Block of the Month (BOM) 2018
Tales of First Ladies

1792 Cornerstone laid on the White House
The first block celebrates all the ladies of the White House.  While Washington oversaw
the construction of the White House, it was John and Abigail Adams that were the first to
move in.  In a letter to his wife, John Adams shared this sentiment:
"I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this House and on all that shall
hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof."

1768-1849 Dolley Payne Todd Madison
The second block features Dolley Madison.  Born a Quaker in North Carolina, she
married James Madison after the death of her first husband.  When the War of 1812
brought the British to Washington, she stayed behind while other residents fled.  She went
from room to room saving historically precious items like the Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence.  

1861-1943 Hellen "Nellie" Taft
The third block features Hellen Taft.  She first visited the White House at the age of 17
with her father as a guest of President Hayes.  She vowed to return one day as First Lady.
She had met William Taft when they were both children and they travelled the world
together after they were married.  In the White House, she was the first First Lady to ride
in the Inaugural Parade.  Despite suffering from a stroke two months after the
Inauguration, she still made her mark on Washington, DC.  It was at her suggestions that
the 3,000 cherry trees were planted in Potomac Park.  

1731-1802 Eleanor Roosevelt
Its is said that she was afraid of becoming the first lady because she worried that she
would lose her identity.  She was a force of nature and a strong personality, meeting with
the average American and becoming the eyes and ears of her husband Franklin Delano
Roosevelt after he was confined to a wheelchair due to polio.  She was so busy that she
had little time for housekeeping or menu planning.  The visiting king and queen of
England were once served hot dogs at a White House dinner!

1831-1889 Lucy Webb Hayes
Wife of Rutherford B. Hayes, she was nicknamed "Lemonade Lucy" after she decided not
to serve alcohol at the White House as she believed it undignified.  She was a proponent
of abolition of slavery and rights for women.  She is quoted as saying "Woman's mind is
as strong as man's...equal in all things and superior in some."

1864-1947 Martha Dandridge Washington
Although the phrase "First Lady" was coined after her death, Martha was often referred to
as "Lady Washington".  She was actually against the idea of her husband agreeing to be
President and did not attend his inauguration.  However, once he took office, she hosted
many events at the temporary capitals of New York and Philadelphia.  


Block 1: Ladies of the White House - January/February

Block 2: Dolley Madison - March/April

Block 3: Hellen "Nellie" Taft - May/June (Alternate instructions for Quilt of Valor Block)

Block 4: Eleanor Roosevelt - July/August

Block 5: Lucy Hayes - September/October

Block 6: Martha Washington - November:AccuquiltGO!  November:RotaryCutter


If you plan to combine these twelve blocks into a single quilt project at the end of the year,
you may consider gathering all of your fabric at the start.  Here is a list of fabric needed to
complete the blocks.
Yardage Requirements:
Focus Fabric               one fat quarter
Background                 seven fat quarter or 1 1/4 yards
Color family one          four fat quarters
Color family two           four fat quarters
Color family three        three fat quarters
Color family four          four fat quarters
Accent                          two fat quarters
Block of the Month
Board Member - Linda Neikam & Mary Oehrlein