Garden Bouquet Quilt: Month 7- Canterbury Bells

Canterbury bells are always popular on quilts. One of the Nancy Page quilt club members told of a quilt or spread she had made which has a large spray of Canterbury bells appliquéd in the center of the spread. The flowers were held together with a large and graceful bow knot of blue.

Because Canterbury bells come in various colors Nancy suggested that these be made either in pale blue, in pale pink or lavender or that one flower be made one color and the other flower be of a different hue. A most literal minded member objected to having two flowers of different colors growing from the same stem, but Nancy reminded her that once more she was using an artist’s privilege.

Then too, she recalled the Magic Vine quilt, which has as many as eleven different flowers growing from one vine.

The block is ready for the appliqué when the large white triangle, cut 12 ½ by 12 ½ by 17 ½, had been seamed on to the triangle made of the pieced urn. The white triangle is plain until the birds and flowers have been appliquéd upon it. They are placed according to the small inset drawing. The meek bird is almost hiding his head beneath one of the blossoms, but no so the saucy bird. He is pertly surveying his world and finding it good. The members followed the usual procedure.

First, they cut the pattern and directions from today’s paper.

Second, they traced the flower lightly in the correct placement on the white triangle.

Third, they made another tracing on a piece of light weight cardboard.

Fourth, they pasted the original with directions into their Nancy Page Scrap book.

Fifth, they cut the pasteboard pattern into its various parts.

Sixth, they laid these on the right pieces of material and cut them out, allowing one-quarter inch for turning under on all sides.

The bells are alike, so only one pattern need be cut.

The stem may be made from bias tape or green material similar to that used in the leaves.

After turning under edges, basting and pressing, the pieces are pinned in place according to the light tracery made on the white triangle.

They are then appliquéd with slanting, invisible hemming stitches. The birds are appliquéd. And a sixth block is finished for the beautiful and increasingly admired garden bouquet quilt.

Here is the pattern for the Canterbury bells. Just copy and paste it onto your computer & print it out. Make sure the 1” square that I’ve drawn on is actually 1” after you print it out. You may have to fiddle with the size settings on your printer to get it the correct size.

I haven’t been able to work on my Canterbury bells block so I don’t have anything to show off. I will update this when I do get the chance!

Do you have any Garden Bouquet Quilt blocks to show off? Leave a link to your blog post about it in the comment section or email me a photo at heathers_custom_sewing{at}yahoo.com so I can share with everyone!

I hope you are enjoying this series!
~Heather

Quick Links to:

Month 1: Beginning Instructions, Urn, and Basket Instructions
Month 2, Part 1: The Tulip
Month 2, Part 2: The Saucy Bird
Month 2, Part 3: The Meek Bird
Month 3: The Cactus
Month 4: Lily of the Valley
Month 5: The Wild Rose
Month 6: The Trillium
Hand Appliqué
Machine Appliqué
Alternate Method of Appliqué Tutorial
Biased Binding Tutorial