Farmer's Wife QAL, Blocks 35 and 36: Flora and Geneva

It's week 18 in the Farmer's Wife Quilt Along and time for blocks 35 and 36.  Fiona of Poppy Makes is guest blogging for this block, check her Flora block here.  Here's my version of Flora, block 35 (p.194, letter p.130):

Fabric credits:

Kona Buttercup

Riley Blake Dots

Toy Chest Floral Purple Pressed Flowers

I really liked sewing this block, it was quick to pre-cut the pieces and it sewed together relatively quickly- an hour- that's fast for these blocks!  Mine is in mirror image because I foundation paper pieced, Fiona used English Paper Piecing and her block matches the book.

Block 36, Genva has some similarities to Flora.  It is made up of four identical sections which are joined to make two halves before being sewn together to make the block.   Here's Geneva (p.195 letter p.21:

Fabric credits:

Kona Candy Green
Moda Daysail Crosshatch in aqua
Riley Blake, Lori Holt Flowerpatch - Flower berries in orange

I pre-cut all the block pieces using my usual generous rotary cutting measurements for foundation paper piecing.  These create seam allowances larger than ¼" so that your fabric pieces are larger than needed- if you like more wriggle room, cut even bigger!  All the triangles can be cut using the rotary cutting instructions from the CD, just cut bigger to allow for foundation paper piecing.

Rotary Cutting for Foundation Paper Piecing

A3, B3, C3, D3: cut (4) 2 ¼" x 3" rectangles 

A2, A4, B2, B4, C2, C4, D2, D4: cut (8) 1 ½" x 4 ½" rectangles (or use freezer paper templates)

A6, B6, C6, D6: cut (4) 1 ½" x 4 ½" rectangles (or use freezer paper templates)

Top tips for this block

• Pre-cut all pieces
• Use a water based glue stick. I use Sewline, to stick the first piece of each section
• Chain piece- the four sections are identical
• Nest seams where possible- pieces like A5 and B1 will naturally nest together.

To avoid excessive bulk in the centre, when it comes to joining the sections together,  I like to start the seam from the seam ends that will form the centre and begin a quarter inch in from the outside edge; it helps to mark this in pencil on the wrong side of pieces A8, B8, C8 and D8.  Then sew outwards to the end of the seam.  At this point, leave the seams unpressed.

Join the two block halves together by starting in the centre, again at the exact point where the seam starts; seam allowances are behind the needle as in the photo below, and then sew to the outer edge. 

 Flip the block over and repeat, sewing from the centre and sewing outwards. 

 This should give you a neatly matched centre and makes it easier managing the multiple places where seam points meet.   Press all the joining seams open.  I added a line of stitching  ⅛" in around the edge of the block to stabilise the edges.  I pieced the four sections of block 25, Flora in the same way. 

Remember you can:

• Hashtag  #fw1930sqal on Instagram and add photos to the Flickr group if you like to share there.  
• For individual blocks, you can use #florablock and #genevablock on Instagram, Fat Quarter Shop and Angie are using these hash tags, #fw35flora,  #fw36geneva, I'm using both hashtag systems.
• You can also copy and paste links to any blog posts you do on these blocks in the comments and I'd love to visit and take a look. 
• You are welcome to watch and join in the chat on Periscope at 2.30pm GMT today, I'm periscope.tv/@verykb.  It will be available for 24 hours to replay before it disappears! Link will be in my twitter feed @verykb and I'll post on Instagram and twitter about 15 minutes before it goes out.  

Please note:  I have linked to my sponsors on items bought through them and elsewhere for anything that has come from other shops.

Back next Monday with Hannah from Quirky Hannah who is guest blogging.