Democratic Donkey Quilt Block

Apparently it was four years ago that I saw a copy of the 1931 layout for this block and thought it would be nice to have a version that didn't have all the unnecessary piecing in the larger sections. Amazingly I finally got around to it. This isn't a full quilt pattern, it's just the cutting list I used for one block that I definitely don't want to figure out a second time and so I'm leaving it here. I think about six blocks would make a nicely sized quilt as they are quite large. I didn't try to cut the body pieces from a fat quarter but I think it could maybe be done if done very carefully.

The finished size when using an unfinished 2.5" square as the base unit is 26" tall by 29.5" wide.

Saddle/blanket center: 

cut 1 square 4.5"

Black accent pieces:

cut 2 rectangles 2.5" by 4.5"

Body:

cut 5 squares 2.5"

cut 1 square 4.5"

cut 1 rectangle 4.5" by 12.5"

cut 2 rectangles 4.5" by 6.5"

cut 1 rectangle 2.5" by 8.5"

cut one rectangle 2.5" by 6.5"

cut one rectangle 2.5" by 4.5"

Background:

cut 3 squares 2.5"

cut 1 rectangle 12.5" by 8.5"

cut 1 rectangle 18.5" by 10.5"

cut 1 rectangle 8.5" by 6.5"

cut 1 rectangle 8.5" by 4.5"

cut 1 rectangle 8.5" by 2.5

cut 1 rectangle 6.5" by 4.5"

cut 1 rectangle 6.5" by 2.5"

cut 3 rectangles 4.5" by 2.5

Half square triangles:

make 13  half black/half body fabric

make 1 half black/half white for the eye

make 5 half black/half background fabric

make 15 half body/half background

This fantastic drawing shows faintly in red where I put my seams to avoid partials and where I placed the larger blocks within each section. (To be extra confusing the numbers listed correspond to how many 2.5" squares make up each section not the measurements of that section. It's probably best to ignore them and just place the background pieces where they fit, they're different enough in size that its very easy to figure out.)

This is a reproduction of an earlier (possibly original?) version of the block. That version has about 229 pieces, mine has more like 96.

Magic Quilt Instructions

1. Collect 2.5” WOF/approximately 42” strips in the following amounts:

Baby 31 strips

Full 92 strips

Queen 98 strips

King 115 strips

This is a good project to use long strips left over from quilt backings, random jelly roll strips, and smaller scraps to add interest. Other widths of strips can be used and will change the finished size so please do your own maths if you don’t like surprises. 

2. Sew all strips right sides together and end to end with a quarter inch seam allowance. (They could also be sewn at an angle but again this would change the needed amount of fabric as it uses up more.)

3. Find some way to store your magic ball of fabric that won’t make you crazy. I rolled mine on a cardboard tube and placed it in a plastic bin so it would roll easily but stay somewhat neat. 

4. Start with two 10” strips sewn together on the long side. Continue adding strips clockwise (or counterclockwise go crazy) until you reach your needed size or run out. I left my fabric rolled up as I sewed and cut it off to meet the corner each time as I approached it.  Pieces could also be cut and pinned to each side before sitting down to the machine but that will possibly take longer. 

If you want a tidy rectangle please press and trim every round/4 pieces added. If you want it more jaunty skip that step. I think this would also be a good technique for a courthouse steps arrangement with two sets of fabrics in contrasting colors though I haven’t tried that yet. 

Baste and quilt as desired.