Patchsmith Sampler Block 31 - Window Box

Block 31 - Window Box

The flowers in the window boxes in the village are coming to the end as summer draws to a close.  Not so with the Patchsmith’s Sampler Quilt Block 31 – these flowers will stay in bloom all year round.

Scrap-happy flowers make for a pretty Window Box

This block makes good use of the quick corner triangles we have been making throughout this sew-along. Just follow the block pattern and you will create three little flowers that sit neatly in their own window box.

Pretty in different fabrics from the same colour range

I think this block would make the perfect addition to a Mothering Sunday gift.  Or you could add a sidebar from my One Block  Mug Rugs pattern book to create a lovely gift for a friend, relative or teacher.

Ten sidebars turn any 6" block into a fun mug rug

In the meantime - don’t be shy- share your Window Boxes over on Instagram (#block31windowbox) and in the Flickr group. Until next week …….

Farmers Wife 1920 Blocks 11 and 12

Block 11 - Broken Dishes

Are you sewing along with Gnomeangel to create a Farmer's Wife 1920s quilt?  The nice modern fabrics add an up-to-date spin on the blocks.  

Block 11 – Broken Dishes  (photo above)

My journal notes for this block state "Pretty block.  This block is the reason paper-piecing was invented."  My comment refers to the fact that I left the paper on each section to help with matching points and seams.  It wasn't until the block was complete that I took the paper away.  

Block 12 – Broken Sugar Bowl

Block 12 - Broken Sugar Bowl

This block is also known as 'Rocky Road to California' and dates back to the end of the 19th century.  My notes read simply "a nice hour sewing this block".   And so it was.  Until next time .....

Patchsmith Sampler Block 30 - Love-a-Dove

Block 30 - Love-a-Dove

I’m cooing over this week’s block – Block 30 ‘Love-a-Dove’.  Taken from my Winter Dove mug rug pattern, this block uses quick fuse applique. You will find full instructions are provided in the block pattern and in the introduction pages of the book. You will also find further hints and tips HERE.

What you may not realise however, is that there is such a thing as a black dove – known as a Black Cuckoo Dove. Perfect for Halloween don’t you think? 

Black Halloween Dove

I swapped the hearts for a pumpkins in my Halloween version and created a tendril string created using two strands of green embroidery cotton. If you wish to do the same you will find a PDF template for the pumpkin garland HERE or by clicking on the picture below.

Block 30 Halloween Template

Next week we return to patchwork with the Window Box block.  I look forward to seeing your baskets over on Instagram (#block30loveadove) or in the Flickr group.  Until next time ....

Farmers Wife 1920 Blocks 9 & 10

Block 10 - Bowtie

I was working with blue fabrics this week and it carried over into my Farmer’s Wife 1920s blocks. But I wasn’t blue making these blocks – they were both very, very simple. The first was paper-pieced and the second was patched.

Block 9 – Box

Block 9 - Box

My notes state that I “combined the pieces of the paper-piecing chart to reduce the number of seams”.  If you want to do the same the easiest way is just to glue the templates together.  On the top and bottom sections start with the background triangle (white fabric in my block) as paper-piece 1 and stitch the additional pieces to either side.  On the middle segment make the center paper-piece 1 and add the two background triangles to either side.  Try it - you'll find it makes this block really simple to paper-piece.

Block 10 – Bowtie

I made this block back in November 2013 and my notes for that time state “After work – very tired – fave colours”. And here is that block.

This week I patched a softer version (see top of blog) and my notes state “Easy – 15 minutes maximum”. 

Tip: The secret to getting those points to match perfectly is to press the top left and bottom right seams away from the quick corners and then press the top right and bottom left seams towards the quick corners as shown:

Press your quick corner seams in opposite directions to help when nesting the points

And hopefully you will end up with points to be proud of..... 

Points match up perfectly.

Come back next week for another two blocks - I can't guarantee they will be as quick and easy but hopefully they should be just as pretty.  Until then ......

Patchsmith Sampler Block 29 - Picnic Basket

Block 29 - Picnic Basket

Everybody should have at least one picnic basket, complete with lining and now you can – with Block 29 ‘Picnic Basket’.

This is a relatively easy block to patch with just a few quick corners. Some of the quick corners are small (top of the handle) but the process is the same.

Pretty Floral Basket

Tip: To help match up the lining points (step 4 of the pattern) press the quick corners on the middle section of the lining towards the lining fabric and the corners on the other two sections away from the lining as indicated by the arrows below.

Press as per the arrows to create sharp points

If you want to add an extra dimension to this block you can create a patchwork basket from two different fabrics.

Block 29 in Patchwork

In this case you will need to cut six 1½” squares and three 1” squares from two different fabrics.   Patch the basket using the twelve 1½” squares.  To create the lining section you need to position your 1” squares so that the patchwork of the basket continues into the corners of the lining (Steps 3 and 4 of the pattern.)  The easiest way is to lay it out on your desk before stitching.

Continue the patchwork into the lining rectangles

Of course you could always turn your picnic basket into a Halloween basket or Christmas basket depending on the fabrics you choose. No matter how you make it, I look forward to seeing your baskets over on Instagram (#block29picnicbasket) or in the Flickr group.  

And you can find all the blocks, together with the tutorials HERE. Until next time .....

Farmer's Wife 1920s Quilt Blocks 7 & 8

Block 7 – Birds-in-the-Air

Block 7 - Birds in the Air

My notes in the Farmer’s Wife book state “Very pretty in scraps but what a lot of work for a little block.” I paper-pieced two versions of this block – the one above in co-ordinated scraps and another really scrappy version below. I prefer the former.

A very scrappy Birds-in-the-Air

Block 8 – Bouquet

Block 8 - Bouquet

Quite simply “very pretty block to paper-piece”. There is also a note from 2013 which states "Easy to patch".

So there you have it - another two blocks - one quick and easy and one a lot of work - but both very pretty.  Until next week.

Patchsmith Sampler Block 28 - Cutting Corners

Block 28 - Cutting Corners

This week’s block comes straight from my Patchwork Corners mug rug pattern – it is Block 28 ‘Cutting Corners'.

Patchwork Corners Mug Rug Pattern - two designs in one pattern 

Very similar to Block 15 ‘Cornerstones’ this block has just one difference – instead of corner squares we have corner triangles. These are half-square-triangles which we make slightly bigger than needed and trim them down to size – just as we did way back when we made Block 2 ‘Guiding Star’ (click for the tutorial on trimming half-square-triangle units to size).

This block can be made with a square of pretty fabric for the centre ......

Use any pretty fabric for the centre square

....... or you can fussy cut the centre square to frame a special message or picture. You don’t need any special equipment to fussy cut as shown in the tutorial here.   

You can fussy cut the centre for a special block

Block 28 'Cutting Corners' is another quick block from The Patchsmith’s Sampler Quilt Blocks pattern book leaving you plenty of time to share your blocks over on Instagram (#block28cuttingcorners) or in the Flickrgroup where you can post your block photos, meet and make friends or ask me a question. 

Next week we will be holding on to summer as we make our very own picnic baskets.

Block 29 - Picnic Basket

And remember - you can see all the blocks together with links through to the tutorials by clicking the 'Patchsmith Sampler Blocks' tab above.  Until next time....

Farmer's Wife 1920 Quilt Blocks 5 & 6

Another week and another two blocks - one paper-pieced and one patched.

Block 5 - Bat Wing

Block 5 - Bat Wing

Nope – not those flabby bits under my arms but the bat wings that fly at night. And this block certainly flew together as quick as any bat. My notes state "Very easy paper-pieced block." When stitching the three sections together lay the bat wing sections face down onto the middle strip. That way you will be able to see the 'points' intersection.

Block 6 – Big Dipper

Block 6 - Big Dipper

I used four 5” charm squares and patched four quarter-square-triangles using the super-quick method used by Julie over at The Crafty Quilter.  My journal entry states "not sure I like the asymmetrical look" but the fabrics are so pretty it is a keeper.

Another two blocks sashed. Anybody else think this is going quickly?

Farmer's Wife 1920 Quilt Blocks 3 & 4

Another week and another two blocks on the Farmer's Wife sew-along being hosted by Gnomeangel. 

Block 3 - Basket

Block 3 - Basket

My notes say it all "Horrid block to paper-piece".  It should be simple - there is nothing much to it but it wasn't.  Perhaps I was tired.  I added a paper-pieced handle which was the easiest part of this block!  

Block 4 - Basket Weave

Block 4 - Basket Weave

I know this block as Brick Path.  It is a very traditional block that I have patched many a time in many different sizes.  My journal entry states "Quick and easy and very, very pretty.  Lovely block."  

So there you have it - one good and one not-so-good block.  Until next week when I'll be back with another two blocks.

Patchsmith Sampler Block 27 - Anchor

Block 27 - Anchor

We are sailing through the Patchsmith Sampler sew-along but this week we will drop anchor just long enough to make a fun nautical block.

Block 27 ‘Anchor’ is a simple make. There is just one thing to watch for and that is that you keep the H pieces positioned with the 3” as the width and the 3¼” as the height. Patchsmith measurements are always given in the format width x height.    

Block 27- Anchors Away

The pattern diagrams show them as the rectangles that they are but with only ¼” difference between width and height you could quite easily turn them without noticing until you come to stitch all the pieces together. 

A sea of turquoise!

So set anchor and be sure to share a picture or two over on Instagram (#block27anchor) or Flickr.

Until next time .......