Month: March 2022

1860s Quilted Checker Board

Dear Sis,

In recent months, I made a cloth doll for Charlotte to take reenacting. I made a mental note that I wanted to make a period toy for William too, but I wasn’t sure just what it would be. 

Last weekend, while I was backing Evelyn and Grant’s cross-stitched baby quilts from Great Grandma Cooper and whipping up a world map wall quilt for Grant’s new big boy room, I had to stop in the middle of my sewing projects to play checkers with William.

He is always looking for someone who will join him for a checker match. During our game, we hatched an idea. Wouldn’t it be neat it to make a quilted checker board?!

1860s Quilted Checker Board

Storage Bag Dimensions (10 x 14 inches)

Board Dimensions (19 inch square)

Materials

  • 3/4 yard reproduction quilting calico (for backing and storage bags)
  • 1/3 yard RED reproduction quilting calico (for red squares and boarder)
  • 1/3 yard BLACK reproduction quilting calico (for black squares)
  • 24 inch square of cotton batting
  • cotton thread to match backing fabric
  • 24 (1 1/2″ x 1/8″) wooden disks
  • black, gold, and red acrylic paint
  • 2 yards cotton cord

Cutting

  • Black Squares – 32 (2 3/4 inch) squares
  • Red Boarder – 2 (1.5 inch) strips from the cut edge, cut on the fold to make 4 strips
  • Red Squares – 32 (2 3/4 inch) squares
  • Backing  – Cut along fold line, set aside one piece for backing, use other half to cut storage bags.
  • Checker Bag – 7×16 inch rectangle
  • Storage Bag – 17×22 inch rectangle

Piecing

Note: I used a sewing machine for piecing the checker board, but you may piece it by hand if you wish. Regardless, use small stitching and 1/4 inch seam allowances. Press all seams open before moving on to another step.

Seam Placement One: Place a red (R) and black (B) square together, right sides facing. Stitch together. Repeat with remaining 31 pairs.

Seam Placement Two: Place a R/B rectangle face up. Place a B/R rectangle face down on top of it. Stitch together. Repeat with remaining 15 pairs.

Seam Placement Three: Place a R/B/R/B rectangle face up. Place a B/R/B/R rectangle face down on top of it. Stitch together. Repeat with remaining 7 pairs.

Seam Placement Four: Place a 2×4 rectangle face up. Place a 2×4 rectangle with alternate color pattern face down on top of it. Stitch together. Repeat with remaining 3 pairs.

Seam Placement Five: Place a 4×4 square face up. Place a 4×4 square with alternate color pattern face down on top of it. Stitch together. Repeat with remaining pair.

Seam Placement Six: Place a 4×8 rectangle face up. Place the other 4×8 rectangle with alternate color pattern face down on top of it. Stitch together. Checker board seams are complete.

Boarder Seams (Top & Bottom): Place checker board right side up. Aline and pin boarder-strips on the top and bottom edge, right-side down. Stitch together. Trim away excess length.

Boarder Seams (Sides): Place checker board ride side up. Aline and pin boarder-strips on the sides, right-side down. Stitch together. Trim away excess length. Piecing is complete.

Layering

  1. Place backing panel wrong side up.
  2. Center and smooth batting over backing panel.
  3. Center and smooth checker board quilt top over batting.

I like to place curved safety pins in a staggered pattern around work to keep layers from shifting during top stitching, because it is fast. Alternately, you can hand baste the layers with large running stitches.

Top Stitching

Top stitch along each seam row from top to bottom and left to right, starting in the center and working your way outward. Remove safety pins that are no longer needed as you work. I did switch to hand sewing for the remainder of the project for a more period appearance, but you may do as you wish.

About an hour in, I had to reach for my thimble. Top stitching through so many layers can be rough on the finger tips:)

Binding

  1. Trim batting so that it is the same length as the quilt top.
  2. Trim backing so that it approximately 1 inch longer than the quilt top.
  3. Turn raw edge under approximately 1/2 an inch. Then, fold over the edge of the quilt top. Pin in place.

Secure with hand whip stitching. Quilted Checker Board is complete.

Making Checkers

Paint at least 12 disks black and at least 12 disks red on one side. We painted 14 of each, so we can loose a few and still play…lol. When dry, paint the other side and edges. I had helpers:)

To make the crown for the king side of the checker, I used a 1 inch round cookie cutter to stamp them on in gold paint.

Although not a necessary next step, we highly recommend testing your checker game with a quick match. William was eager to oblige!

Checker Storage Bag

Step One: Create a 1/2 inch rolled hem on each 7 inch edge, and machine stitch 1/8 inch from the edge to create draw string channels. 

Step Two: Place rectangle right-side up and fold to bring the bottom edge in line with the top edge. Secure each side seam with 1/4 inch seams, leaving the rolled hem unstitched.

Step Three: Turn bag right-side-out. Cut cord in half securing all the ends with knots to keep them from unraveling. Attach a safety pin to one end of the cord to help feed in through the cord channels at the top of the bag. Knot free ends together. The checker storage bag is complete.

Game Storage Bag

Step One: Create a 1/2 inch rolled hem along one of the 22 inch edge, sand machine stitch 1/8 inch from the edge to create draw string channels. 

Step Two: Place rectangle right-side up with rolled hem at the top edge and fold from the side until all edges match. Secure along the bottom and side edge with 1/2 inch seam allowance. 

Step Three: Clip corner, and turn bag right-side-out. Attach the other prepared cord to a safety pin to help feed in through the cord channels at the top of the bag. Knot free ends together. The game storage bag is complete. 

Game Storage

Fold quilted game board in half, then roll it up. Place game board and checker storage bag into storage bag. Enjoy your 1860s quilted checker board set!

A Historical Peak into 1860’s Checker’s 

Hey Sis,

Your checker board is awesome! I recently asked on the Civilian Civil War Closet about checkers. I was curious if there were any historical quilted checker board patterns, or originals in collections. Unsurprisingly, I did find that handmade game boards were a thing! Here is pattern in Peterson’s 1864 for a Chess Table. Chess and Checkers were often played on the same board.

Janet from the Button Baron posted this image into the discussion, as well as an original she owns that is similar. I asked her if that was two books, because sure is what it looks like. And, she said that her’s were Titled the Hist. of Africa, and the pieces for game went inside. So, I guess the books were hollowed out for storage.

Another lady had actually seen quilted boards, but they were on blankets, or tablecloths! Another person mentioned that soldiers would paint them on their groundcloths. The ones that were quilted from soldiers, where usually made from wool uniform scraps. Here is a picture, and here is a link to that.

So, I didn’t find any originals like yours. But, definitely some very lovely handmade boards were created and used! I look forward to playing checkers with William!

~ Jamie

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Global Greetings Geography

Dear Sis,

I love the idea of literature based curriculum, but I learned last year that the prep work required to keep up with Torchlight was more than I can manage, from week to week. Also we do read aloud as a family for fun, so I don’t want to do too many subjects with a literature approach. 

As I’m pieces together a plan for our kindergarten year, I’m finding we lack a fun engaging way to study geography material. This literature based compilation borrows some material from the reading lists of both Torchlight Level K and Build Your Library Level 0, which both have a global theme.

This elementary program can be used for a single student or as a family. Adding the optional cookbook, and using it on the weeks when time allows, will greatly enrich your family experience. In addition to the books below, the curriculum schedule includes prompts for an eight week family geography/history journaling project.

The text: Books will be labeled as consumable (one per student), spine (plan to purchase for reoccurring use), single use (can be borrowed from library to cut cost).

A Story Series (single use)

Greetings from Somewhere by Paris Harper, is an illustrated chapter book mystery series. Ethan and Ella bring adventure into your home as they travel the world with their parents, for their mom’s job as a travel writer for the local paper. Each book can be read in one or two sittings. Your upper elementary students can take turns helping with the reading too! Over this 36 week program we will read all ten books in the series.

Collection of Folktales (spine)

A Year Full of Stories: 52 folktales and legends from around the world by Angela McAllister, provides short stories arrange by the twelve months of the year from a wide variety of places and cultures. Many of the stories cover various holidays from around the world.

The Atlas (spine)

We have the 4th (2013) edition, of the Kids World Atlas by National Geographic, because we got a great deal on it. The layout is consistent between additions, so the 5th (2018) or 6th (2021) editions will work too.

Update: March 19, 2022

I was able to preview the 6th edition, thanks to our local library. Here are the main changes that aren’t cosmetic or stat/map updates!

  • A two page spread was added in the Physical World section addressing Endangered Species.
  • A two page spread was added in the Political World section addressing human Migration.
  • The East Africa spread was divided into two spreads: Eastern and Central Africa. 
  • The games in the back of the book have been removed.

Please note that page numbers on the schedule will be a bit off with newer additions, so work by content instead of page numbers. Also, the games for the final week will not be available to those with newer text.

The Consumable

Ultimate Sticker Book: Flags Around the World by DK

The Cookbook (optional spine)

Cooking Class Global Feast!: 44 recipes that celebrate the world’s cultures by Deanna F. Cook

This is a 36 week homeschool program. We prefer to do all the weekly activities on a single day, but it can be broken into two or three small portions each week, if that is preferable to your family. Print the schedule to get started.

Global Greetings Geography Curriculum Schedule PDF

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b




1860’s Afghans

If you have ever considered making your very own historical afghan, here are some patterns that may catch your eye. All of these patterns were published in period magazines between 1858-1865. Most are simplistic in nature, and worked in smaller portions that are stitched together. There are period patterns for both crochet and knitters alike! However, almost all of these crochet afghans are worked in Tunisian or long hook crochet. 

Knit Pattern – From Godey’s 1858. This is the only afghan pattern I have seen thus far made of cotton! As you see, they call it a quilt. I’ve seen multiple names for afghans include quilt, afghan, blanket and carriage wrap.

Crib Cover to Knit Peterson’s 1860 – I made this blanket for my daughter, and have a modernized free version of it here. 

New Design for Crochet Afghan -Peterson’s 1861

Crib Cover to Knit – Peterson’s 1861 This is just a picture. There is not written pattern

Carriage Wrapper to Crochet – Godey’s 1862

Carriage Wrapper Godey’s 1862

Traveling Blanket in Crochet – Peterson’s Magazine 1862

Velvet Ribbon Afghan – Godey’s 1863

Velvet Ribbon Infant Blanket Godey’ 1863

Baby’s Carriage Afghan in Crochet – Peterson’s 1865: I made this afghan for my son. You can access the free modernized pattern here 

Links to Raverly and our Historical Closet

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Quilting for Your Kids

Dear Sis,

My craft closet got a good clean out this past week. That is when I realized I still had not backed the cross stitch baby quilts Dad’s mom made for your kiddos. I stopped at the quilt shop to find perfect calico for the job. I hope you like how they turned out!

Grant’s Quilt

Eve’s Quilt

Grant’s Wall Quilt

Since my winter visit, when we personalized your kids rooms, I’ve know I wanted to make a wall quilt for Grant! It will go with all the colors in his room and help add color to that big blank wall across from the bed! Besides every homeschool family needs a world map somewhere:)

I top stitched all the longitude lines.

I can’t wait to see it hanging on the wall in his room:)

Love,

b

Music Appreciation – Latin

Dear Sis,

This is the seventh of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Latin Music

A note for parents: Many Latin genres pair music and dance. When a listening sample features a style of music that is also a dance, a video sample is provided in an attempt to bring as much authenticity to your learner as possible.

Week Twenty-Three

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Latin is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote

Watch Exploring Latin Music movie.

Listen to Sample One: “Mambo No. 5” by Perez Prado (mambo/cha-cha-cha/big band)

Watch The Mambo. This video features “Mambo No. 8,” also by Perez Prado.

Watch The Cha-Cha-Cha. This video features “Ritmando Cha Cha Cha by Orquestra Riverside.

Week Twenty-Four

Approximately 20 minutes

Read “LATIN” history text.

Listen to Sample Two: “Anuas de Marco (waters of March)” by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Elis Regina (bossa nova/Latin jazz)

Listen to Sample Three: “Volver Volver” by Vicente Fernandez (mariachi/ranchera)

Watch The Instruments of Mariachi Music video.




Week Twenty-Five

Approximately 25 minutes

Listen to Sample Four: “Oye Como Va” by Carlos Santana (Chicano rock/soul)

Listen to Sample Five: “Bamboleo” by Gipsy Kings (rumba/flamenco)

Watch The Rumba. This video features “Faded” by DJ Ice (Alan Walker Cover)

Watch The Flamenco. 

Week Twenty-Six

Approximately 15 minutes

Watch and listen to Latin American Instruments video.

  • Pause the video as needed to read the text to your learner.
  • Do they recognize any of the instruments from the other listening samples and/or videos?

Listen to Sample Six: “Baila Esta Cumbia” by Selena y Los Dinos (tejano/cumbia)

Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the eighth installment: Pop (Weeks 27-30).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b




A New Coat of Paint

Dear Sis,

January marked the four year anniversary of the purchase of our home. Since that time, I’ve been planning to brighten up the master bedroom, but was always too busy with babies to bother.

The timing still wasn’t perfect, but with a new carpet install marked on the calendar, it seemed like a now or never kind of thing.

The kids and I spent the afternoon Thursday, moving the furniture into the center of the room, masking, patching, and sanding.

Our masking was so through we didn’t get any paint on the carpet, which makes me realize it is possible to paint the hallway, despite the new carpet. Good prep work goes a long way!

We brought paint Friday after swim lessons and got right to work. The difference in the two colors is striking!

I purchased single coat paint, hoping it would save me a day of painting, but alas it didn’t quite cover. Additionally, the transition form flat to satin finish revealed a whole new layer of defects that needed to be patched and sanded. That task was tackled on Saturday, along with completion of the accent wall.

Josh wasn’t home while we painted, but when he got home he asked me, “Did you know one of our walls in white?” He doesn’t love it as much as I do! In his defense, accent walls are usually the bold color and the neutral is usually for the remaining walls:) I made this design choice because I wanted a light aqua color in our room, but also knew it clashed with the colors in our wedding guest book wall art.

We purchased an additional gallon of paint Sunday morning, so we could do a second coat. It was nice that Home Depot reduced the price of our second gallon because the single coat didn’t workout, which was nice.

Late Sunday, I we removed all the masked and put everything back in its proper place.

The new carpet went in Wednesday and Thursday. The light color added additional brightness to the space. It’s the tropical oasis I was going for!

Completing this project made me thing of several more I’d like to tackle in the coming years!

  • Patch and repaint the light yellow walls in the living room.
  • Paint the hallways something light that isn’t orange!
  • Patch and repaint the master bath light yellow because it will go with the new bedroom color and the current decor much better. I even want paint the golden oak cabinet dark blue and add a shelf above the toilet like we did in the first floor half bath last year.
  • Repaint the kids bath and change the miss-match decor to a collection of butterfly decor I collected for Charlotte’s room before we decided to do a piggy/farm theme.
  • Paint all the closets white inside, repaint any doors and trim that need a fresh coat.

How is it that checking one project off a to-do list always seem to be followed by adding five more projects!?

Love,

b

 

 

 

Perfect M&M Cookies

Dear Sis,

Josh baked some Pillsbury M&M cookies a few weeks ago and the kids have requested a repeat occurrence. Naturally, I need a homemade version:)

Perfect M&M Cookies

b
Print Recipe
Course Dessert
Servings 5 dozen

Ingredients
  

  • 2 c unsalted butter, soft
  • 1 1/2 c dark brown sugar, packed
  • 1 1/2 c granulated sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 4 t vanilla extract
  • 2 t baking soda
  • 2 t salt
  • 5 c unbleached flour
  • 1 c mini M&Ms
  • 1 c milk chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Cream together butter and sugars. Beat in eggs, one at a time, vanilla, baking soda, and salt.
  • Stir in flour, 1/2 cup at a time. Fold in candy and chips.
  • Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough on ungreased sheets. Bake 9 minutes. Cool on pans until set. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Keyword chocolate chip cookies, cookies, m&m cookies

Happy Cookie Munching!

Love,

b

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