Farmer's Wife - Week 12

For week 12 of the Farmer's Wife Quilt-along, we are using a variety of techniques, including one we haven't used on a previous block, appliqúe. The blocks for this week are:

• Block 3 - Basket
• Block 14 - Butterfly at the Crossroads
• Block 63 - Ozark Maple Leaf

Continue reading for instructions.

Block 3, Basket

Block 3, Basket, is the block where we will use appliqúe, but fortunately, it is only for the handle, so you'll have a fairly simple task where you can practice if you haven't done this before.

Three of the four basic sections of the block will be made with foundation paper piecing, download templates here.  The other sections is simply a 3 inch square (cut a 3 1/2 inch square for that section).  The basket handle is sewn on after the four sections are sewn together.

There are some options for the handle (the handle I've drawn is 3/8 inch wide).

• I am going to use a bias-cut strip of fabric that will "bend" around that curve.  This blog post is a great resource for how I am going to make my handle.  I'll start out with a bias strip that is 6 1/2 inches long and 1 inch wide.  
• If you aren't up for the bias method, you can use the handle I drew as a template and add 1/4 inch seam allowances all around.  Cut two pieces of fabric from this pattern.  With right sides together, sew along the two curved edges, leaving the short ends open.  Clip the seam allowance along the inside curve. Turn this inside-out, using a safety pin to feed one end through or, if you have a turner, even better!  Iron this flat and you should have a handle with edges turned under that you can sew down by hand or machine.
• One other option is to use fusible web to iron down a piece of fabric cut to the exact size and shape of the handle drawn, then satin stitch around the edges.
• Another thing I'm going to do is to remove a small section of the seam where the handle meets so I can "insert" it into the seam.  I'll then re-sew the seam by machine or by hand if there isn't room for the machine. If you'd prefer not to do that, you can trim off and tuck under the handle ends to butt up against that seam, and blind stitch it down.

Farmer's Wife - Block 3 - Basket

Block 14, Butterfly at the Crossroads

We'll be assembling Block 14, Butterfly at the Crossroads, using measured squares and rectangles along with our familiar half-square triangles (HSTs).

Begin by cutting the following pieces:

• For the HSTs eight 2 1/4 inch squares, four in white and four in green
• Four 1 11/16 inch green squares
• Four 1 11/16 inch white squares
• Four 1 11/16 x 2 7/8 inch blue rectangles
• One 1 11/16 yellow square

Note: The measurements are a bit odd because this block is based on a 5x5 grid, so for a 6 inch block, each grid square is an unusual size.

Your first step in assembly is to create the eight green and white HSTs using the method we've used so many times before, found here.  Once they are complete, be sure to trim each one to 1 11/16 inch square.

Now you can lay out your pieces following the picture below.

Farmer's Wife - Block 14 - Butterfly at the Crossroads

I recommend next making each of the corner units.  Each one is a 4-patch with two HSTs, one green square and one white square.  Sew two of these units to either long side of one of the blue rectangles. Repeat this step with the other two units.

You will now have the top and bottom sections of the block.  Attach the two remaining blue triangles to either side of the yellow square, and you'll have the center section.

Finally, sew the top, center and bottom sections, and your block will be complete.

Block 63, Ozark Maple Leaf

For Block 63, Ozark Maple Leaf, we'll use the same foundation paper template four times.  Download the templates here.  For the traditional Farmer's Wife color layout depicted below, two blocks will have the same color placement and the other two will have the opposite color placement.

Farmer's Wife - Block 53 - Ozark Maple Leaf

See instructions for week 11 of our Farmer's Wife Quilt-along.