Farmers Wife Quilt-a-long Week 9

Week 9 brings us #79 Patience, #80 Patricia, and #39 Grandma

#79 Patience

Patience was a nice and easy block.  I really like the simplicity of it.

#80 Patricia

Another relatively easy block. The swirl fabric is one of my favorites.  The daughter has a bandana made out of this fabric so it makes me think of her.

#39 Grandma

"Baby B" helped me pick out the the fabric for this block, in particular the green.  I am so very glad he convinced me to use this green as the one I had picked would have been to bright.

Farmer's Wife Quilt-a-long Week 8

#46 Jewel and #90 Sara

#46 Jewel

I love this block, the three dimensional effect is outstanding.  At first I wasn't too thrilled with my fabric choices but they are growing on me.  

Tip:  After this block I learned to be sure to use a solid in in the block, it gives the eye a rest.  However, the first rule of quilting is it's o.k. to break any rules.

#90 Sara

See, I already went against my above tip. 😉

Farmer's Wife Quilt-a-long Week 7

This week's blocks were #2 Aimee and #76 Nancy

#2 Aimee

I foundation paper pieced (FPP) this one.  If a block has a shape that is not a triange or rectange, I will FPP it.  

On Gnome Angel's website, gnomeangel.com, she referred to a tutorial on another blog where you use freezer paper to FPP.  With this technique you create the sewing lines on the freezer with your sewing machine.  Another difference with this technique is that you fold back the freezer paper and sew next to the fold so no need to rip off the paper.  Please refer to this blog http://woodenspoonquilts.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/grannytutorialblock41.html for specifics.

Well, I didn't care for the technique.  After completing my first portion of the block, there was a pucker. Since it was a process that I was not familiar with I also used a lot more fabric.  The ripping off of the papers never bothered me as it does others.

I am very pleased with the block.  Love the stripes

#76 Nancy

I am SO happy with this block.  I have been wanting to use the black and white fabric for weeks.  Last week I tried to use it in #57- Margret but it was, as the kids say, an epic failure.  Just needed to wait for  the right block.

This week's Tip

There have been 3 techniques I've used to assemle the blocks, rotary cutting, foundation paper piecing and applique.  Many people are goi ng a different route and are using the Marti Mitchell Templates.  

One of the nice perks of the MM templates is that the corners are clipped at just the right spot and angle for easy piecing.  I have just the tool for this without having to purchase the templates, Judy Martins Ultimate Point Trimmer. 

It took me a bit to get used to how to set up the pieces to trim but now I don't know how I would live without this little tool!

Farmer's Wife Quilt-a-long Week 6

This was a tough week for me. The blocks this week were #1 Addie, #62 Milly, and #57 Margret.

I did Addie twice.  Here they are:

Being that Addie has such a large piece in the middle I wanted to use a fabric with a big print.  Starting with the top one, the center fabric was what started the whole color scheme.  I didn't want to use this same fabric in the outer point becuse I thought it would blend too much with the black.  Once I finished it I thought the inside fabric looked pieced rather than one piece of fabric.

So I did the bottom one.

With further review, I like them both.  Good thing I dont need to decide which one tp use for a while.

Now here's Milly.

I liked her right away.  I really wanted to use the grey fabric in this one.  Glad it worked out.

Finally, Margret...

#1

#2

#3

Finally, #4

This block kept nagging at me.  The first one was way too busy.  Then changing the light to grey just didn't give it the impact I wanted.  The third one was still too busy.  Now I realized the problem was the dark fabric.  Changed the dark to a black batik and it was a hit!  I sure hope next week's blocks don't involve half square triangles!

My tip for this week.

I put 1/4" tape on a ruler outlining the size of the finished pice.  Then cut once you have it where you want it.