Sougan in Union Blues: Free Pattern

I sketched the pieced and appliqued above in my newest reproduction collection

for Moda: Union Blues. Yardage and precuts are available in shops now.

The pattern comes from Calico Cowboys,

 a pattern book Karla Menaugh

and I did several years ago.

Jean Stanclift made the original Sougan Under the Stars in woven plaids and checks. We used strips cut 7" x 13-1/2" and for the edges 7" squares.

Jean chose six blues (1-1/8 yard each).

You need 77 rectangles and 

 14 squares.

Deb Rowden stitched one in mustards and goldenrod

The star for the 7" strips should be about 12" to cover two strips. We give you a variety of stars in the book. You can print the pattern above on an 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of paper, It will be 8". If you have a larger printer, print it at 150% to get a large star.

You can always find star patterns on the web. Do a web search for the words "printable star pattern."

I found this version of Sougan Under the Stars by 

Katherine Kanagy online. She

combined cowboy prints and golden stars.

You may not know what a sougan is. It's a regional word for a utility quilt. Cowboys out on the range slept in bedrolls, often with a sougan in the middle.

See a photo of an old sougan, once part of a bedroll at the Library of Congress:

Comedian Will Rogers recalling his days as a cowboy:

"I staked [my horse] out in good grass and hit the old sougans, as I was dead tired."

We still have some new copies of Calico Cowboys for sale

in my Etsy shop. Click here: