Today the quilt top I’m pulling from the quilt top cupboard is a Tumbling Blocks design.
The top dates to around 1910-1940’s, and contains fabrics from a pretty good time span. The fabrics were most likely taken from a scrap bag that contained scraps from sewing clothing or other quilts.?
The mourning prints were first popular in the 1860’s, but were reproduced in the 1930-40’s. These prints seem to be the newer ones?
The quilt top contains mourning prints, Cardinal reds, Turkey reds, shirting, gingham, plaid, a few florals, homespuns, a couple of large scale black and white prints, and chambray.
There are quite a few poverty patches.
When the scraps a person had weren’t large enough to cut the pattern piece from, they sewed the bits together to get a piece of fabric large enough to get the shape they needed. These were/are called poverty patches, but to me they are determination patches and it always warms my heart to see them!
One thing I find very unusual about this top is that it’s all machine pieced.
This pattern has a lot of set in seams, which can be difficult to sew. It’s more common to see a Tumbling Blocks pattern hand sewn, and some prefer to paper piece for accuracy.
The top is also interesting because the placement of the lights, mediums and darks changes position throughout the top. If these were real stacks of blocks it would be hard to tell which direction the light source was coming from?
The top measures roughly 70″x74″. A bit large for a throw..but with the addition of a border or two, it could be made bed sized. 
Tags: chambray, gingham, homespun, machine pieced, mourning prints, set in seams, shirting, Tumbling Blocks, vintage fabrics
I used to own a charm tumbling block quilt that was completed in 1876. Sold it several years ago. I am very attracted to tumbling block quilts.
Another interesting top! I didn’t notice that the “light source” changed so much until you mentioned it. :0) Love the variety of prints – thanks for the close-ups.
I saw this on Flick’r, Ann and had to come over! The top is SO crisp and clean looking. I LOVE the prints. It is surprising to learn this top is machine pieced. Hmmm…yet another quilt mystery…?!
wow, I can’t imagine someone machine sewing all those inset seams. The pattern looks interesting with the scraps and at an angle I see stars too. Lovely top!
oh wow, another winner!
that red and raspberry really pops out.
Wonderful collection of fabrics to study!
hope is not so hot where you are Ann!
I love this quilt, these colors really appeal to me. I did notice the light/dark placements were off, but I still find it so charming. Surprising to see this machine pieced, seems it would make it difficult to stitch. This pattern is on my to-do list. Thanks for sharing
Very unusual to have it machine pieced!! It looks like the maker knew what she was doing as it seems to be pretty flat:)
This is a good one! Even though the shading is odd in some blocks, I would not take this apart (and that’s high praise coming from me). I love the fabrics, colors, and the overall look of this piece, and I think it would be a lot of fun to quilt.
Oh there’s a lot of yummy in the way these blocks display the fabric. I like that. There’s a sort of frustratingly fun look to these block since, as you mention, you can’t hardly tell which direction the light source is coming from? It totally works though. Overall there seems to be a flow to it. I’ve worked with this block a couple times and it makes me crazy. Too much to pay attention to with that light source business. Just sharing.
this block always amazes me… I have done one small block like this and have determined I am not ready for it yet.. someday…
a beautiful top~very spontaneous looking~!!~
thank you for sharing.
libbyQ
Poverty patches, huh? I love that term, and confess that I have done it more out of laziness than anything. I might like your term, determination patch, better. What a positive spin.