|
Dating back to the days when our pioneer fathers and mothers were crossing the
plains in wagon trains, we have Susannah, the rollicking song, and Susannah,
the quilt block. Perhaps the peaked print blocks were from the silhouettes of
formidable mountain peaks ahead with stretches of plain before their angular
summits. And altogether the Susannah block forms a cross. Don't think those brave
imaginative quilt makers would overlook that symbolism, or the tortuous paths
that the white squares form when it is all set together with plain white blocks!
This is not an easy block to piece, cut as it is shown, copied from an old
pattern. It seems that it would be easier to have print squares like the white
ones, and double-sized triangles added to the center square. But that would be
decapitating the mountains and modernizing the prairie trail, and the quilt's
owner said hesitatingly, "No, we did it this other way!"
A Susannah block finishes 10 1/2 inches square if seams are added to the above
sizes. Seven blocks by eight, or eight wide by nine long may be used for the
quilt top, alternating plain and pieced squares.
Material Estimate: Six yards of white with 2 1/2 yards of print
is ample for a large sized quilt in this design.
A Tulip or any other flower would be interesting on the plain squares if an
easy, rather open pattern is desired.
| 