Pot Holder blocks and a sewing circle.

After my last post about the Pot Holder blocks,

I received some many questions.

Questions about the WHO's making them ,

 not the how of making pot holder blocks.

So, here's a little more-

There is a group of quilters

at the LQS that are working on

Pot Holder quilt blocks.

(And, I've been lucky enough to be able to quilt for some of them!)

History lesson first :D...

If you don't know what Pot Holder quilt blocks are,

here's the scoop thread:

In the same method of crocheting or knitting  "granny squares",

you make a specific size of finished quilt block.

And finished means each of the quilt blocks have been

pieced, layered, quilted, trimmed, and bound.

Each woman in the Civil War times"group"

would make as many finished blocks as she could.

Then the group would get together with their finished blocks,

and whip-stitch those finished quilt blocks together to make

quilts for the soldiers aid.

A quilt made, long and narrow,

just big enough to fit a soldier's cot.

Then these cot quilts were sent to the

soldiers serving our country.

If a soldier gave his life in the line of duty,

his possessions might have been taken and used by his comrades.

Or, those possessions were raided by camp followers or area residents.

 Occasionally, his possessions were buried with him,

his cot quilt used as his burial wrap.

Because of the tough times and hard conditions,

there are few Civil War Pot Holder quilts

that have survived until today.

So, back to this group of women at

The Good Wives Co....

we have started a sewing circle to

make Pot Holder quilts,

reminiscent of this historical time period.

We all enjoy quilting, and also enjoy the history of quilts.

And doing a couple of finished blocks here and there

seems to fit right into our schedules!

So we came up with our own

pattern/fabric kit for each of the 14 inch blocks,

similar to an antique signature quilt

(**shown in the book, below) 

made in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts.

Here are Cindy's first blocks:

 and more of Cindy's blocks:

 Here are Sandy's first blocks:

And, here are a couple of mine:

My blocks are only 7 inches square, as you can see from the cutting board scale.

If you enjoy the history of quilts,

and specifically the time period of the Civil War,

then get yourself this great book**:

The LQS - Good Wives
has the book in stock if your local shop doesn't have it.  They also have the kits for each Pot Holder block, with fabrics chosen to replicate the antique quilt; just call to order and they'll ship right out to you! You can find their link over on the right side or by clicking on their name above.
AND, YES, there are a couple of these groups meeting!!!
If you are local, please feel free to join in!!

Hopefully that cleared up a few things.  And, maybe some of you will join our sewing circle making Pot Holder Quilts.  Let me know, and I'll add your block pictures, too.
I'm still thinking I can put together my "Path to the Civil War" blocks this way,
using the Pot Holder method...What do you think?

OK, I'm off to bed. 
I'm heading to the International Quilt Festival tomorrow,
(now TODAY as it's after midnight!)
and I still have to pack!

Back soon to share potholder blocks and IQF finds!
Happy Stitching!