Quilting requires lots of good light. Today, quilters work year round on their creations, but before electricity, quilting needed to be done during the spring and summer when there was a lot of sunlight.
One of the most recognizable quilt blocks is Sunbonnet Sue. Our Sunbonnet Sue is appliqued on unbleached muslin and the applique edges are with blanket stitched with yellow embroidery floss. The block measures 13” x 14 ½”.
The creator of Sunbonnet Sue is Bertha Corbett Melcher. In 1900, Bertha illustrated and published a book, Sunbonnet Babies, depicting girls with their faces hidden by large, brimmed bonnets. Ladies Art Patterns issued the first Sunbonnet Baby applique pattern in 1900. Throughout the early 20th century, other pattern companies and designers like McCall’s and Ruby McKim produced their variations of Sunbonnet Sue. Sunbonnet Sue’s popularity peaked in the 1930s. Whether you like her or hate her, Sunbonnet Sue is a quilting icon!