Checkerboard Trees

Pictorial tree designs were popular after 1880 or so.

But the tree tops are usually pieced of triangles.

Checkerboard tree tops are a subcategory.

"Little Beach Tree" 

(I think she meant Beech tree)

The Ladies's Art Company first offered a pattern about 1890.

The Ladies's Art sold several interesting tree designs.

Ruby McKim drew a pattern for the Kansas City Star

in the late 1920s...

which may have been the inspiration for the sampler block

with name embroidered. It's constructed as a four patch.

A variation.

Carrie Hall's version from the Spencer Museum collection

More checkerboard trees from BlockBase

Dolores Hinson designed this one for her book Quilters Companion

and called it Tree of Temptation. The four patch squares are apples.

Different construction from Carrie Hall's book. She called it

Tree of Temptation---red squares are apples. See pattern below.

Hall left just a few quilts and one of them was inspired by a newspaper design to

celebrate the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth.

1932, Lydia LeBaron Walker

This version is also an apple tree, the symbol of the truthful first President

who is supposed to have said "I cannot tell a lie."

Washington Bi-Centennial Quilt by Carrie Hall, 1932

Spencer Museum of Art.

 BlockBase measurements for a 16" block for Hall's Tree of Temptation.

Use green and white polka dots and you have Apple Blossoms