Farmer's Wife Blocks & Birthday Block

 I worked on a few more Farmer's Wife Blocks this week. Here they are - up close! 

Block 32

 Block 58

 Block 35

 Block 39

Block 40

 I use several different methods to get these accurate. One is the EQ software and I print out templates or even paper piece. Since I was fussy cutting this block, I printed out the templates BUT used the Marti Michell template for cutting the little floral triangles. I have used many of her templates for cutting as they are SO accurate.

Block 33

 Honestly, I do enjoy going through my fabrics and choosing them for each block about as much as sewing them. 

 Here are a few choices for future blocks.

 It takes longer to prepare the fabrics, ironing and cutting, than it does to sew them.

I like how they are all individualized though.

Here is another little 8" block quilt for Elaine. She recently celebrated a special birthday and many in the guild are making her 8" blocks to be put together (with pins) in a quilt. This pattern was taken from the Kim McLean Stars and Sprigs pattern. Guess when I bought this pattern I thought I'd make the whole quilt..........still might someday. A great way to use a lot of Kaffe fabrics in a simple way.

I hope to get back to my Black & White BOM this week and get those alternate blocks sewn. Stitch when you can!!

Black & White BOM 2010

 In 2010, our small quilt group began this BOM at Quilts 'n Stitchins in Jonesboro. I collected my blocks - most of them - $1 each - and sewed two. Others finished their quilts years ago but mine were aging in their little plastic baggies.

 Last week I pulled them out and stitched what is on the design wall above. I had no more white on white fabric to finish the last two so I am waiting on more fabric. Plus, this is just the beginning . . .there are 13 alternate blocks, each being a 5-patch. I had to order some black and white and I cut the above into 3.5" squares from fabric I had on hand. This will be a queen sized quilt when completed. The good thing is the blocks are 15" so not too difficult.

Here are scraps left for the border which I still need to cut.

 Meanwhile, I stitched two more Dear Jane quilt blocks. This one and the one on the right below.

I am not very good at Y seams or curves but I managed in the purple one. I am over 1/3 of the way finished, meaning I only have 149 more blocks to go!

I stitched this Farmer's Wife blocks, too. It's funny how large the pieces seemed after working with Dear Jane. It is 6" finished and DJ is 4.5" finished. Quite a variety this week but all were enjoyable!

Stitch when you can!!

More Farmer's Wife Blocks

Here are just a few more of my Farmer's Wife Blocks. They are like eating potato chips - you just can't quit with one! I am using several different techniques, just depending on the difficulty of the block. For the top left block, I used paper piecing with freezer paper. I have the Electric Quilt cd for these blocks, so when they are simple, I just rotary cut them, according to their directions, or print for paper piecing. For many of these blocks, the Marti Michell templates work best as there are odd shapes or sizes, so now I have all the acrylic templates needed to make those and they fit together very well. Again, one of my favorite parts of these blocks is choosing the fabrics!! 

Kaleidoscope II and Farmer's Wife Blocks

 Here is the quilt I began working on last week during our snow, using up scraps from a previous quilt. Well, sometimes when you try to use all the scraps, you should just stop and let them go. I thought by adding the half blocks on the ends that it might turn out 'artsy' but instead it just makes you wonder "what happened"? Oh well, that is how I learn with quilts. It seemed okay when I took the photograph but when completed, just makes you wonder - lol!! 

One of the things I've enjoyed doing through the years when making quilts from leftovers is trying new things or making do with what I have. Some have turned out great and others, well, not so great. I enjoyed working on it and I think it will be a nice baby quilt for some child when I decide to give it away.

 Here is a close up view and I guess my favorite 'scrap' was the striped binding I had left from the nautical quilt I made in January. It was absolutely perfect for this quilt, too, and just the right amount.

 As for the back, I had fun piecing some backing leftovers from my "Not So Easy Street" from Bonnie Hunter's 2012 Mystery quilt.

One of my UFOs I would like to finish this year is my Farmer's Wife Quilt. Yesterday I actually made these three blocks and pulled fabric for about a dozen more. I think I enjoy choosing the fabrics as much as I do making them - just trying to find the 'perfect' choice from what I have to look similar to those in the book, and then getting them to all turn out the same size - 6.5" unfinished. 

When I began quilting in the early eighties, a 12" block was pretty much standard, and so much simpler to be accurate with larger pieces. Now 6" is a popular size and I have to work pretty hard to get them all the same. Guess I'm spoiled to so many blocks that you make and 'cut down to size'. I'm about 1/4 finished with this quilt now if I make all 111 blocks.

To see some other Farmer's Wife Blocks with a totally different spin on them, visit Pinkadot Quilts. Her fabrics are wonderful and so happy!

 Happy Stitching!

Baby Quilt, Wool and Farmer's Wife Blocks

 I got the baby girl quilt finished this past week. All quilted and ready for the new arrival. It won't be long.

 I put some daisies and hearts in the quilting.

 One more block on my wool appliqué. I am still enjoying this stitching - maybe I'm 'hooked on wool'!!

Yesterday I kitted up a few Farmer's Wife Blocks and got four of them sewn. I am using the EQ7 software that was made for the FWBlocks and also bought two sets of Marti Michell templates to use. She is sending out a list every two weeks to show you which templates of hers work to make the cutting easier. Of course some blocks are so simple I just use the rotary cutting instructions with EQ. It is nice to have both to use. Choosing the fabrics is fun, too!
Happy Stitching and have a good weekend!!

Just a Little Stitching Going On

First, let me say, that I have signed up for many block of the month programs - often free or rather inexpensive, and some not so free, but I have NEVER kept up with any of them. So, why did I opt to sign up for a Block of the Week program this summer? And not only one, but two!! Well, I had a customer bring in a beautiful quilt to be quilted and it was from the SBOW 2011 from Primitive Gatherings and she began telling me about them. So, since I really enjoy applique and lately have dabbled with wool, I decided to go for both programs. This one is called the Rocky Mountain Puzzle.

So, above are the first week's blocks. They are six inch square. Not near so small as Dear Jane blocks but I feel as though I've never mastered half square triangles so this is a challenge for me. So far so good. Slow, but good. I'm now working on Week 2. Now my goal is not to finish the blocks every single week but just to finish the project eventually, which is more than I've ever done before with BOMs. Again, I thought I'd show the difference in the blocks on point and sitting straight.

Something else I'm still trying to get used to are pressing seams open when they are only 1/4". I've quilted for 30 years and rarely pressed seams open but I'm trying to follow the instructions and make my blocks lay flat. It takes a little while and for me a burst of steam in the end, but they are turning out well.

Now here are the fabrics for the second and third week's blocks........if nothing else, the fabrics are beautiful together and I'll have a nice collection to add to my stash if I don't finish them - LOL!

And now I've saved the best block til last. This is the wool applique, Summer Block of the Week,  Evelyn's Album, which I am really enjoying. No edges to turn under, bond the blocks with gentle Steam a Seam 2 Lite and stitch away. Lots of stitching but I really like this primitive look for a change for me. These are ten inch finished blocks so a little larger to work on.

And here I chose some fabrics the other night for my Farmer's Wife Blocks. That is one of my favorite parts of quilting - choosing the fabrics to go together. I just took my time, went through my stash and gathered the fabrics for the next 8 blocks. Hopefully I'll have those to show in a few days.

Happy Stitching and enjoy the journey and not just the finished projects!

More Farmer's Wife Blocks

 Isn't it funny that how you look at blocks can make such a difference? These Farmer's Wife blocks really need to be on point to me. I am enjoying making these little six inch blocks and choosing the fabrics. I always seem to lean towards florals and I can tell I'm doing the same with this quilt!

Stitch when you can! It soothes the soul.

What I've Been Up To Lately

 For several months I've been working on this little Precious Moments cross stitch for our grandson. I finished it the night before he arrived this weekend - I live by deadlines - LOL! Seriously, I had made one for our son 30+ years ago and then my daughter wanted one for Jake. Once while cleaning out my cross stitch booklets, this one moved to a new home. I downloaded a revised book, still 20 years old, and I did not realize they had changed the graph to a much more complex (but nicer) design until I had already begun. I should have used linen since there were SO MANY half and quarter stitches but alas, it was too late once I got into it. My eyes are surely not what they were 30 years ago either but I kept plugging along. Well, it was worth it and with my bright OTT light and many late hours, Jake will have a new picture in his room, showing who loves him best of all.

 And here he is at Nana's house this week where we are playing and having loads of fun!

 He decided his chair had little cup holders on the sides - he loves to drink water and it slides great on the hardwood floors.

 And while he was napping one day, I actually sewed two of my Farmer's Wife blocks. The one on the left had to be taken apart and I'm thinking now I didn't get those triangles centered properly. It looks sort of wonky in the photo. I guess I can't focus on keeping children and quilting at the same time. Hmm, may have to do it again...or maybe not. The Farmer's Wives blocks were probably not all perfect either.

And now since I have a hand stitching project with wool to sew from Primitive Gatherings, I'm trying to reorganize my threads. They were in several locations so I'm trying to get them all together. This little   plastic container just might do the trick.
Happy Stitching when you can!

Blindman's Fancy & Farmer's Wife

Several months ago I spotted the book, History Repeated, by Betsy Chutchian and Carol Staehle, in a quilt shop. I quickly purchased it and my favorite quilt in the book was Blindman's Fancy - also a rather difficult one. I think the picture on the cover of the book at the bottom left is what drew me in. After sorting through my fabrics for a couple of  weeks I decided to begin cutting and see if I could make this block the proper size.

I was slightly scared off from the quilt because there are some pieces cut and sized to 1/16" of an inch. I mean, my rulers don't even have those marks on them. Well, I finally decided the Omnigrid little cross lines might be that and it seemed to work. I used a Liberty of London print in the center to African fabric to Piece O'Cake plus a little in between. I am mostly wanting to use my stash yet still get the look from the book.

Another project I just began was the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt. Again, on my list of 'want to make' quilts. 

I made Block 1 twice since I didn't care for the fabrics I chose after they were put together. I think once the block was put with others it looked much better. So far the blocks are pretty simple and fun, choosing fabrics from my stash. A friend told me they were addictive and I can see that happening! Happy Stitching!!