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.

Farmer's Wife - Week 10 - Our Blocks

Week 10 of our Farmer's Wife Quilt-along included three blocks that were all assembled using foundation paper pieceing.

Block 94 - Tall Pine Tree - presented a challenge in getting the color placement and block orientation just right.  See my post about how many ways you can mess this one up!  I think Beth did a fantastic job with her fabric/color choices.

Beth's Farmer's Wife Block 94 - Tall Pine Tree

MJ's Farmer's Wife Block 94 - Tall Pine Tree

Two Ways to Mess up Farmer's Wife Block 94 - Tall Pine Tree

For our Farmer's Wife Quilt-along, week 10 included Block 94 - Tall Pine Tree.  I used my seam ripper more on this block than any other, so far.  Here I share with you two ways you can mess up on this block.

I thought I was doing just fine and had the four quarters complete.  I was poised to sew them together, but when I laid them out, here's what I ended up with.

The bottom two blocks have the green and white in the wrong place

English Paper Piecing - Progress

Back in January I shared my thoughts on English Paper Piecing, something I started after being drawn into what I had been seeing from others online.  I continue to work on it a little at a time, so I thought I'd share my progress.

English Paper Piecing

In my previous post, I hadn't started putting the "stars" and "flowers" together in any sort of pattern, so since then I decided to add some white space between.  I love how the collections take on different shapes as you get them assembled.  Clearly the "flowers" stand out, but sometimes, the "stars" turn into tumbling blocks where they are joined to a white diamond.

I think I've decided to leave the basting stitches in place for the finished product.  I like how it helps to keep the overall piece laying flat.  The one exception may be the center of the flowers and the white hexies.  I still do have an idea that there should be some fabric overlap to help prevent the batting fibers from poking through, and by releasing the basting stitches and pressing the allowances outward, then many of the seams will have a backing.

Now, how big will I go with this project?  I still don't know.  What I'm considering next is changing up the layout a bit to keep it interesting!

Farmer's Wife - Week 11

We are on to week 11 of our Farmer's Wife Quilt Along and we'll be working on three more blocks, one foundation paper pieced and the other pieced using more of our favorite half-square triangles.

• Block 9 - Box
• Block 12 - Broken Sugar Bowl
• Block 104 - Wild Geese

Continue reading for this week's instructions.

Pondering Drunkard's Path

I grew up enjoying an heirloom quilt that was given to my parents as a gift, made by the ladies in their church.  It was a Drunkard's Path pattern, made with two fabrics, white and sky blue (if my memory serves me).  The quilt was just gorgeous and had the perfect weight and drape after years of washings and use.

Drunkard's Path - Two quarter circle options

Here are my thoughts on getting beyond the details of the planning and getting to the doing of making one for myself.

Farmer's Wife - Week 9 - Our Blocks

Finishing week 9 of our Farmer's Wife Quilt-along, we are, essentially, 20% of the way to completing all 111 blocks.  Very exciting!

This week we took on three more blocks using a variety of techniques.

Block 29, Economy, was foundation paper pieced and a very clean looking block.

MJ's Farmer's Wife - Block 29 - Economy

Beth's Farmer's Wife - Block 29 - Economy