1930’s Newspaper Quilt Patterns

October 9, 2024

Hi!

This week we’re taking a quick jump back in time – back to the 1930’s when newspapers like the Kansas City Star regularly published quilt blocks. These newspaper quilt patterns were hugely popular at the time, and indeed, many of these original patterns are still widely used today, (and the newspaper quilt pattern originals sell for quite a bit as vintage goods!)

Today’s article is a reprint of an article we featured in the Online Quilt Magazine several years ago, and was written by quilter Penny Halgren.

 

“1930’s Newspaper Quilt Patterns

1930 newspaper quilt patterns were very common in rural U.S. states. The Kansas City Star actually began printing patterns for quilters in 1926. The newspaper carried on the tradition until 1961.

The quilt patterns were published weekly at first, then as interest seemed to dwindle, the patterns were printed monthly before being pulled from the publication all together.

In all, just over 1000 quilt patterns were published by the Kansas City newspaper. Collectors have found copies of all of them and now offer a compilation for sale.

The Kansas City newspaper was not the only one to publish newspaper quilt patterns. Many other rural papers did the same.

The 1930 newspaper quilt patterns helped preserve part of the country’s heritage. Even though times were tougher than ever economically, the 1930 newspaper quilt patterns focused on the things that were truly important to quilters of that day and served as an emotional boost as well.

One popular 1930 newspaper quilt pattern was “The Magic Vine.” The design was presented as a series in a newspaper column written by Florence LaGanke Harris.

In addition to the weekly quilt pattern, Harris wrote a fictional story about a quilting group. Readers followed the antics of the group and its fictional leader, Nancy Page.

As readers followed the goings-on of the imaginary quilting group, they also stitched along with each week’s pattern.

Readers were so engaged by the weekly column and quilting that they submitted their own quilt designs for consideration. The end result from Harris’ column was a quilt of beautifully appliqued flowers with vines that entwined.

Another of the popular 1930 newspaper quilt patterns included in Harris’ weekly column was the “Memory Bouquet.” The quilt featured 9×12 inch blocks appliqued with various flowers. Imagine the cheery look of the finished product with its hollyhock, tulips, violets, carnations, zinnias, jonquils and more!

The weekly 1930 newspaper quilt patterns gave quilters some much needed enjoyment and thrifty entertainment. In addition to providing reasonably priced quilt patterns during The Great Depression era in the United States, the quilts also focused on an important part of life in the 1930’s: the children.

Many patterns for children featured nursery rhymes. Some quilts featured one single nursery rhyme while others compiled several children’s favorites onto one quilt top. The patterns were designed so that they could be appliqued or embroidered. Redwork was popular on quilts at the time!

The 1930 newspaper quilt patterns were a direct reflection of life during the Great Depression. Quilters saved money by using the patterns. They continued providing necessary warmth for their families and offered the quilts they made from the 1930 newspaper patterns as gifts for many occasions.

If you would like to create your own quilt from 1930 newspaper quilt patterns, they are available — usually as copied images or in books. There are several collections available that could be appliqued, embroidered or hand painted.

“Garden Spinners” is a remake of a quilt-block pattern that was found in a box of old newspaper clippings. Someone had trimmed away the text and source information, so the origins are a mystery.

This quilt is in the following book:

To find your own collection of 1930 newspaper quilt patterns, check your favorite hobby or book store for a book or dvd of all the available patterns. The Internet is another great source of finding 1930 newspaper quilt patterns.”

 

If you have the time, it’s worth a quick search online – you’ll find plenty of images of these newspaper quilt patterns on Pinterest, and I always enjoy a look at our quilting history too.

Enjoy your week!