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Alice Brooks Quilt Pattern – Joseph’s Coat

Posted on April 12, 2011January 20, 2016 by Martha

Joseph’s Coat is a fairly challenging pattern, and it’s also one of my all-time favorite scrap quilts. There is no date on this pattern, and I can’t read the date on the original envelope. Alice Brooks was another name used by Needlecraft Service, Inc., the same company that published Laura Wheeler patterns, so it was probably published in the 30s. Here is link to a pdf copy of the pattern for printing purposes.

A couple of years ago, I purchased about 800 vintage petal shaped quilt pieces on ebay. The quilter probably planned to make either a Joseph’s Coat or one of the other Orange Peel type patterns. I suspect she may have used sample swatches, although they seem a little large at 2″ x 6″, because there are no exact duplicates, and some of the patterns appear in different colorways. It’s a fabulous collection, but there are fewer yellows than the other main 30s colors, which is annoyingly common in these lots of old quilt pieces. The fabrics were clean, so all I had to do was starch and re-cut them with a new template. In one of my books there is nice old Joseph’s Coat quilt with a pink background, but I think I just like a plain white with all these colors.

I got it into my head that I could machine stitch this pattern, so I made a sample block. It’s okay, but I prefer hand stitching curves, and this is going to sound weird, but I like the way hand stitching looks. You can just make out the little stitches, and it has a soft look to the seams that appeals to me. Anyway, I’m ripping out this block, but at least you can see how it’s going to look one of these days.

17 thoughts on “Alice Brooks Quilt Pattern – Joseph’s Coat”

  1. Ann Champion says:
    April 12, 2011 at 3:46 pm

    A while back I was seeing quite a few quilts being made in this pattern. Most people were doing it as an applique project though.
    You have a nice selection of fabrics. This will be a wonderful quilt!

    Reply
  2. Nan says:
    April 12, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    Love that you are using the white with the colors, makes them pop and will give your quilt a together look when finished. You are doing a wonderful job. What beautiful vintage fabric. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Barbara says:
    April 12, 2011 at 5:12 pm

    Those fabrics are stunning. I recognize a few of the patterns from my stash. That pattern looks really difficult to a non-quilter like me – curved seams look pretty scary.

    Reply
  4. Jan says:
    April 12, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Oh, those fabrics are fun! I love the tiny cannons!

    Reply
  5. Allie says:
    April 12, 2011 at 9:58 pm

    That does look like a challenging project. 800 pieces – wow – how big do you think it will be? Those fabrics are gorgeous.

    Reply
  6. Nicky says:
    April 13, 2011 at 1:33 am

    As ever your projects look very complicated but I am with you on the hand piecing – I have hand pieceed two tops and have another one to do. At least I get more accurate seams that way.

    It will look lovely I’m sure.

    Reply
  7. mickie says:
    April 14, 2011 at 4:40 am

    Love these fabrics! You got a great find on ebay! Love the Alice Brooks pattern 🙂

    Reply
  8. Faitg Mitchell says:
    July 26, 2011 at 4:59 pm

    Help….I am hand piecing a Joseph’s Coat quilt and have about 20 blocks so far! I have a problem though. No matter how I try,I still have a small gap in the center of each block. What am I doing wrong?? Thanks for your help!!
    Faith

    Reply
  9. bdcouture says:
    August 11, 2011 at 11:23 am

    so nice!!! thanks for your work …
    Have a good day!
    brigitte

    Reply
  10. Clara Herzog says:
    April 13, 2012 at 9:03 am

    I purchased a box of quilt pieces and she had on there that it is the Joseph’s Coat pattern. All the pattterns I have looked at do not show this design.It is a complete circle with the color sections on the outside. I do not know how to put them together.

    Reply
  11. Nancy Cooper says:
    February 20, 2015 at 4:11 pm

    I have inherited about 20 completed Joseph’s Coat blocks and several partially finished blocks. They are hand pieced and, I think, very old. I would like to finish the quilt, but can’t figure out how to put it together.

    Reply
  12. Nancy Cooper says:
    March 19, 2015 at 3:08 pm

    I need instructions for assembling this quilt. I inherited the completed
    circles from an elderly relative and have no idea how old they are orhow to finish the quilt.

    Reply
    1. jea says:
      October 27, 2016 at 7:00 am

      you do it like a wedding ring quilt, only the first block is completely done in the circle, than you add half blocks to the side and bottom ……

      Reply
  13. Sallye Coco says:
    May 26, 2015 at 5:05 pm

    I have the instructions for this pattern (somewhere) , am making it for a wedding present for my youngest son. Pray I find them before I get to far in the assembly and have to rip out .

    Reply
  14. Barbara Good says:
    October 8, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    I have about 16 blocks and enough to do a lot more. I am thinking this might be to much for me but I sure would like to finish what I have. Anyone have the pattern for the whole quit I sure would like to have it . Thank you Barbara

    Reply
    1. Martha says:
      October 8, 2015 at 9:02 pm

      This is the whole pattern, Barbara. There are only two pattern pieces

      Reply
  15. Yvonne says:
    October 30, 2023 at 9:39 am

    This will be my next quilt! I can’t wait to get started. Thank you for your notes, very inspiring.

    Reply

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