Covered Wagon States Quilt - 1939 vintage redwork pattern

This vintage redwork/embroidery pattern was originally published in the late 1930's through a series of newspaper patterns in the World Herald of Omaha, Nebraska. There are 17 blocks.  Each pattern is on a separate page, complete with original printed instructions and a quilt layout diagram. 

Following the directions, you will make a quilt measuring 82" wide by 92" long, less seam allowances. Each square is designed to be transferred onto a piece of material 9" x 11". Example: the Covered Wagon States design, pictured first below, measures 6" x 8". 

Each square includes color suggestions and an interesting history of the square. For example on Wild Bill Hickok (pictured second below): ...He came into prominence in Nebraska where his notorious fight with the McCandless gang occurred...Wild Bill Hickok's hair and mustache are blond and may be embroidered in pale yellow and his suite in dark blue. Outline the face in white and use blue for the eyes and red for the lips and tie....

  • The Covered Wagon States
  • Buffalo Bill
  • Sitting Bull
  • Buffalo
  • Wild Bill Hickok
  • Calamity Jane
  • Stephen A. Douglas 
  • Dugout (House)
  • Lewis and Clark Expedition
  • General George A. Custer
  • Pierre Jean De Smet, S.J.
  • Sioux Chief Red Cloud
  • John Brown
  • Cowboy and Texas Longhorn
  • Major Frank North
  • Coronado Expedition
  • Covered Wagon Travel.  Note: this is the center square. It was published in miniature and intended that you enlarge it. As the center square, you have a lot of flexibility in using this pattern.  With today's copiers, you can easily enlarge it to 16 1/2" x 22".  It is also an add number, the 17th square, and depending on the layout that you choose, you may not use it.

 

 
When you are ready to make a square, print it out and trace the design directly onto your fabric, using the method which suits your style best.  Per patterns of the day: Fold the pattern to determine the center and slip a piece of carbon paper underneath - the sticky side facing the material - and trace the pattern carefully with a very well pointed pencil.

Today you can also use an inexpensive transfer pen. To aid in tracing you can use a quilting light box, or well-lit window as women of previous generations did.