Farmer's Wife Blocks 54, 55 and 56

A scrappy Farm Girl Maple Leaf

Block 54 – Kitchen Woodbox

Block 54 - Kitchen Woodbox

This was a really simple block to paper-piece.  I used up some of my fabric scraps.

Block 55 - Linoleum

Block 55 - Linoleum

Block 55 is a lovely little block that should be added to everybody's pattern library.  I paper-pieced this block in less than 20 minutes.  And it turned out perfectly to size.  

Block 56 - Maple Leaf

Block 56 - Maple Leaf

Nothing new here either.  A very traditional block that has been recreated time and time again.  The last time I pieced this block was in the Farm Girl Vintage sew-along (see top of blog for that block).

Talking of Farm Girl Vintage - do you know there is a new sew-along version - Farm Girl Vintage 2 which will be kicking off later this year?  But before that there is the Granny's Garden quilt sew-along which starts August 26th.  

Farmer's Wife 1920s Blocks 48, 49 and 50

It is over a month since I posted any Farmer’s Wife 1920s blocks so, without further ado here are another three blocks.

Block 48 – Homeward Bound

Block 48 - Homeward Bound

This was a really simple block so I patched it rather than paper-pieced it.  It turned out just fine.

Block 49 – Honeycomb

Block 49 - Honeycomb

If I was English paper-piecing this I would combine all the yellow pieces into two diamonds (centre two) and four half-diamonds (side units).  I cannot, for the life of me see why you wouldn’t.  As I was foundation paper-piecing I combined the middle triangles to create one triangle for each row (look closely and you will see what I mean).  It made this block easier and less bulky.

Block 50 – Honey’s Choice

Block 50 - Honey's Choice

For Block 50 'Honey’s Choice' I paper-pieced the four corner pinwheel units and then patched them together.  All relatively easy.

I have actually made more than these three but I have put off Blocks 51 and 52 due to my half-triangle boredom.  I will get on with both this week and hope to post shortly so be sure to pop back soon.  Until then.........

MUM Mug Rug Tutorial

MUM Mug Rug

In 2012 I made my mother a mug rug which she has treasured. But it has been laundered once too often and is ready for a replacement.  Join with me as I revisit my MUM/MOM Mug Rug Pattern to create a replacement. 

My original MUM Mug Rug

Firstly, you will need the pattern. It costs just $2.50 from ETSY or my Pattern Store.  It comes with the option to create a MUM mug rug or a MOM mug rug.

The pattern includes a 'MOM' version

FRUGAL STITCHING TIP: If you have The Patchsmith’s Alphabet pattern you can use that to create a lovely MUM/MOM mug rug. It doesn’t have the flower additions but it does have the letters and the small heart (uppercase MUM and regular lower case ‘u’ or ‘o’).

You can cut the letters from charm squares or patch them using left-over binding scraps. The pattern includes cutting sizes for creating your MUM/MOM letters from strips of fabric.

Press your seams open or to the side - it really doesn't matter.

Once you have traced the letters from the pattern, position the tracings onto the WRONG SIDE of the patched rectangle. I turned the lowercase ‘u’ upside down but you don’t have to. Fuse in place and allow to cool before cutting them out.  Fuse any hearts and flowers to the WRONG SIDE of your chosen fabrics. Peel the backing paper from all shapes.

Fuse the MUM tracings onto the WRONG side of the patch

Now choose your mug rug background fabric and cut out a rectangle (you can always cut your rectangle larger than needed and trim to size once all applique/quilting has been completed.) 

Deciding which backing fabric to use.

Position all pieces onto the backing rectangle and, when happy with the look, fuse them into place to create your mug rug top.  

A well-dressed Mum all ready for stitching

If you are following the pattern exactly ensure you leave ½” between the applique and the edge of the background rectangle to allow for binding.

Leave ½” between all pieces and the edge of the mug rug top

Stitch the pieces into position by hand or machine.

Hand-stitching is suited to a country MUM.

Finally, layer the top, batting and backing fabric before quilting and binding.

There you have it – a wonderful gift for a new mother, Mothering Sunday or just to say ‘Thank You’ to a wonderful Mum.  I hope she likes it!

Until next time ......