Farmer's Wife - Week 13

Our Farmer's Wife Quilt-along continues with three new blocks for our lucky 13th week.  This week we'll work on:

• Block 7 - Birds in the Air
• Block 13 - Buckwheat (lucky 13)
• Block 19 - Checkboard

Continue reading for instructions.

Block 7 - Birds in the Air 

This block is a lot of triangles, but we'll simplify it by make some half-square triangles (HSTs), and adding a few single triangles.

Start by orienting yourself to how the block is divided.  The large block is made up of four blocks, each one made up of two triangles, one solid triangle and the other that is made up of 9 small triangles. Within the 9 triangle piece, there are three HSTs where a white triangle is paired with an accent triangle in my image below, plus three separate triangles in the accent fabric.

First, you will make 12 HSTs using the tutorial you probably know from memory by now.  They will be one inch finished HSTs so you'll start with 1 7/8 inch squares (I'll just do 2 inches).  If you are using two colors for your block (which you can see I am not), you'll need to cut six squares from white fabric and six squares from your accent fabric.  Pairing a white square with an accent square and following the tutorial six times, you'll have 12 HSTs.  Be sure to trim the squares to 1 1/2 inches.  If you are mixing up the colors a bit, remember that the tutorial makes two HSTs.

Second, you will cut the triangles that will be added to the HSTs to finish off the 9 triangle piece.  I make the triangles by first cutting squares, then drawing a diagonal line and cutting on that line.  Start with 1 7/8 inch squares.  You'll need a total of 12 triangles, so start with six 1 7/8 inch squares.

Third, for the large triangle, cut two 3 7/8 inch squares from white fabric, draw a diagonal line on each square and cut along the line.

Now, you have all of the pieces and can lay them out.  Be sure your HSTs are oriented correctly.

Start the assembly by making each 9 triangle piece.  I like to sew in rows, with the first row containing the two HSTs and one triangle, the second row containing one HST and one triangle, and the third row is just a triangle.  Once the rows are complete, sew them together to finish the 9 triangle piece.  Next sew the large white triangle to the 9 triangle piece and you'll have one of the four blocks.

Repeat this three times. You should now have four blocks that can be sewn together to make your block.

Farmer's Wife - Block 7 - Birds in the Air

Block 13 - Buckwheat

Block 13, Buckwheat, is made using the foundation paper piecing method.  The template can be downloaded here.  Be sure you are printing at 100% scale so your finished block is the right size. This block is a little more tedious because there are 6 sections that will be foundation pieced, then sewn together.

Farmer's Wife - Block 13 - Buckwheat

Block 19 - Checkboard

This block will seem a lot like Buckwheat above, but it's a little easier with fewer pieces.  The foundation template can be downloaded here.

Farmer's Wife - Block 19 - Checkerboard

See Instructions for Week 12, Farmer's Wife Quilt-along.