| Quilting History |
The History of The Sunbonnet Sue quilt pattern. "That girl with the bonnet", Sunbonnet Sue, Dutch Doll, Bonnie Bonnet, Sun Bonnet Babies... whatever the block pattern is called, the Sunbonnet Sue block is one of the most widely recognized quilt block patterns. You'll find the block made into nursery quilts, appliquéd onto clothing and decorated with ribbons and lace. The Sue figure has been depicted working, playing, and getting into mischief. Bertha Corbett Melcher is credited as a creator of the Sunbonnet designs. She illustrated children's Primer books in the early 1900s. Her book, "The Sunbonnet Babies" was published in 1900. In this book she depicted girls with their faces hidden by their bonnets. This early book has been reprinted on fabric. In 1907, Bertha was the subject of an article in "The Housekeeper". Bertha Corbett's designs were very popular, they could be found on postcards, china and other items of the day. Her designs have been a staple of quilt making ever since. One source often cited as producing the first Sunbonnet applique pattern is Ladies Art Company ("LAC"), the oldest quilt pattern company in America. But the company kept poor records; nobody even knows for sure when it was founded, or when its first catalog was published. Sunbonnet Sue" dates to at least 1908 quilters - or at least the publishers of quilt patterns - didn't refer to the block by that name before the early Depression. By the end of World War II, when Work Basket magazine issued a pattern for the pair (November 1945), the name had stuck for good - at least in the Northeast and Midwest. In southern Indiana and in states from Kentucky southward, "Sue" was called "Dutch Doll" - a name that persisted until the publication of national quilt magazines in the 1970s began to eliminate regional quilt pattern names. |
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