If you’ve been quilting for a while you’ll recognize the name Mary Ellen Hopkins. She was a very creative quilter, with a great sense of humor and a gift for teaching. The first book of hers I owned was “It’s Okay if You Sit on My Quilt.
She was the originator of what she called the “Connector Block” technique. You may know it better as “Slap Back Triangles” – sewing a small square diagonally in the corner of a larger square to add a corner triangle. It’s a great technique I’ve used many times.
She inspired me with many other techniques and patterns. Way back in the 90’s I attended a group at a shop named “On Pins and Needles” in Sauk City, WI. It was a Mary Ellen Hopkins group called “Quilt Sitters Circle”. In it the owners shared loads of great ideas from Mary Ellen. I was even able to attend a lecture by Mary Ellen in Milwaukee. I learned so much there, and one of my favorite patterns was “Bricks and Mortar”. I made a quilt for my son’s bed using it (he was 9 then and is now 37).
I recently pulled out this pattern to make a quilt for my nephew Kevin and his wife Aly. You may remember me making them placemats for Aly’s shower back in August (to read that post click here). They actually were married before they left for their time with the Peace Corps in the Gambia, and yesterday they finally had a reception so family and friends could gather and celebrate them as a couple.
For their “wedding” quilt I pulled out another piece of the African fabric they brought me after their adventure.
I chose the colors for the quilt top from this fabric. It was too beautiful to cut up. I made the top from those fabrics at my guild retreat a few weeks ago.
Here are the measurements for the Bricks and Mortar pattern, in case you’d like to make one of your own:
The center square was cut 5 1/2″; the cornerstones 3 1/2″; the mortar strips 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″; and the bricks 3 1/2″ x 5 1/2″. It’s constructed “log cabin” style. Everything fit together beautifully and it was an easy and fun pattern to make!
I finished it up mere hours before their celebration, and forgot to take a picture of it before I popped it into the gift bag. I will hopefully get a photograph of them with their quilt to post next week ?.
Have you made a Bricks and Mortar quilt? Do you have any memories of Mary Ellen Hopkins you’d like to share?
Patty Mattingly says
I loved Mary Ellen. I saw her in Elm Grove years ago. I had gone to the hamburger place to eat before the show and she came in, sat down and chatted with me. She always daid its kindergarten quilting. Dint make it so hard. I just loved her.
Elrid Johnson says
MaryEllen Hopkins had great ideas. She was the speaker at WQI way back and always entertaining!.
Barb Jordan says
I really like this quilt. Thanks for all the detail.
Cherine Gagnow says
Love that quilt! Thanks for sharing the details. I never met Mary Ellen Hopkins in person, but saw her on some quilt shows on TV when I was beginning to learn how to quilt. Besides her saying it’s ok to sit on my quilt, I remember her saying something about your own personal quarter inch. She said not to worry. As long as your’s was consistent throughout the making of the quilt, it would all work out!
clkquilt says
You’re right! She called it your ppm: personal private measurement. Thanks for the memory.
Corinne Plachetta says
I made this quilt from the same class, only in all red and black. Nice pattern with lots of color.