These Butterfly appliqué blocks were made by my mother-in-law sometime in the 1930s when she was about 10 years old.

After I had been quilting for several years, she gave me the blocks to make a quilt. Since she had several grandchildren, I divided them up and make a small wall hanging for each of her grandchildren.

I posted a picture of one of the quilts in the Quilt Gallery, and quilters asked for the pattern.

Here are the patterns for the block and templates. The full size pattern and template are in the Download Library.

These blocks are fairly easy to make.

The templates are finished size, so you will need to cut the fabric and include a seam allowance.

To make the butterfly, I would cut finished size templates out of freezer paper. You will notice some lines on the butterfly body that match with lines on each of the wings.

This type of system makes it easier to match the wings with the body. If you decide to use that system, copy the marks on the dull side of the freezer paper - you will be able to see them through the paper if you use a dark pencil.

Place your fabric right side down on the ironing board. Place the freezer paper template, dull side down, on the wrong side of the fabric. Pin the template in place.

Roughly cut the fabric 1/4 inch larger than the template.

Now, iron the seam allowance around the freezer paper template, securing the fabric to the shiny side of the freezer paper.

As you look at the picture of the butterfly above, you may notice that the body appears to be "on the top," and the lower wings are on top of the upper wings.

Keeping that in mind, you will fold the seam allowances under for only those sides that are exposed - for example the entire butterfly body.

On the lower wings, fold the seam allowance under on 3 sides. Leave the portion of the lower wings that tucks under the body lying flat. The seam allowance will just "hang out" under the body of the butterfly.

Likewise, the upper wings will have only 2 sides folded under - the upper part and the side part. The lower edge of the wing and the side that is next to the body should stay out and tuck under the body and the wings.

As you appliqué these, start with the pieces that are in the background - the upper wings. Appliqué them on to your background piece. Be sure to leave enough space between them for the body.

Next appliqué the lower wings, covering the bottom portion of the upper wings.

And finally appliqué the body, covering all of the seam allowances of the wings.

The appliqué method she used was to sew a running stitch along the outside of the wings, securing the seam allowance, and creating an interesting outline. The body was stitched with a blind stitch, and then the eyes and antenna were added using embroidery floss.

The butterflies are about 10 inches across at the longest point - the upper wings. And from the upper wing to the lower wing, they measure 7 3/4 inches at the widest point.

Because the butterfly fabric was a loose weave, I didn't want to quilt on it, so I simply ran a quilting stitch 1/4 inch outside the butterfly.

Each solid fabric block had a butterfly quilted into it, using white thread. And the wide border had leaves quilted around the outside.

You can get the full size pattern in the Download Library.

Happy Quilting!