Farmer's Wife - Week 38

Here we are in week 38 of our Farmer's Wife Quilt-along with only one more week left!  This week we are making two blocks that are very similar and one other that is fairly simple.

• Block 89 - Steps to the Altar
• Block 90 - Storm Signal
• Block 91 - Strawberry Basket

Block 89 - Steps to the Altar

This block looks a little complicated, but it should go together fairly easily once we break it down into its parts.

Farmer's Wife - Block 89 - Steps to the Altar

Look at this block as a 9-patch.

The upper left patch is 4-patch block (green and white); this is identical to the patch to the right of it and the patch below.  To make each 4-patch, you'll need to cut two white 1 1/2 inch squares and two green.  Assemble the parts in a checkerboard fashion.  Make these and three of the nine patches are done! 

The upper right patch is similar, but is made with one green 1 1/2 inch square and one white, plus a white rectangle cut 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches.

The lower left patch uses the same parts as the upper right one you just made; however, the green and white squares are switched when the white rectangle is attached.

Now you only have four patches to complete and two of them are simply white squares cut 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches.

The bottom right patch is an HST (blue and white) that should be trimmed to 2 1/2 inches square (finished 2 inches).  Since you won't be needing to make two, if you don't have an extra one laying around, you'll need to cut the triangles with the two short side 2 7/8 inches long.  If you are going to use the same fabric for this HST as the center block below, you can cut two blue triangles from a 2 7/8 inch square.

The patch in the middle is the most complicated.  Start with a red square cut 1 1/2 inches and attach two white triangles that are cut from a 1 7/8 inch white square by cutting it in half diagonally.  Be sure to attach the triangles to adjacent sides of the red square.  You will now have a triangle that just needs a blue triangle to finish the patch.  Cut the blue triangle with the two short sides 2 7/8 inches long (or use the one you cut above, if you chose to do so).

Layout the nine patches to be sure the checkerboard affect is carried through.  Sew the patches together in rows, then attach the rows to finish the block.

Block 90 - Storm Signal

Storm Signal is also a 9-patch block; 4 solid squares, 4 HSTs, and one hourglass.

The solid squares should be cut 2 1/2 inches square (two blue and two white).  To make the HSTs, start with two white and two green squares cut 2 7/8 inches, and assembled using the two-at-a-time method tutorial we've used before.

We only need one hourglass block, so if you don't have any extras from previous blocks (needs to measure 2 1/2 inches square before assembly),  you will need to piece it.  As mentioned in previous posts, it is tempting to simply divide two squares (one white, one red) in half diagonally, but if you do be sure you handle the finished block carefully since the edges will be on the bias and stretchy.

Once you have all 9 patches, assemble them in rows, then attach the rows to finish the block.

Farmer's Wife - Block 90 - Storm Signal

Block 91 - Strawberry Basket

You may have already noticed that this block is very much like Steps to the Altar above.  Like that block, this one can be broken down into a 9-patch, with each patch measuring 2 1/2 inches square before assembly.

The upper left patch is a 4-patch, as well as the patch to the right of it, below it, and in the center.  Each small square in these 4-patch blocks is cut 1 1/2 inches square before assembly.

There are two solid patches that are simply cut 2 1/2 inches square from white fabric.

The bottom right patch is an HST.  You may have one already left over from a previous block, but if not the two triangles you need should measure 2 7/8 inches on the two short sides (or cut from a 2 7/8 inch square).

The bottom left and top right patches remain, and these are the same as the center patch in Steps to the Altar above.  For the white triangles, take a 2 7/8 inch square and cut it in half diagonally.  Next cut two red squares 1 1/2 inches, then cut in half (diagonally) two 1 7/8 inch green squares.  Sew the two green triangles to adjacent sides of each red square to create the other triangle for the patch.  Finally, sew a white triangles to the new triangles to finish the patches.

Now that you have all 9 patches, arrange them appropriately and sew together in rows, then assemble the rows to finish the block!

Farmer's Wife - Block 91 - Strawberry Basket

See instructions for week 37 of our Farmer's Wife Quilt-along.