Farmer’s Wife 1930s Quilt Blocks 27, 28, 29, 30 and 86

Farmer's Wife 1930s block no. 29 - Doris

It has been pretty relaxed over the Christmas period as far as the Farmer’s Wife blocks are concerned.  There was a gap in both sew-alongs so people could catch up (not to mention share a cup-of-cheer ..... or two ..... or three!). 

The last four blocks in the Very Kerry Berry farmer's wife 1930s sew-along were two lots-of-little-bits blocks:

Block 27 – Dinah.  I made this block in Christmassy fabrics - bright and cheery.  It was quiet easy paper-piecing.

Farmer's Wife 1930s block no. 27 - Dinah

Block 28 – Dolly.  I had two orange patterned charm squares that I wasn't particularly keen on but I couldn't waste them so I used them in this block and look how pretty it turned out.  I only just had enough though which is surprising as the orange pattern doesn't look like it is two charm squares worth.

Farmer's Wife Block no. 28 - Dolly

Block 29 – Doris.  This is one of the blocks that I had been looking forward to making.  But when I first made it I put it together in the wrong order with the central points facing out instead of in.  So I remade it – I wanted this block to be just right.  And so it turned out.  Notes in book read “lovely fabrics, pretty block” – and so it is.

Farmer's Wife 1930s block no. 29 - Doris

Block 30 – Em.  My notes say it all “Oh my goodness – what a lot of work – 84 pieces!!”.  I cut my squares to 1¼” and patched this block.  I made my half-square triangles bigger (2”) and trimmed them to size as it was easier this way.  It turned out lovely and went together really well. 

Farmer's Wife 1930s block no. 30 - Em

  

The Gnome Angel sew-along finished with two blocks – one of which (block no. 9 ‘Autumn) I had already made.  So yet again – a nice easy week:

Block 86 – Priscilla.  I paper-pieced the majority of this block but the long seams are slightly inset so I hand-stitched them at the intersections (where they met the center square).  This enabled me to get the insets just right and machine stitch the rest of the long seams.  It wasn’t hard or fiddly but notes in book read “not keen on look of this block but pretty fabrics help it.”

Farmer's Wife 1930s block no. 86 - Priscilla

That brings us all up-to-date for the start of 2016 and both sew-alongs resume tomorrow (4^th January 2016).  Are you up-to-date and ready?  You can see all the blocks I have made so far over on my Farmer’s Wife PinterestBoard or on my Farmer’s Wife blog page.

I will be back next Wednesday when I will share with you how I intend to join in the upcoming Riley Blake Calico Days 'Bloom' sew-along without making another full-size quilt.  (You can download the details and free pattern for the 'Bloom' sew along here (in PDF format).

Sew until then .......

Farmer’s Wife 1930s Quilt Blocks 23, 24, 25, 26 and 55

Farmer's Wife Star

We move out of the ‘C’s for the Very Kerry Berry sew-along this past fortnight but only just:

Block 23 – Charlotte.  I made this block initially when I thought I would sash my blocks on point as shown in the book.  Doing it that way requires half-triangles for some of the ends.  However, since then I have joined the units and added it as a ‘straight set’ block.  Notes read:  “Easy paper-piecing” and it was. 

Farmer's Wife 1930s block no. 23 - Charlotte

Block 24 – Coral.  I patched this block for the Gnome Angle sew-along in week 3.  “An ‘odd’ looking block.”  I will not be adding it to the finished quilt but have replaced it with the ‘full’ star block shown at the top of this blog post. 

Farmer's Wife 1930s block no. 24 - Coral

Block 25 – Crystal.  My notes in the book say it all .....“3 hours – shocking block and to finish you have all those seams in the middle.  Yuk, yuk and yuk.”  

Farmer's Wife 1930s block no. 25 - Crystal

Block 26 – Daffodil.  I didn’t like this block initially and a lot of people on the Facebook group also didn’t like it.  But I paper-pieced it in Bonnie and Camille and it turned out so pretty.  I have sashed it in on-point. 

Farmer's Wife 1930s block no. 25 - Daffodil

For the Gnome Angel sew-along there were just two blocks this week:

Block 22 – Cat.  This block was covered last week for the Very Kerry Berry sew-along.  But to recap the notes in my book read “nice to paper-piece”. 

Farmer's Wife 1930s block no. 22 - Cat

Block 55 – Malvina.  I had put off making this block because, to be honest, I was fed up of patching half-square triangles.  However, it cropped up this week on the Gnome Angel sew-along so there was no escape.  But instead of patching I paper-pieced it and it went together quickly (30 minutes) and relatively easily. 

Farmer's Wife 1930s block no. 55 - Malvina

Remember you can see all the blocks on my Farmer's Wife 1930s Pinterest Board or by clicking on the 'Farmer's Wife 1930s' tab above.

Next week both of the Very Kerry Berry blocks have lots and lots of pieces so I better go and make a start on them ...............

Christmas Table Topper

Of all my patterns I think the Patchsmith’s Alphabet is one of the most versatile.  This pattern is only $1.99 yet it contains three full sets of alphabet letters (one upper-case, one lower-case and a smaller mug-rug alphabet).  

Create a personalized mug rug gift

It is great for adding initials to the back of a quilt, making a personalized mug rug or adding a name to a school plimsoll bag.  

It is also perfect for making a topper for the Christmas table - a place where you can rest the sauces, pickles and condiments.  

And here is how I did it .....

You will need:

Patchsmith’sMug Rug Alphabet pattern

One 18” x 6” rectangle for the background

One 16” x 5” rectangle of tartan fabric for the word

One 16” x 5” rectangle of fusible webbing

One 18” x 6” rectangle of batting

1½yds of binding (I used 1¼” single fold binding) 

Ribbon/rick-rack/trim (optional)

If you are making this as a hostess gift you might want to make the batting heat-resistant (i.e. Insulbrite etc).

I only had a remnant of tartan
so I created my applique in two sections.

1.  Start by drawing a straight line onto the paper side of the fusible webbing so that it is ½” up from the bottom edge.   Next trace your preferred word onto that line starting at the right-hand edge and working towards the left.  I used the upper-case and lower-case letters.  The templates are already reversed making it quick and easy to copy and trace.  

Overlap your traced letters with each other very slightly and overlap them on the traced line. 

Overlap the letters slightly so that they join together and set the bottom of each letter very slightly below the straight line to create a crisp straight bottom to the word ‘Christmas’ (you will cut along the straight line to create the word).

Connect the dot above the 'i' to form one continuous letter. 

Join the dot above the 'i' to the letter.

2.    Once your word is traced onto the fusible webbing, cut around it roughly leaving ¼” between the edge and the tracing.  Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and fuse to the WRONG side of the tartan fabric.  (I use Bondaweb so all I need do is iron it with a fairly hot iron and a little bit of steam – it works a treat.)

See how my letters overlap slightly?

3.   Allow to cool before carefully peeling a corner of the paper backing away from one end of the tracing  – just a little bit – this will make it easier when it comes to peeling the paper off later. 

Peel back a corner of the paper before cutting out the word .
This will make it easier to peel the paper off once the fabric is cut out.

4.   Now cut out your word accurately as one piece - do not cut out each separate letter - just cut around the outside edge of the word.  You also need to carefully cut out the middle of some of the letters – I use a small pair of embroidery scissors for this part.

5.   Peel the backing paper away starting with that corner you have pre-peeled.  Take care not to stretch the word out of shape.  Once all backing paper is off, place the ‘Christmas’ centrally onto the 18” x 6” backing rectangle. 

 

6.   When happy with the placement fuse in place.  Stitch around the letter by hand or machine.  Don’t forget to stitch the cut-out middles too! 

Stitch around the middle of the letters.

7.    Layer the backing, batting and ‘Christmas’ top before quilting around the ‘Christmas’ word.  Finally trim batting, backing and top before binding using your preferred method. 

And there you have it.   A lovely addition to any table this festive season.  

Until next time ........