Civil War Dishes

Made by Connie Brown

To showcase her collection of Civil War reproduction prints, this Asheville, North Carolina, quiltmaker chose the traditional Broken Dishes block. "I felt it was in keeping with the many stories of the time of cupboards being stripped bare of their dishes and silverware. I am sure many a cup, saucer, plate, and bowl were broken," Connie explains.

When it was time to add the borders, she realized that she didn't have enough of any one fabric. "So in the old-timey tradition of making-do, I ended up choosing two border fabrics and figured out a way to make the corners work using only the fabric on hand."

To give your quilt the look of a Civil War antique, a collection of 1800s reproduction fabrics from Marcus Brothers is available from Hancock's of Paducah. The kit (item #MB CWQN QK) contains 25 quarter yards of different prints, enough to make the blocks and pieced border. Retail price is $59.98. Phone 800-845-8723 or order online at www.hancocks-paducah.com.

This pattern appears in the April 2006 (#381) issue of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine.

Click here to download the PDF file.