I have been a long time admirer of this little girl.  I guess it is because she is simple and plain.  I always thought that if I ever had the time, I would make a quilt using her.  As I researched this Sunbonnet girl, I found that she is neither simple nor plain.  Her history goes way back to 1930 and has quite a reputation. 

“Springtime Molly” as she was named by her creator, Eveline Foland, was published in The Kansas City Star in August 1930 with the caption "The Little Girl Claims 'Sunbonnet Sue' for a Quilt for Her Own".   My research shows that this was the first time the name “Sue” was associated with the sunbonnets.  Because the pattern was considered very complicated, perhaps because of the small pieces in her hat and flower, more simple sunbonnets followed “Sue” – what a shame there were no embroidery machines around then! 

One more thing I discovered about the “Kansas City Star Sunbonnet” – this is the first time that a Sunbonnet showed her pantalets! 

I have brought her to 2009, by digitizing her for embroidery machines.  I hope you enjoy her . . . maybe I will get around to making that quilt after all. 

This pattern originally was published in The Kansas City Star and is reproduced here with The Star's permission. 

The Kansas City Star has been a great source of craft and sewing/quilting patterns for many generations.  Their good work continues . . . you may want to check out their blog http://www.pickledish.com/ and definitely their quilt store http://www.pickledishstore.com/