Farmer's Wife 1920s Blocks 39, 40, 41 and 42

Farmer's Wife 1920s Block 39 - Friendship

Block 39 - Friendship
I used my own patchwork pattern from The Patchsmith's Sampler Blocks pattern book.  

Block 14 from The Patchsmith's Sampler book

Block 40 - Friendship Block

Block 40 - Friendship Block - already sashed.

I paper-pieced this block in mid December and it is already sashed.  Notes remind me to "paper-piece the four corner triangle units and add them onto the middle square."  When adding the corners to the middle square, do so with the corners facing down so you have the wrong side of the corner triangle units facing you.  This will enable you to see where the points intersect.

Block 41 - Friendship Star

A favourite block deserves a little fussy cutting

It is no secret that the Friendship Star is one of my favourite patchwork blocks.  "So quick - I patched it whilst my computer was loading."  

Block 42 - Fruit Basket

Block 42 - Fruit Basket

"Lost a point when stitching the units together."  And so I did but it is still a pretty block in blue and yellow.  And I know from the other sampler quilts I have made that nobody will notice the odd missing point.

That is me totally up-to-date I do believe.  YAY.  Be sure to come back next week for more fun with fabric.  Until then check out all the Farmer's Wife 1920s blocks on Pinterest.  

Patchsmith Sampler Block 50 - Yacht

Block 50 - Yacht

You could be excused for thinking that this final block in the Patchsmith’s Sampler sew-along will have us sailing off into the sunset but that just isn’t true.  Every block in the book, together with its respective blog post/tutorial can be found HERE.  They are not going anywhere.  And I am just an email away from providing help and assistance should you need.

The Patchsmith Sampler pattern book is available from Amazon

So the final block is a lovely little make.  There is nothing difficult or new with this block as it is made up of quick corners and straightforward patchwork. 

It is also a lovely block to add to a project or quilt intended for a male recipient, whatever their age.  But remember, women like to sail as well (I was taught to sail when I was at school).

Red, white and blue can create a pretty yacht.

I particularly like using red, white and blue for this block making it a great Labour Day or 4^th of July block. 

Whatever use you find for it, I hope you will share your blocks over on Instagram (#block50yacht) so that we can all share inspiration and fabric fun. 

So there we have it – a year-long project comes to a close.  I will be back with a couple of new mug rug books this year, together with an exploration of how quilting/stitching can help us find a little bit of peace in a hurried world.  I will also be using some of my Sampler Blocks in projects throughout the year. So I hope to see you back here again real soon. 

Click on the photo to see all my FW 1920s blocks

p.s. Don’t forget to check out the Farmer’s Wife 1920s blocks on Pinterest.  Just click on any of the photos and you will go through to the hints-and-tips for that block.

Farmers Wfe 1920s Blocks 35, 36, 37 and 38

Block 35 - Flower Basket

Block 35 - Flower Basket
I used a floral background for this block (photo above) as it seemed rather plain without it.  Journal notes state "A very easy block.  I was away from my sewing room so I drew the handle freehand and only had white cotton for the blanket stitch."  I think it turned out very pretty.

Block 36 - Flower Garden Path

Block 36 - Flower Garden Path

My notes identify this as "a tricky block."  I paper-pieced it in a different order by creating four triangle sections before patching them together with 1¼" wide strips for the cross.  I am pleased with how it turned out - I was quite lucky that it turned out to size and that the print of the small gingham pink fabric wasn't too skewed.

Block 37 - Flower Pot

Block 37 - Flower Pot

What looked like a relatively simple block turned out to have two inset seams when foundation paper-piecing.  The leaves are also not lined up exactly and neither is the stripe on the main section of the basket.  But it is good enough to be sashed into row 4 and looks pretty good there.

Block 38 - Four Winds

Block 38 Four Winds

And finally, if you think the previous two blocks were tricky then watch out for Block 38.  My tip is "mark the paper-piecing templates with the colours before stitching the block as the layout is complicated".  Even doing this I still had to redo one strip as I didn't look at the markings - doh!

I am all up to date with Gnomeangel's Farmer's Wife sew-along having made blocks 39, 40 and 41.  But more on those next week.  You can see all the blocks made to date on my Farmer's Wife 1920s Pinterest board.   Until next time .......

Patchsmith Sampler Block 49 - Tea-Time

Block 49 - Tea-time

As we approach the end of the Patchsmith’s Sampler sew-along it is time to share a cuppa together.  But before we do let me remind you that all the blocks and their blog postings are available by clicking the ‘PatchsmithSampler’ tab above.  So don't worry if you havn't made all the blocks yet – this is not a race!

So on to this week’s penultimate block – Block 49 ‘Tea-time’.  It is a relatively simple patchwork block that lends itself to playing with three co-ordinating fabrics (and one background fabric). 

Click on the template to download a PDF version

I added steam swirls to the top of the block (you will find a template on page 65 of the paperback book) or you can download it by clicking on the spirals above.  

First I marked the swirls using a Frixion pen.  Here in England these are widely available from all the major supermarkets.  They have the benefit of disappearing once pressed with a hot iron.

Marking the block with steam spirals

Once marked I used two strands of embroidery cotton and a simple running stitch to create the swirls.  

A simple running stitch is all it takes!

However, you could always quilt the swirls when quilting the finished project  or leave them off totally.

Spiral-less Tea-Time Block 49

My finished quilt is waiting for good light so that I can photograph it.  In the meantime please share you blocks over on Instagram (tag me @thepatchsmith or with the number and name of the block i.e. #block49teatime). 

The final block in the book - Block 50 'Yacht'

Next week will be sailing into the sunset with the last block of the sew-along – but hoepfully not our last week together as I have lots of other plans to share with you this year including a new book or two of mug rug patterns.

Until then ……

Farmers Wife 1920s Blocks 33 and 34

Block 33 - Farmer's Puzzle

Block 33 - Farmer's Puzzle
Two people have now told me this block reminds them of a swastika.  I just don't see it unless I turn the block on point otherwise I see four arrows in a grid.  I am glad I am not sashing my blocks on point otherwise I may not have included this one.  My notes state this was a "lovely block to patch.  I pressed seams of each half arrow in opposite directions so they nested perfectly."  And so they did.

Block 34 - Flock of Geese

Block 34 - Flock of Geese

This block was lovely to paper-piece and my notes state that the "points matched".  However, my journal also states "block seams are a little mishapened but it should be ok once it is sashed".  

Country Sashing

I have sashed both of these blocks into the fourth row of my Farmer's Wife 1920s quilt.  I intend to have eleven rows of ten blocks so that the finished quilt should be the size of a good double.   Here is a little insight into how it is looking:

Sashing-as-I-go for the Farmer's Wife 1920 Quilt

Until next time......

Patchsmith Sampler Block 48 - Love Focus

Block 48 - Love Focus

Great timing – this month is the month of love and this week’s block is all about love.

Using quick-fuse applique you have the option of adding the universal symbol for love – a heart – to this week’s patchwork block.

Or you could choose a specific fabric that you love and make that the focus of your block.

Fussy Cut the middle using a much loved fabric for a simpler version

Whichever you choose – this week’s block is quick and easy and is a great block to repeat throughout a quilt. Or you could combine it with one of the ten sidebars from my One Block Mug Rugs pattern book:

Heart Sidebar - a great addition to any 6" block
from The Patchsmith's One Block Mug Rugs book

With only two blocks left in the sew-along I am thinking I might start a new series entitled “A Patched Mind” once the sew-along finishes.  “A Patched Mind” will focus on sewing as a means of keeping well mentally and soulfully.  It will be a very relaxed affair with a monthly blog posting sharing links and ideas about how patching and sewing can help us cope with everyday issues (i.e. time, compassion, friendship, etc).  What do you think?      Let me know in the comments below or by emailing me.

Block 49 - Tea-time

Come back next week when we will be sharing a cuppa together in The Patchsmith’s Sampler sew-along.  In the meantime I look forward to seeing the focus of your love this week over on Instagram (#block48lovefocus) or in the Flickr group.