windmill arms are all of the same pattern. One simply places hem at different angles. Then the windmill frame is in one piece with the door appliquéd on top of in.  And the small flowers at the base are embroidered. I would use lazy daisy stitch for the leaved and outline or satin stitch for the flowers. The stems are in fine outline stitch of course so in the base line. Here is my color scheme: The windmill frame is gray, the door is a rich blue and the windmill arms are of a white and rose print. All of these materials are fast color. I have tried them to see. I am using these particular ones, because I happen to have these scraps on hand. I did not want to buy any more materials since the quilt is so nearly finished.”

A piece of white gingham, 6 ½ inches square, was vut and laid over the paper square which had been cut from the paper. By holding the cloth over the paper and pressing the two against the window frame it was possible to draw the pattern on the cloth by using a sharp pointed lead pencil.

The paper square was then pasted on to a piece of light-weight tag board or card board and dried under pressure.

Next the initial “w” was embroidered. Nancy chose fast color green embroidery cotton and used a fine outline stitch. She might have done it in chain stitch.

When the paper pattern was thoroughly dry the various parts of the pattern were cut. Only one windmill paper arm was cut, since all four were alike and one pattern could serve for four cloth arms.

The flowers were entirely disregarded at this time.

The paper patterns were laid on pieces of cloth and outlines were cut after allowing a quarter-inch on all sides. This gave a raw edge for turning under. The turned-under edge was basted and then the pieces were pressed.

First the building itself or frame was appliquéd with fine slanting hemming stitches. To get the correct placement the frame was laid on the penciled lines on the white block.

Then the four windmill arms were appliquéd. They were laid over the frame. The door was laid on top of the frame and appliquéd in place.

A round dot was embroidered at the spot where the four arms ----to have been joined.

Then the flowers and the base line were embroidered. And that left the block “Y” for next week.

OK-what happened to X? I guess you'll have to wait to find out!

Click HERE for the pattern.