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. 

Farmer's Wife 1930s Fabric Ideas: Melinda from Quirky Granola Girl shares her quilt

When I was preparing the post about fabric for the 1930s Farmer's Wife quilt along, I knew I wanted to ask Melinda of Quirky Granola Girl to share a few of her pictures from the first Farmer's Wife 1920s Sampler quilt and the Pony Club book.  She has a super eye for colour and puts together lively combinations.  I remember her rejecting blocks and remaking them in different fabrics and totally understood that attention to detail.  You can find Melinda's blog here, on Instagram here and on Flickr here.  She is also a guest blogger for the 1930s quilt- along.  Enjoy, you are in for a treat!

Hi All!

Kerry asked me to share a few pictures and talk about my Farmer's Wife Sampler obsession passion.
Here is a picture of my first Farmer's Wife Sampler as a quilt top.

I had never made a sampler before and once I started, I was addicted.  I love how each block is it's own challenge, how a single block feels like a finished project and how I never get bored making them.

For my first Farmer's Wife Sampler, I used my favorite fabrics in my stash (it has 354 different fabrics in it).  When designing fabric combinations, I strived for color contrast, value contrast, different print scales and differing design styles.  My theory is when I put all of the work into piecing these blocks, I want each little triangle and square to shine.  I even went so far as to remake 14 blocks that looked muddy to my eye and I don't regret it a bit. 

This block has 30's repros, low volume background and a bright, modern graphic print to make the square in the block stand out.

Here is a block with a Japanese sewing print paired with a crosshatch.

This block shows two florals but vastly different colors, tones and scales.

When I looked at my fabrics, I also chose the largest scale fabrics that I *had* to include and then looked through the blocks to match them up to the right pattern.  This one combines a novelty print with a graphic print.

I'm hand quilting that sampler so I can enjoy each block all over again.

For my Farmer's Wife Pony Club Sampler, I decided to use all Anna Maria Horner fabrics plus solids.  That has been an all new challenge since AMH uses a lot of bright colors, many florals, often large scale and very few low volume prints.  Here is a picture of four of my blocks.  I hope they show ways to achieve contrast in color, tone, scale and print style even with one designer's fabrics.

I don't know what my fabric theme will be for my Farmer's Wife 1930's sampler.  I'm considering a focus on more modern graphic prints and stripes.  What fabrics are you thinking of?

Dressing Up

I like to dress up.  I am not talking fancy dress, no thank you.  I am not talking about in the bedroom- I find no clothes are best here.  I mean in my everyday clothes, I like to pretend I am from another time or place. My favourite kitchen apron is vintage, thrifted and full length,  My husband thinks I have a sort of Pioneer look going on, maybe a bit Dr Quinn medicine woman 

I wear maxi skirts a lot.  I don't wear tights/panty hose so they seem a practical solution.  I also don't like showing my legs.  I stride out in a long skirt and boots,  I find the length  liberating and I walk fast so I swish along.

I saw Room with A view at 15, fell in love with Helena Bonham Carter, a romance that continues and has been passed on to my daughter.   Picnic at Hanging Rock and The Getting of Wisdom were also major influences on my clothes wearing aesthetic over the years.

I couldn't keep Lottie under the control of my spoon for long!  I am sure that I just look like any other 40 something woman wandering around town  but in my head I am living in an Edwardian drama, corseted and petticoated and with some worn and battered black lace up boots.

Meanwhile... Farmer's wife blocks.  Both rotary cut, no templates.

21 Contrary Wife: Alexander Henry aqua flowers print Farmdale Blossom, Sweetwater Authentic newsprint in cream and black.  How I wish I had more of this, but just layer cake squares.

2 Autumn Tints: Vintage house print, vintage white/red polka dots, vintage red/green flowers,  Moda Little Apples by Aneela Hoey and Lake House Dry Goods seed catalogue, white on black.

I know there are some text fabric fans out there reading, and some of you already know that Mandy at Simply Solids has some of the Lakehouse seed catalogue fabric in a variety of colours- I do not know any where else in the UK to stock these prints so get them whilst you can!   I was missing black on white and it is on its way to my stash, thank you Mandy, always so fast and helpful and thank you tweeters for sending me the info! 

Straying from the Farmer

Forgive me farmer for I have strayed.  I can only be good for so long without being tempted by another.  Before I joined the Farmer's wife quilt-a-long I ordered this book via Amazon and what a source of temptation it is.

 Now I know where all the quilt blocks come from.  This is not a 'how to' kind of book.  It groups the blocks according to their grid arrangement e.g. 9 patch and you sort out construction from there.  I can see how most blocks work but there are one a two that I am straining to get my head round. I am using this for a different project but there are some beauties that are creeping in to my Farmer's Market quilt.  I am not keen on basket designs and there are quite a few farmer baskets, so out they go and in come some from 5500 quilt block designs.

But firstly, before I wandered off the Farmer's path, block 40, Friendship.  

Fabrics: Suzuko Koseki in the middle, Kumiko Fujita red text.  Round the edge starting top clockwise: Little Apples (a lucky scrap from a swap!), V and A repro, 1974 dog tooth, Alexander Henry Orchard, scrap from my sister and Aussie Denyse print.

And from the interloper, another friendship block.  Fabrics clockwise from the centre: Yuwa labels, Sevenberry aqua flowers, vintage gingham, Sweetwater Authentic news print, FMF daisy dots and a vintage check floral

I am destashing- space is at a premium in this house- stuff is on Folksy as I guess it is UK and maybe European folks who may buy.  Mention you have come from here and have 10% refunded via Paypal!

And visit Lynne's at Lily's Quilt's for Sew Fresh Friday linky stuff and a Farmer's  style giveaway.

Farmer's twosome

As there are 111 blocks in the Farmer's Wife Quilt-a-long I am not sure if I can think of a sufficient number of blog post names.  Ho hum, two blocks squeezed into this weeks- I am at a very busy time of year work wise and just about to enter the birthday season in our house- not me but Damian and Lula, plus end of term school stuff and lots of meetings for L starting high school in September. 

Basket Weave 

Broken Dishes

I thought I should post an update on Bob, our eldest cat.  He was diagnosed with diabetes in March and I had some great help and support from blog readers, (especially Kath) when I posted about him then.  Unfortunately the vets were not so good which lead to some very difficult visits, and what I can only describe as incompetence on their part.  We sorted the management of his treatment largely by ourselves with internet research and they just supply the insulin.  He has been much, much better and considering his arthritis he is doing well and is a happy cat again.  He did spend the whole of Thursday being repeatedly sick which is very worrying with diabetes and we had honey at the ready incase of a hypo!  He slept it off on Friday- it was a bug I think,  and he is now back to normal.  

Happy UK summer in the rain! 

The Farmer's Wife-

I have started my Farmer's Wife blocks and what betther than to start a new project than a bit of admin.  I designed a simple spreadsheet to keep a progress on my blocks and templates and any of you are welcome to Click here for Google Docs so you can use it too!

I haven't had much experience of using templates before and after a bit of hit and miss cutting I found the easiest way has been to copy all the squares templates into one file and then print out, and then do the same for triangles and rectangles.  I am measuring each square/rectangle so I have a reference of the cutting size.  Many of the triangles will go onto template plastic as they get used a lot.  I will print the more unusual shapes onto freezer paper as these are not in many of the blocks- so a bit of a mix.  Now the blocks.   I am going where my fancy takes me so I started with Number 1 Attic Window 

I have no specific colour scheme in mind but I am trying to include as many of my favourites as I possibly can.  I do my usual fabric pull and then see how they look next to each other and keep getting out/putting bakc until I am happy.  Sometimes a quick process and sometimes not but this is where I like to spend a bit of time getting it right.  Above includes some Sukuko Koseki- calligraphy, Kumiko Fujita-text, Urban Chiks 1974 aqua,  Sharon Kessler- black/cream

This block is Number 39 Friendship

I already knew that I wanted these fabrics and this is a perfect block for fabrics that I only have the tiniest scraps of- Flea Market fancy vines for example.  The red is from Sherbert Pips (Moda), daisies are by Suzuko Koseki, rulers are Kumiko Fujita, text is Michael Miller's Dick and Jane Sentence Structure print.  The blocks are quite small, around 6.5" which I like.  I don't know how many I will do, I am doing this as a long term relaxing type project without deadline and I am hoping the end quilt will be a homage to all my favourite prints.

Have a great weekend :)

Time for Tea

I have had this book for a little while.  I bought it from a Japanese site, second hand but in perfect condition, it can be a bit hard to get hold of

I was really taken with these tea coasters and cozy

and inspired to make a mini mug rug for myself.  Only 6.5" x 4" , it is the perfect size to sit on the arm of the sofa for my large cup of Earl grey and a little snack- giant chocolate buttons are a fav.  I used shot cottons for the background and cup, the letters are linen.  It makes me smile :)

I could not resist joining in this quilt-a-long after seeing the blocks pop up on Flickr.  Quilt a longs are just online groups of people all working towards the same goal- in this case, slowly working my way through 111 traditional block.  I like variety and I needed a quilt block education.  

It is a beautiful book even without a quilt a long, detailed pages, original farmer's wife lettters and A CD with all the templates on.  It is a bit like art, you can only go abstract once you have covered the basics.  Lots of interesting quilters are taking part so it should be interesting.   I am more of an urban chick than a farmer's wife but that doesn't deter me.   I won't get my first blocks done till the weekend.  I am having my kitchen partly replaced- the sink area changes tomorrow, the rest will be happen over the summer.

I can't wait!  You all know how I feel about kitchen things and a slice of retro kitchen action is coming to my little house.  I don't like the upheaval and I can't get to my work space but it should be over quickly!