Today I am a guest blogger for the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Quilt along, brought you by Angie at Gnome Angel, The Fat Quarter Shop and Marti Mitchell. If you would like to purchase the book, scroll to the bottom of this post for more information. If you would like to join the 5000+ other quilters participating in the sew-along, click here.
Welcome to my blog and my second block in the quilt-along! When I started this 100 block adventure, I was determined to cut all the blocks with templates and then hand-sew them together. It proved quite difficult to find time for hand-sewing. I thought I could do it during my kids activities, but I can’t seem to sew and watch their sports at the same time! Now, I’ve relaxed a bit and I’m making each block based on what I think the best method may be and also what my mood is at the time.
As of right now, I have 23 blocks completed and 11 more cut out (using the Marti Mitchell templates). I am really loving the process and being able to take my time with the blocks. I do a ton of rushed sewing for various projects, so this is relaxing for me. I’m not working on any set time structure, because that would just stress me out!
If you feel like you are falling behind, overwhelmed by missed blocks, or just want to give up, then you are missing the point of the quilt-along! Simply have fun, try new things and work at your own pace. If you fall behind, just start with the most current block and do the others at a later date, when you have time. I know that I will finish this quilt someday. I want to look back on it as a long, relaxing journey, not a sprint.
Ok, that’s enough of my lecture! On to the block!
I decided to paper-piece Fanny. It’s a lot of tiny pieces and I’m using Liberty Lawn in my blocks (very woodgy). By now in the quilt-along, you’ve probably read paper-piecing tutorials out the wazoo. I’m going to quickly go over how I organize and paper-piece such an intricate block.
First, I chose my fabrics (of course!). This block called for three fabrics. In general, I choose one Liberty-esque print, one textural/blender print and one geometric print . Sometimes I switch out the textural or geometric print with a fussy-cut novelty print. I find that this combination (Organic-Blender-Geometic) creates good contrast and keeps the block from becoming too busy.
This block as a LOT of little pieces, so I snagged three crayons from my kids and quickly marked where each fabric will go.
Then I started sewing. I like to work on all of the templates in a block at the same time. This way I can be lazy and walk to the iron fewer times!
Once the templates were complete, I trimmed to the seam allowance lines and then gave everything a good press with starch (I’m using a bit more starch because of the lawn prints.). I decided to leave the papers on until the very end, but if you are using normal quilting cottons, you could remove the paper at this point. Whatever makes you happy!
Sew the templates into 5 rows. If you left the papers in, tear away the paper from the seam allowances you just sewed.
Sew the rows together, matching your seams, then give a good press with starch (I like to do this on top of one or two layers of batting), and you are done!
Have a great week!
Wonderful post!!! So clearly describing your process (and why!). Also, quite liberating (“if you fall behind, just do the current block and catch up later when you have time”). Your piecing is lovely. Can’t wait to see more progress…….
I recently was bit by the Liberty bug and have started building a stash. I have yet to sew with it. What do you mean by woodgy? I like to heavily starch my fabrics and press with a dry iron. Do you think this woodginess will cause me difficulty when I piece? Need some Liberty advice….thank you.
Liberty fabrics are thinner and more delicate, so they send to shift more (thus the woodginess). If you starch them, it will give them more body and they will be easier to sew with!
très bon post! cela va m’encourager pour continuer le farmer’s wife quilt, je “copie” Marti Michell en travaillant avec de tout-petits restes de ma réserve des morceaux rouge-gris-noir-blanc. à bientôt de vous lire encore.
看看！
Nice block!
The coaching is good, too. It’s very easy to get caught up in the frenzy and forget that it’s meant to be enjoyable.