Farmer's Wife Quilt is Complete

Remember this quilt?  This was my pandemic project. I was doing 1 or 2 blocks a week during the pandemic, and got it all together in about 9 months.  It's a dizzyingly busy quilt.  There's a lot going on here.

I had Pat Schneider quilt this on her long-arm with a computerized block pattern with some swirls and slight feathers.  It was too big and heavy for me to do myself on my little domestic sewing machine at home.  If it was ever going to be finished, it had to go to a long-armer, and I knew Pat would do a good job!

Pattern: some feathers and some swirls with an olive-y green thread that disappears at a distance.  We thought whatever quilting pattern / motif would get lost amid all the blocks anyway.

Speaking of green -- see that green batik above?  I am looking for more fabric in that lively green. It's hard to find.

Batting: Hobbs 80/20 cotton/poly.  I always like the way this batt crinkles up after washing and makes a new quilt look antique-y.

The backing is an extra wide Stonehenge gradient in blues and greens.  It's prettier than the front in it's own way.  When I need some clam and quiet, I can flip it over and relish this side.

The only thing left to do is the label.

Farmer's Wife Quilt: Next Steps

Farmer's Wife Blocks (with sashing and cornerstones) on the Design Wall

I still have a number of blocks left over that I need to fit in ... 1 more row on the vertical and the horizontal.  Trouble is, it's sort of the "dog" blocks that are left.  I hate to put them all in a row.  Better to hide them here and there throughout the quilt ---  Or leave them out altogether.  That would not be the end of the world!

I've been working the last couple of weekends to add the sashing and cornerstones.  And now corner triangles to off-set the blocks being set en point. I picked a lovely teal-ish Stonehenge for those edges.

It seems like I've been putting in multiple hours, but not making any visible progress -- as in, I can't start sewing the blocks together yet to make the quilt top whole ---  Soon, I'll be able to start that stage ...  It's been so hot, that I can't work for long in my sewing room.  Just having the iron on to press seams is too much.  This is never a problem in the winter time. 

 

As mentioned earlier, there were a number of blocks that needed some additional work because they came out too small--for whatever reason.  So today, I added some borders to make up the difference for those "dog" blocks.  And worked them into the design wall.  I like them better now that they are the proper size.  And they don't look so out of place in the overall quilt.  

I love how this one turned out with the extra borders.

I removed the labels on the back of each block as I was adding the sashing and cornerstones, so I'm not exactly sure which blocks these are now ...  And I didn't want to take the time to look it up.

 

 

I tried to match the colors and general spirit of the block, so that it didn't feel too different from the originals.

 

This star will anchor on of the corners.

 

I was never a big fan of this one, and even considered re-doing it.  It felt like it came out too dark, not enough contrast.  But the lighter border helps.

I think now I can finally start sewing the blocks together in rows. 

Then it will feel like I'm making progress!

Farmer's Wife Blocks - 93 Swallow - 95 Temperance Tree

 

 Block 95 - Temperance Tree

 

The last week of making Farmer's Wife blocks!  The pandemic project I started last September is nearly over -- at least the weekly block-making stage of it.   There is still the do-over set.  And then piecing the blocks together into a coherent top, and finishing the quilt.  There's a lot of project management to taking a quilt from start to finish.  

I was not looking forward to these 2 blocks (and I suspect that's why Hand Made Karma left them for last) because of all those half-square triangle blocks.  But once I sat down to do them, picked out the fabrics and began, it wasn't so bad. I'm getting pretty good at the HSTs, and because these blocks needed so many, they showed us the Magic 8 Method, which really helped to churn these puppies out in a hurry.  I picked three batik fabrics for the leaves: 1 green, 1 blue, and 1 blue green.  It wentfaster than I thought it would.

The hardest part of Temperance Tree was the tree trunk.  The measurements didn't quite fit what was required, so I wound up doing it again -- oversize, and then trimming it down to what the block needed. 

 

 

Block 93 - Swallow

 This one felt like one of those awkward dud-blocks. So I tried to rescue it with some really nice fabric.  This is nearly the last of the blue-green batik that I originally purchased for an iron caddy.  But I had so much left over, I made a cover for my Kindle, and a mask for the pandemic.   Also not much left of the viney background fabric either.  Only true scraps left now.  

For this one, too, I used the Magic 8 Method of churning out the HSTs.  It's fast.

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 39

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials.

 

Farmer's Wife Blocks - 89 Steps to the Altar - 90 Storm Signal - 91 Strawberry Basket

    Block 89 - Steps to the Altar

This week's blocks have the red and green in common.  The red bandana fabric is left over from the Summit Pack bag that I made last week.   Just a little splash of red makes a big statement.  

This one went faster than it looks like it might have.  I sewed 2 strips of white and green, then sub-cut the 2 block units.  That helps keep them straight and not so wonky as trying to sew together lots of tiny little 1-1/2 inch blocks.  Once they build themselves into 4-patches, it was easy to put the rest of it together. 

Block 90 - Storm Signal 

This one makes me think of trains -- Is that where they use these kinds of storm signals?

Not a bad block to put together, if you treat it essentially as a 9-patch.  I am getting very comfortable with the hourglass and half-square triangles.  I owe that comfort with the practice this project has given me. 

 

Block 91 - Strawberry Basket 

My first thought with this block was to make it a blueberry basket, instead of strawberries.  But since I had the red bandana fabric on hand, the red won out.  Again -- like the Steps to the Alter block above, this one was not that bad to make because of the strip piecing and subcut method.

We're in the home stretch now!  Just 2 more blocks to go!

 

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 38  

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials. 

 

 

 

Farmer's Wife Blocks - 73 Rainbow Flowers - 76 Sawtooth - 84 Spool

• Block 84 - Spool

Just felt like it needed a red center amid all that blue.  Maybe I'm looking ahead to the Train Signal block next week? 

• Block 76 - Sawtooth

I made this one with leftover half-square triangles  cut down to 1-1/2-inch squares from other blocks in this quilt.  I didn't have to make any of them this time.   No paper piecing either.   

 

 

 

• Block 73 - Rainbow Flowers

Using up nearly the last bit of that lovely leafy green fabric.  I had a darker patch of leafy blue in the blue layer, but that wound up feeling too much the same, so I swapped it out for a lighter blue batik.  I think this works out very nicely -- It "lifts" the whole block. 

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 37

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials.

 

Farmer's Wife Blocks - 52 Hovering Hawks - 71 Puss in the Corner - 72 Railroad

  Block 71 - Puss in the Corner

No paper piecing again this week.  Hurray!  All three of these blocks came together rather quickly one evening after work.  There are only 3 weeks left to go.  Another Hurray!

 

 

Block 52 - Hovering Hawks 

This one is similar to one from last week.  The only difference is the color placement.

 

 Block 72 - Railroad 

Not sure the blue rice print and the batik go together so well, but we're gonna go with it.  

3 more weeks to go!

 

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 36

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials.

 

Farmer's Wife Blocks - 48 Homeward Bound - 50 Honey's Choice - 51 Hovering Birds

Block 48 - Homeward Bound

 The spiral willow in my yard is starting to leaf out for spring.  I guess that put me in mind to use this spiral willow fabric leftover from a quilt a few years ago.  I still love that fabric!

The blue is leftover from another quilt back along the way.

 

 Block 51 - Hovering Birds

This one looks harder than it is.  Not bad to do at all.

Here again I am using the wrong side of that spotted background neutral fabric.  It's more subtle than the front side. 

 

 

 Block 50 - Honey's Choice

 Had to get some purple in the mix!

Only a few more weeks to go.  The end is in sight!

 

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 35.

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials.

 

Farmer's Wife Blocks - 41 Friendship Star - 42 Fruit Basket - 45 Grape Basket

Block 41 - Friendship Star

No paper piecing this week.  Hurray!  Just lost of little half-square triangles.  This one was nice and simple -- Easy to do after work.  In fact, I might make up a few more of these, just because they are so satisfying to see come together.    I was able to mix the current color pallet on this one of blue, green, orange and purple.

 

Block 45 - Grape Basket

 Officially, this one is called "Grape Basket,"  but I'm going to refer to it as Blueberry Basket, due to my color choices.  And I like Blueberries. 

2 things about this block:  I did not make the 2 flying geese at the edges, instead opting for additional half-square triangles, since I was in that mode anyway.     

The other thing is that the "new" background fabric has these "spots" on it.  From the front side they are quite "showy."  The paint (or whatever they used to print the fabric) is thick, and the sewing machine needle has a tougher time getting through that -- like it sticks, or something.  I should probably be using a special needle (teflon?) for that fabric?  Anyway, I realized (after using the backside by mistake in some earlier blocks), that I could consciously CHOOSE to use the back side for the front of my blocks, and it would tone down the brightness and ferocity of those spots.    

Take a look at the background spots in the Friendship Star block above and compare it to the Grape Basket here.  Much more subdued and calming.   I like this much better.  ;-)

 

Block 42 - Fruit Basket

This one is very  similar to The Grape Basket.  The only difference is the foot of the basket.  For color choices, I went with the current pallet again, including some orange, purple blue and green.  I think that might be it for the oranges ...  

Only a few blocks left to go!

 

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 34.

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials.

 

Farmer's Wife Blocks - 26 Cut Glass Dish - 27 Darting Birds - 35 Flower Basket

 Block 26 - Cut Glass Dish 

You didn't think I was going to give up on the Farmer's Wife Blocks, did you?  There are only a few more weeks to go!  The end is in sight!

This week, lots of little pieces that warp out of shape as you work with it.  Not hard, just putsy.   I have to say I was not looking forward to these blocks, but once I started, it really wasn't so bad.   Got to pull in the whole color pallet this week: green, blue, purple, orange.  All those facets to sparkle and shine like cut glass! 

 

 Block 27 - Darting Birds 

Remarkably similar to the last block with so many half-square triangles.  I gave up trying to cut the squares to 7/8 inch.  I just go to the whole inch, and then trim things down to size after they've been sewn.  Otherwise things end up even wonkier or short.  

I considered changing the orientation of the 4 basic blocks -- all facing in or all facing out, but in the end, I went back to the recommended layout, otherwise, it wouldn't be darting birds, would it?

 Block 35 - Flower Basket 

The appliqued handle on the basket behaved a little better this time than previous baskets in the series.  

With these done, now I can play with making those sling bags!

 

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 32.

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials.

Farmer's Wife Blocks - 43 Garden Path - 77 Seasons - 99 WCTU

Block 99 - W.C.T.U. 

The blocks this round were a little putsy, but not bad.  Just took patience and care with the cutting.  The secret with the corner blocks on this one was to cut the pieces oversize and then cut it down to the right size after the fact.  

If you are wondering what WCTU stands for it it is something like Women's ?? Temperance Union -- or something like that.  They were fighting for prohibition.  

 

Block 77 - Seasons  

This was the only block this round to be paper-pieced.  Not too bad!  It was quick and simple.

 

Block 43 - Garden Path

Nope -- This one was NOT paper-pieced.  Although they gave us a paper pattern for the blue frame with mitered corners.  For the life of me, I could not get those to come together smoothly, so I started over and did it my way and it came together just fine. 

I think that might be it for the orange for a while ...   Starting to feel a little too tropical!

 

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 32.

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials.

 

Farmer's Wife Blocks - 55 Linoleum - 69 Practical Orchard - 70 Prairie Queen

Block 70 - Prairie Queen 

This set of blocks was so fast and easy, I did all 4 of them on a Monday evening.  I don't think that's ever happened before in the history of my working on this project!  But that's the magic and simplicity of 9-patch blocks.  

This one is called Prairie Queen, made with green and blue batiks, along with a new background neutral fabric, as I am running low on the 5 yards of viney white-on-white I started with.    I love how those batiks come together with saturated colors broken up with textures and lights and darks.  

No paper piecing for this one. Yay!

 

 

 Block 55 - Linoleum

Not even the corner blocks for this one were paper pieced--So that made me happy.  It was another chance to inject a little more orange into the overall color scheme.  

 

Block 69 - Practical Orchard 

I liked this one so much, I made it twice.    Once with the batiks you see above, and the whimsical fairytale Julie Patckiss (sp?) fabrics you see below.     Frog princes, mermaids, starfish and sturgeon.

I probably should have tilted that sturgeon so as not to cutoff his nose. 

 I still can't believe how fast this set of blocks came together.   

I am getting better at trimming the hourglass blocks to size and keeping them centered. Success!

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 31.

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials.

 

Farmers Wife Blocks - 54 Kitchen Woodbox - 60 Noon & Light - 66 Periwinkle

Block 54 - Kitchen Woodbox  

I am very pleased with this block because I got to use up some of the last bits of one of my favorite fabrics -- Let's call it Firefly.  ;-)

This block was entirely paper pieced, but not frustrating.  The sequence is laid out, and you just follow it.  Sort of like an economy block.  It was an easy one to do in the evenings after work. 

Block 66 - Periwinkle  

I like this block, too.  Nice and simple.  It came together remarkably quick.  Paper-pieced, but not a headache.  Maybe I've finally figured out how to do that technique after all this time!

 Block 60 - Noon & Light 

Another paper-pieced block this week.  I went back and forth on making the star points purple or orange, and in the end, I split the difference.    Still trying to add a touch of orange to the blocks to make those maple leafs NOT look so out of place in the overall quilt.

I must be 3 weeks ahead of the weekly schedule now?  The end is in sight.  Though every time I count up the blocks that are left, it seems like I still have 30 blocks to go!

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 30

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials.

 

Farmer's Wife Blocks - 88 Star of Hope - 102 Whirlpool - 103 Whirlwind

 

  Block 102 - Whirlpool

Not a bad week for Farmer's Wife Blocks!  I am still working ahead in the evenings after work.   This one was entirely half-square triangles.  The hardest part was picking the fabrics and the color combinations.  It's very similar to one (or two?) i did earlier int he project--but the color arrangement was different. 

 

  Block 88 - Star of Hope 

Again the hardest part of this one was picking what color to make the teeth, or the points of the star.  I was thinking about a golden yellow (probably my least favorite color anywhere), but decided against that.  Instead I went with blue, green and purple to reflect the focus fabric.  My usual palette.  That worked out very well!

This is another one of those blocky awkward blocks.  My nickname for it is: Chunky Monkey.

 Block 103 - Whirlwind 

To me this one looks more like one of those throwing stars.  Dangerous.  Or a circular saw.  I guess they both have a kind of whirlwind action.   The directional fabric for the tines gives it a little more motion.

 

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 29 

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials.

 

Farmer's Wife Blocks - 78 Shooting Star - 82 Spider Legs - 86 Squash Blossom

Block 86 - Squash Blossom

Trying to inject a little more orange into other blocks so that the 2 maple leaf blocks don't look so out-of-place.     The one was paper-pieced, but not maddening.  I was more interested in the colors and fabrics for this one.  I got the chance to use up the last bits of that night dragonfly fabric.

Block 82 - Spider Legs

A little more orange here.  I contemplated other color schemes: green and blue; blue and purple; green and purple ...  and this is the one that rose to the top.  This block is similar to one I did a few weeks ago.  In some ways this is the opposite as that one was too dark.   This one also uses the "new" cream background, as I was running out of the viney white on white.  This one is a little creamier than the vines.  I forgot my sample at home when I bought it and didn't match that properly by memory.

 

 

Block 78 - Shooting Star

A frustrating paper-pieced block.  You can tell by all the extra piecing I had to do to fill in where I misjudged the fabric needs.  It's a very awkward looking block.    I was hoping the green would read as dark, and the blue would read as medium, but I think they both come out as dark.  

The middle sections were awkward to paper-piece.  It probably should have been broken up into more pieces to do it elegantly.  But I muddled through it.  Another week done!

 

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 28

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials.

 

Farmer's Wife Blocks - 37 Flower Pot - 57 Morning - 100 Weathervane

 

Block 100 - Weathervane

I am still working ahead on the Farmer's Wife blocks.  This was not a bad set.  This one and the next are basically the same blocks, with only some color changes for emphasis.   Just a little paper-piecing on the pentagon points in the green blocks.  For the half-square triangles, I learned not to bother with trying to cut 7/8 inch blocks.  I just cut them 2 inches, make the blocks, then cut them down to the 1-1/2 inch final size.  That seems to work much better for my eyes and the rulers I have to work with.  

I was running out of a suitable green, so purchased some new green batiks to finish this stage of the blocks.   Gorgeous!

Block 57 - Morning (with Chirping Frogs, or Swamp Thing)

This is basically the same block as Weathervane above, except that the cross-piece blocks were supposed to be all the same color / fabric.  They even recommended using a longer strip down the middle instead of breaking it up into 3 blocks.  So I picked through my scrap bin, and found a border fabric left over from a Julie Patchkis (sp?) quilt.  It was a little wide for this job, so I cinched it up down the middle (If you look closely, you can see the seam.)    The light blue didn't quite work all the way around the block, so I opted for the cream background to offset the green batik.    I am very happy with this block.  And yes, they have frogs on the farm, out in the country -- at least when they don't go crazy with herbicides and pesticides.  It's balanced without being too symmetrical. 

The green batik in the corners looks like frog feet to me, hence the altered names for this particular block.

 Block 37 - Flower Pot

 This one was the "Meh" block this week.  The top part was paper-pieced -- putsy, but do-able.

Not much else to say about this one.    On to the next batch!

 

Tutorials from Handmade Karma for Week 27

See Handmade Karma's full set of Farmer's Wife blocks and tutorials.