Farmer’s Wife Sampler Quilt Progress

I have finally gotten a chance to sew some of my blocks! I’m using some fabrics scraps that I have saved over the years and kept separate from my regular scrap bins.I did pop over to my local quilt shop for some blenders to go with them, since many of the original ones have long since been used up.

As I said in a previous post, not all the blocks have rotary cutting instructions, but require you to use paper templates. Paper templates are new to me (at least for quilting). I’ve also never sewn a sampler quilt and I’m really enjoying it! After cutting a few blocks, I’m starting to get used to the templates and how to adapt them to be more rotary cutter friendly. Here’s how I’m trying to organize my sewing.

The Book

After sewing several blocks, I find the book is organized in a very logical and user-friendly way. After the farmer’s wife letters and accompanying blocks are introduced, the blocks are shown in numerical order at the back. The number of pieces to cut out are given and some block assembly guidance is given.

The CD gives all the templates, diagrams, and rotary cutting information needed. I’ve joined and am following along with a couple of online sew alongs for the book, which I have to say has been most helpful (and fun!). Some of the block construction has been modified in the sew along, making them easier to sew together.

Gnome Angel has a tutorial for each block and is doing the block in an order different than numerical.You can see here which blocks she has done so far and the accompanying tutorial here in this post on her blog.

I need to catch-up, as I started late, but I’m also not going to do all the blocks. Some just seem too plain, like Patience #79, which is just a simple 9-patch. There are some traditional blocks, while others are really intricate and unusual blocks. I like doing the traditional blocks, such as Aunt (New Album block) and Patricia (Churn Dash block). I’ve started with some of those and will move onto the more complicated ones.

Getting Organized

I designated a binder just for the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt. I can have the rotary cutting instructions and all the block diagrams printed and stored all in one place.

I have these really thick plastic page protectors (thicker than the kind I buy for my kids), in which I can store all the templates for a particular block. I am placing all the templates directly after the block diagrams in numerical order. I’ve taped the mini-diagram on the outside and place the templates inside.

I’ve decided the rotary cutting instructions are not that helpful, as they don’t give you everything that you need to do all the blocks. You’d still have to use the templates for part of most blocks. I’ve found it’s easier to just use the templates for cutting out. If it’s a rectangle, I write the measurements of the template onto the diagram page. I have noticed some measurements are odd (not to an even 1/8″), and not easily done with a rotary cutter, so I’m getting a little creative.

For the triangles and other shapes, I’m writing directly on the template the size square (for Half Square Triangles) or the width of strips to cut. This way I can use the  rotary cutter to make the template work go a bit faster. I’m used to patterns giving this information, so I’m including it for myself in case I want to make more of a particular block…or my daughter may want to make her own sampler quilt some day.

I’m printing every block’s templates and using my paper-only rotary cutter to cut them out. Before I trim off the dog ears, I’m measuring the width needed for 2 or more of that shape. It’s going much quicker than trying to use both instructions. For example, if a half square triangle has 3″ side edges, I cut a strip 3″ wide. Cut the strip into 3″ squares, then cut the squares in half on the diagonal. They can be left like that or I can use the templates to trim off the dog eared corners.

The templates are labeled nicely with the number of the block and the letter. I have noticed many sizes are repeated; for example, the same size HST is used for 4 or 5 of the blocks that I’ve cut out and sewn so far.

My Blocks

Here is my finished blocks so far:

Aunt #8

Becky #12

Betty # 14

Bonnie #16

Nancy  #76

I have 5 more cut out and ready to sew.  I’ve really been enjoying reading the letters and sewing these blocks. I am exciting to see how they all look together in a quilt.

This Friday and Saturday are big shopping days…I hope you all take the time to shop small and shop local! It’s so important to support your neighbors, community, and local economy.  It feels good.