Nursery Rhyme Quilt - embroidery/redwork pattern

Mary, Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?

The 1931 Nursery Rhyme Quilt was by C Mullen. There are 25 designs, a quilting design and a quilt layout drawing.  The blocks are designed to be embroidered on 9 inch muslin squares of fabric.

The paper suggests you embroider the lines, using the simple stitches, such as outline, French knot, satin stitch, long and short and lazy-daisy.

 

There are 25 designs
  • Mary, Quite Contrary 
  • Jack Be Nimble
  • Humpty-Dumpty
  • Little Bo-Peep
  • Old Mother Hubbard
  • Tom the Piper's Son
  • Little Jack Horner
  • Ride a Horse
  • The Old Woman in the Shoe
  • Sing a Song of Sixpence
  • The Old Woman in the Sky
  • The Cat and the Fiddle
  • Mary Had a Little Lamb
  • Little Tom Thumb
  • Old King Cole
  • Hickory, Dickory, Dock
  • Little Miss Muffett
  • Simple Simon
  • Barber Shave a Pig
  • Peter, Peter, Pumpkin-Eater
  • Cat's in the Well
  • Robin
  • Little Boy Blue
  • Rub-a-Dub-Dub
  • Old Mother Goose

 
You can embroider or paint your blocks.  The pattern is also suitable for redwork or bluework so you can make your quilt as elaborate as you wish.

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 original 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 available in sewing and craft stores. To aid in tracing you can use a quilting light box, or well-lit window as women of previous generations did.