Farmer’s Wife Quilt Along Month 10

This month we are adding the final outside border and making the binding.

You will need 2 metres of large floral fabric in your choice of Pink or Aqua.

Cutting the Outside Borders.

Lay the folded fabric down on your cutting mat with the fold on the right and the selvages aligned on the left.

Measure across, from the inside edge of the selvage and start cutting an 8’’ strip along the entire edge of the fabric to give you 2 x 8’’ border strips. Use a second ruler to help keep your cutting line straight.  Proceed slowly smoothing the fabric as you go.

Come back to the start and repeat with a second pair of 8’’ border strips.  This should leave you with 5’’ to the fold. 

Flip the first border, keeping the edges even, measure 8’’ from the cut edge and cut off the selvages to give you 4 x 8’’ strips 2mtrs long.

 

 

 

Cutting the Binding Strips.

Come back to the start again and cut a 2 ½’’ strip along the length of the 5’’ fabric strip.  Open up the remaining strip and cut again along the fold to give you 4 x 2 ½’’ x 2mtrs binding strips. 

Cut the ends of these binding strips on a 45d angle.

 

 

Sewing the Outside Borders.

Measure your quilt top through the centre from top to bottom and cut one pair of 8’’ strips to this length.  Pin and sew these evenly to each side of your quilt. You may have to ease these along as the large #71 triangles do tend to stretch a bit. Press seams towards the borders.

Repeat this process measuring from side to side for the top and bottom border strips.

Now your Farmer’s Wife Quilt top really is finished!  We really love this beautiful quilt and hope you are as in love with it as we are! xxx

Sewing the Binding.

Join the binding strips end to end with a ¼’’ seam, keeping the edges even.   Press these seams open and press a ¼’’ hem on one end.

Fold the long strip in half, with wrong sides together, and press to make a long doubled over strip of binding.  Neatly roll up ready for finishing off your quilted quilt.

Farmer’s Wife Quilt Along Month 9 Instructions.

Templates for Month 9 are 13, 19, 22, 71 and 106.

This month we are turning all those lovely little blocks into a quilt top by adding the sashing strips and squares and the small, medium and large triangles. 

Before starting, starch and press each block and then DOUBLE CHECK THAT EACH BLOCK MEASURES 6 ½’’ SQUARE.  If it doesn’t, you may need to unpick a small section here and there and resew or trim it to fit. 

Starch the Floral Flower Sugar fabric as before and iron well before cutting.

Sashing Strips use template #106 and cut 144.

Using the White Small Spot fabric, fold with the selvedges together and cut the selvedge edge off then cut 6 ½’’ strips across the width of the fabric. Crosscut these into 6 ½’’ x 1 ½’’ strips.  You should get 28 #106 from each strip.

Sashing squares and Small triangles use template #19 and cut 60 and template #13 and cut 24.

Using the Pink or Aqua Small Spot fabric fold and remove selvedge as before then cut 2 x 1 ½’’ strips across the fabric.  Then cut 1 x 2’’ strip across the fabric.  Crosscut the 1 ½’’ strips into 1 ½’’ squares.  You should get 28 # 19 from each strip.  Then crosscut the 2’’ strip into 12 x 2’’ squares and crosscut these on the diagonal and trim into 24 # 13.  Use the rest of this strip to cut the remaining # 19s.

Large and Medium Setting Triangles use templates #71 and cut 20 and template #22 and cut 4.

Using the Floral Doily Dot fabric trim selvedge as before and cut 2 x 7’’ strips across the width of the fabric.  Crosscut the strips into 7’’ squares, you should get 6 x 7’’ squares from each strip.  Crosscut these on the diagonal and trim into 20 #71.  Then cut 2 x 5 ½’’ squares, crosscut these on the diagonal and trim to give you 4 x #22.  When pressing these triangles, be careful not to stretch the long edge, just lift the iron up and down without sideways motion.

 Arranging the Quilt Blocks.

Find a large flat surface, I use a spare double bed, or the floor but a design wall would be best, and start to lay out 61 blocks, on point, making six rows across by six rows down on the diagonal.  Save the other three blocks for the back.   Remember how we made two matching blocks in each week. Try to spread these around the quilt to balance the colour.  The Red is the most dominant colour so try to spread that evenly around the quilt too.  Walk away for a while, when you come back you will notice any blocks in the wrong place.  Repeat this a few times until you are happy with the layout then take a photo of it.  Any layout problems seem to show up better in a photo. You can arrange the sashing strips and squares in between as you go if you wish.  I just kept mine in a pile until I sewed the blocks together.

 

NOTE:   To make a design wall all you need is a piece of Quilt wadding larger than the quilt ( 2 .10 mts square) you can then use this for the quilt construction, some tape that won’t damage the wall surface underneath, like repositionable  double sided or washi tape and a wall to fit.  Test the tape in an inconspicuous place first.  Tape the wadding to the wall and you will find that the blocks stick to the wadding. 

If you can leave the quilt blocks in place while you sew them together cut up 22 small pieces of paper and number them Rows 1-11 and Blocks 1-11.  Starting in the top left corner, pin the Row numbers to the first block in each row and pin the block numbers to the row you are about to sew together.  This keeps the blocks in order and the correct orientation.

If you can’t leave the quilt in place, cut up 61 pieces of paper and number them for each Row and Block and pin the numbers in place to each block as Row 1, Row 2 Block 1, Row 2 Block 2, Row 2 Block 3 and Row 3 block 1 etc.  Store each row in a separate plastic cliplock or paper bag until you sew them together.

If you use the instructions in your Farmer’s Wife book for the quilt layout and construction, you’ll need to follow the King size layout which has the four # 22s in the corners because it is the only square layout, like ours, but only use six rows of blocks each side. 

Sewing the Quilt Top Together.

NOTE:   PRESS ALL SEAMS TOWARDS THE SASHING. Usually when using a lighter fabric for sashing the seams are pressed towards the blocks but with so many seams in these blocks they naturally lay flat and you would be fighting with them to sit neatly.

Block Row.
Starting with row 1, sew a # 106 strip to each side of the row 1 block and press the seams towards the sashing. 

Using the photo for the correct direction pin and sew a #71 large triangle to each side and press
seams towards the sashing.

Place this down and arrange one # 106 strip, two #13 small triangles, FACING THE RIGHT WAY and one #22  medium triangle in the correct place above the row 1 block.  Pin and sew the two #13 to #106 and press as before and sew this to the top, matching the seam joins.  Fold the block row in half and mark the centre top with a pin.  Fold the #22 in half and mark centre bottom with a pin.  Match pins and corners and sew together.  Repeat this when sewing the other three corners.

Sashing Row.

 

Sew one #19 to the end of one #106 and repeat, sew them together and sew one #13 to each end and press.   Sew this row to the lower edge of the first block row carefully matching the seam joins which should nest together in opposite directions and press towards the sashing.

Continue sewing the diagonal rows adding a sashing row to the lower edge of each block row.  Sew them together until you finish row four.

 

Sew row five as before but don’t join to row four yet.  

Sew row six THIS IS THE CENTRE ROW with a #22 triangle at each end.

Sew row seven together noting that the #71 large triangles are now angled the other way.   Sew these three rows together with the sashing rows and press.  Then join this section to row four and press.  This keeps the amount of fabric under the machine more manageable.

 

 

Continue sewing as before from rows eight to eleven, adding the sashing rows in between.  Complete the corner with the last #22 medium triangle and press.  Join this section to the rest of the quilt, press and you’re done.

 

We are so excited to see our beautiful little blocks come together in this lovely quilt top and can’t wait to have it on the wall!  Now we might have time to sit and read all those heartfelt letters in the book and dream about an ideal farming life!

 

Debby & Eve

 

 

 

Farmer’s Wife Quilt along Month 8 Instructions

We will be making Blocks, 87, 111, 5, 13, 26, 27, 8 and a special block just for you!

Templates used are, 1, 3, 6, 6R, 13, 19, 20, 21, 25, 33, 34, 35, 36, 36R, 37, 39, 40, 40R, 41, 41R, 42, 71, 99.

Before starting spray a light coating of starch on the wrong side of all the fabrics.
Iron and cut as usual.

This will be the last month of blocks we will be making so I have designed a special Australian farm block for our last one, using templates from the book. It’s a large shady Gum Tree growing by the dam and I have turned the Darting Birds into Parrots. I hope you enjoy adding an Aussie touch to these wonderful blocks by Laurie Aaron Hird.

Week 29

87 Star Gardener 

111 Wrench

Use templates 1, 3, 13, 19, 25.


Note, in these two blocks I have reversed the light and dark from the book.

Star Gardener. Using the Aqua Roses, Fussy Cut 2 #1, with roses in the centre and save 1 for block 111. Then cut 12 x 1 15/16’’ or 2’’ squares. Check Note in Month 4.

Using White/Aqua Spot cut 12 x 1 15/16’’ squares, make up into ½ square triangles, as per week 3. Press towards the Aqua and trim to 1 ½’’ square keeping the diagonal correct for 24 #14. Then cut 4 x 1 ½’’ squares for 4 #19. Following the book and photo, arrange all the pieces in place. Chain piece in sets of 4 and sew together.

Wrench. Using Aqua Roses cut 4 x 1 ½’’ x 2 ½’’ rectangles for 4 #25. Then cut 2 x 2 7/8’’ squares.
Using White/Aqua spot cut 4 x 1 ½’’ x 2 ½’’rectangles for 4 #25, then cut 2 x 2 7/8’’ squares, match up with the Aqua squares and make into ½ square triangles, press towards the Aqua for 8 #3. Join the # 25s in pairs and chain piece as a 9 patch.

Week 30

5 Bat Wing

13 Buckwheat

Use templates 20, 21, 34, 35, 36, 36R, 37.

Bat Wing. Using White Roses trace and Fussy Cut 2 # 37 then cut 2 x 2 7/8’’ x 1 ¾’’ rectangles for 2 #35. Using Pink Rosebud trace and cut 2 #36 and 2 #36R. Using Aqua Roses cut 1 x 1 ¾’’ square for #34. Arrange in place and sew as per book.

Buckwheat. Using White roses cut 2 x 1 15/16’’ squares for 2 #21 and 4 x 2 ¼’’ squares, cut on the diagonal for 8 #20. Using Pink Rosebud cut 2 x 1 15/16’’ squares for 2 #21 and 4 x 2 ¼’’ squares. Using Aqua Roses cut 6 x 2 ¼’’ squares, cut 2 on the diagonal for 4 #20. Make up the rest into ½ square triangles, trim to 1 15/16’’ for 16 #20. Arrange pieces in place and sew in diagonal rows.

Week 31

26 Cut Glass Dish

27 Darting Parrots (Birds).

Use templates 1, 3, 13, 19.


Cut Glass Dish. Using the Red Check cut 3 x 2 ½’’ squares for 3 # 1. Using White Rosebuds cut 12 x 1 15/16’’ squares. Using Aqua /Aqua Spot cut 12 x 1 15/16’’ squares. Make up into ½ square triangles, press and trim to 1 ½’’ for 48 #13. Arrange in place and sew triangles in sets of 4. Chain piece together as a 9 patch. Press long seams open if needed.

Darting Parrots (Birds). Using Red Check cut 4 x 1 ½’’ squares for 4 #19. Using Green Floral cut 2 x 2 7/8’’ squares, cut on the diagonal for 4 #3. Using Aqua/Aqua Spot cut 8 x 1 15/16’’ squares. Using White Rosebuds cut 12 x 1 15/16’’ squares, make up 8 into ½ square triangles and press towards the Aqua, trim to 1 ½’’ for 32 # 13. Cut the remaining 4 on the diagonal for 8 # 13. Then cut 4 x 1 ½’’ squares for 4 #19. Arrange in place. Sew top left hand section together first then repeat with the other 3. Sew together. I promise NO more ½ square triangles!!

Week 32

37 Flower Pot 

Gum Tree.

 

Use templates 3, 6, 6R, 13, 20, 33, 39, 40, 40R, 41,41R, 42, 71, 99, 99R.

Flower Pot. Using Pink Roses trace and Fussy Cut 1 # 39, and cut 1 x 1 15/16’’ square, cut on the diagonal for 2 #13. Using Green Floral trace and cut 1 #40. Using Green/White Spot trace and cut 1 #40R. Using Pink Rosebud trace and cut 1 #41. Using Red Check trace and cut 1 #41R.
Using White/Green Spot cut 2 x 4 ½’’ x 1 ½’’ rectangles for 2 #42. Then cut 1 x 2 7/8’’ square, 1 x 2 ¼’’square and 1 x 1 15/16’’square, cut them all on the diagonal for 2 each #3, #20 and #13. Trim to match their templates. Trace and cut 1 #3. Lay all the pieces in place and sew #40 and #20 together as per book.

To sew the angled seam between #40, #20 and #41R, holding the #41R underneath, sew to the crossing seam. Raise the foot with the needle down in the seam. Line up the remaining raw edges, lower the needle and sew to the end. Unpick the few stitches in the seam allowance to make the seam sit flat and press. Repeat with the other angled seam. Sew the rest of the block as per book and press.

Gum Tree. Using Green Floral trace and cut 1 # 71. Using Aqua/Aqua Spot trace and cut 1 #33. Using Green/ White Spot trace and cut 1 #6 and 1 #6R. Using White /Aqua Spot trace and cut 1 #99. Flip the template 99 over and trace again to give you 1 # 99R. Using Pink Roses cut 1 x 1 ¼’’ x 3 1/8’’ rectangle for the tree trunk.

Using the photo as a guide, arrange all the pieces in place. Sew #99 and #6R together aligning the angled edges, not the straight edge. Repeat with #s 99R and 6 and press towards the green. Measure 4 ½’’ from the longest edge of the White/Aqua Spot and trim a small amount from the straight edge, as per photo. Sew these edges to each side of the Pink rectangle and press. Sew the Aqua triangle to the lower half and the large Green triangle to the top edge and press.

CONGRATULATIONS you have made 64 beautiful little Blocks. We only need 61 blocks to make our version of The Farmer’s Wife Quilt but we can add the extras to the back, they certainly won’t be left out. Hopefully you’re proud of your achievement, you certainly should be! I know I am!

Over the next few months we will add the sashing strips and squares, triangles and outer border, with a few surprises along the way. Then we will guide you through the layering and quilting process. We can’t wait to see it finished now that we are so close!

Happy sewing Debby & Eve x.

Farmer’s Wife Quilt along Month 7 Instructions

We will be making Blocks 6, 29, 46, 72, 16, 84, 68, 76.

Templates used for Month 7 are; 1, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 71.

We will be using a mixture of fabrics this time. I recommend that you spray the wrong sides with starch and iron well before cutting.

Week 25

6 Big Dipper

29 Economy

Use templates 5, 8, 12.

Big Dipper, use template 12
Using the Yellow floral fabric cut 4 x 3’’ squares. Using the Pink fabric cut 4 x 3’’ squares. Using 2 pink and 2 Yellow squares make up 4 ½ square triangles, as per week 3, for 8 #12, and sew into a pinwheel for the centre.

Cut the remaining 4 squares on the diagonal, sew together to make the corner triangles. Sew these to the centre square. Press these seams to the outside.

Economy, use templates 5, 8, 12.
Using the Yellow floral Fussy cut a 3 ½’’ square, with Roses in the centre for 1 # 5.
Using the Aqua Spot cut 2 x 3’’ squares then cut these on the diagonal for 4 # 12. Using the Pink fabric cut 2 x 4’’ squares, cut these on the diagonal for 4 # 8. Arrange and sew these together as per book.

Week 26

46 Hill and Valley 

72 Railroad

Use templates 3, 8, 19, 20, 21.

Hill and Valley, use templates 3, 8, 20, 21.
Using the White Floral fabric cut 2 x 4’’ squares, cut these on the diagonal for 4 # 8. Cut 2 x 2 ¼’’ squares, cut these on the diagonal for 4 # 20.

Using the Aqua Spot fabric cut 2 x 1 15/16’’ squares for 2 # 21, then cut 2 x 2 7/8’’ squares, cut these on the diagonal for 4 # 3 then cut 1 x 2 ¼’’ square, cut on the diagonal for 2 # 20. Arrange and sew together as per book.

Railroad, use templates 3, 19.
Using the White Floral fabric cut 2 x 2 7/8’’ squares then, cut 10 x 1 ½’’ squares for 10 # 19.
Using the Aqua Spot cut 2 x 2 7/8’’ squares and 10 1 ½’’ squares for 10 # 19, the same as the white.
Using the 4 larger squares make up into ½ square triangles for 8 #3. Sew 1 white and 1 aqua square together, press towards the aqua, to make 10 pairs sew again to make groups of 4. Arrange and sew as per book.

Week 27

16 Calico Puzzle 

84 Spool

Use templates 1, 3. Cut the fabrics for both these blocks at the same time.
Using the Yellow small Rose Bud fabric cut 4 x 2 7/8’’ squares and 2 x 2 ½’’ squares for 2 # 1.
Using the Pink fabric cut 4 x 2 7/8’’ squares and 3 x 2 ½’’ squares for 3 #1.
Using the White Floral fabric cut 5 x 2 ½’’ squares for 5 # 1.
Using the 8 x 2 7/8’’ squares make up into ½ square triangles for 16 #3. Arrange in place for the two blocks and sew together as per book.

 

Week 28

76 Sawtooth 

68 Postage Stamp

Use templates 13, 14, 19, 71.

Sawtooth use templates 13, 14, 71.
Using the Yellow Floral fabric trace and Fussy cut, with the roses in the centre, 1 # 71. Then cut 6 x 1 15/16’’ squares, cut 1 on the diagonal for 2 #13.

Using the Aqua Spot trace and cut 1 # 14, keeping the long edge aligned with a row of dots. Then cut 5 x 1 15/16’’ squares. Using the 10 small squares make these up onto ½ square triangles. Press the seams towards the aqua and trim to 1 ½’’ keeping the diagonal line exactly from corner to corner, for 18 # 13. Arrange and sew in place as per book. You will have one extra square. You could use this in the postage stamp block if you wish.

Postage Stamp use template 19.
Hopefully you have been cutting 1 ½’’ squares from all your fabrics as we have gone along but if not cut 36 x 1 ½’’ squares from fabrics you have already used in your quilt.

Lay out 36 fabric squares in 6 rows of 6. Move them around until you are happy with the placement. Try not to have the same colour next to each other but don’t worry if they meet on the diagonal. Place four different coloured squares in the corners. Don’t be too fussy, I did change two of mine as I sewed them together, not a good idea but I kept to the same colour and only changed the fabric.
Use Chain Piecing to put this block together, follow the photos below. Take note of which colour the top left hand square is and make sure it is always put back in the right place.

Count your rows from the top down, starting on the left corner. Working down the second row turn each square over to the left and place it, right sides together, on top of its neighbour in the first row.
Stitch down the right side of each square in turn but don’t cut the thread between each square.
Press the seam in each row facing the opposite direction to the one next to it. Place these two rows back in place, noting the top left square is the right colour.

Now turn the third row, to the left, over the second row and sew down the row as before. Press the seams in the same direction as their neighbour in the previous row and put back in place.
Continue in this way until all of the blocks are joined in horizontal rows and are held in place with joining threads. This is why it’s called chain piecing.

Count your rows across from left to right now. Fold the top row down to cover the second row and pin each seam join to match across the row and sew in place. The seams should ‘nest’ together because they have been pressed in alternating directions. Press these seams all facing the same direction.

Continue to fold, pin and sew each row until your block is complete.
I loved making this block. I think I’ll make another!

Chain Piecing your postage stamp block

Happy sewing Debby x