Sunday, October 20, 2013

Making some Farmers Wife Sampler Blocks

 Farmer's Wife Sampler blocks with  Friday Night Block Party


Weekly Block Party  by Elaine at  Summercrater.com ...   Joining in with Elaine to make blocks and Farmer's Wife Sampler Blocks

Elaine, over at Summercrafter.com ,  has started a linky group ,  called Friday Night Block Party.  We can link up a block that we made during the week, and see what other blocks everyone is making. 

Recently, Elaine began to make some blocks from The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt Book, by Laurie Aaron Hird.  I looked up my book, and decided to join in with her.  I want to try to make as many of the blocks as I can, to continue to  improve my block-piecing skills. (But am not worrying about being late or missing some blocks.)  I also joined in the Yahoo Farmer's Wife Sampler group,  where I can access foundation paper pieced patterns for the same blocks and get some advice on the hard blocks. I really love to paper piece, but will challenge myself to do many of  the template pieces, too, for the experience.


The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt book   sold at Amazon.com
I am going to use my stash for making these blocks.  (Good girl!!)   I have a lot of Denyse Schmidt fabric , in  DS Quilts line, in turquoise, gray, blues, oranges, and teals that I love. 
It will be a scrappy look, I think.

Before I began to sew, I wanted to make sure that several 'size issues' were cleared up in my mind:
  • Use scant quarter inch seam allowance?  
 Yes.   I verified that my sewing machine and quarter inch foot worked well, when I sewed  a SCANT quarter inch. After  pressing the seams, it turns out to be a quarter inch seam allowance.   Now, this should allow my templates to be put  together with the right seam allowance size. 

  • Print options... print like usual, with "no scaling to page size" ?

Yes.  And,  I  verified that when I also checked the "borderless" print option, the pattern prints out much larger... to make a 7 1/2 inch block , rather than the 6 inch block 




Checking the "borderless" print option made the block bigger than the intended size of 6 inch

  • Is the template method or the paper pieced method more accurate (for me)?

 Paper pieced method is more accurate, for me,  for meeting points and keeping the 1/4 inch  seam allowances needed  for putting the blocks together later.


Left block was constructed with templates... I did not have a 1/4 inch seam allowance at the intersection on the right (marked as "here *" )
Right block has all of the seam allowances and the square has all of it 4 points, using the paper pieced construction

After studying all of these issues, I am ready to make the blocks finally!

Elaine started out making the block # 58   Mother's Dream  (page 185 in the book)
My block:    I chose to paper piece it this time.  


#58  Mother's Dream  FWSQ block    by Susie's Sunroom
It did turn out to be a slightly small, measuring in at just under 6 " all around.   I am not going to trim these blocks until I am ready to use them in a project.  I really liked making the one!  You might see some project using this block some time down the road....



The second week, Elaine made Block # 1  Attic Windows.    (page 128)
 #1  Attic Windows   FWSQ block  by Susie's Sunroom
I made it initially using the template method, and had to use the seam ripper a few times to keep  the square "square at the corners".  It is trickier than it looks!  I made this one by paper piecing and was happy with it.

Last week, Elaine  made the #2  Autumn Tints block.  (page 129 )


#2  Autumn Tints  FWSQ block    by Susie's Sunroom
I used the paper pieced method again, as I was under a time constraint.

Since I have 3 blocks made, I'll show you how they look together!


My blocks so far                 Susie's Sunroom
I have some bigger projects to complete soon. But it was very  enjoyable to make these blocks.  I know that I will have fun making a lot of these, and then pick out favorite block patterns to use in other projects.

I'm off to my sewing room!




Linking up to:   Friday Night Block Party @ Summercrafter
          and         Paper Piecing Party @ Quiet Play







12 comments:

  1. I started making these a couple of years ago for the same reasons you are. I was in the throws of a newborn plus 5 other kids so I set the project aside. It has remained at the bottom of my to do list as other things have pushed heir way to the top but I will get back to it one day. I wasn't a fan of those little blocks but would be much more excited to paper piece them!! The blocks look great in the DS prints! Are you going to do the whole quilt with a blue, green, white color scheme?

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    1. Yes, and adding the oranges from Denyse Schmidt's DS Quilts. I love them with these. I think that will add more scrappiness to the blocks....?

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  2. Hi Susie, I love your explanations of all the measurements. I am sorry that the post didn't go up! I am having problems with new platform and my pictures are all wrong. I am working to get it up today I promise!! Sorry again!

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  3. You're off to a great start! This is really good information for those who have the book. Your fabric picks are very pretty - you know I love those colors and prints!

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  4. I like to paper piece things too. They always match up better. I love your color combination as always.

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  5. I love your posts! I would love to get my own sunrooms in San Antonio! That would be totally wonderful.

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  6. I have that book but haven't made anything from it yet. I'm agreeing with you though - paper piecing is much more accurate. blessings, marlene

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  7. These are looking great so far! I'm all about paper piecing for accuracy ;)

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  8. Hey there Susie! I looove your blocks. What a great project too! I like paper piecing as long as it doesn't get too crazy, lol.

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  9. Ooh, I'm always a little scared of small blocks - miniature piecing and me don't do well together! Good luck!

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  10. Thanks for linking up Susie. I really love the color palette your are using! Crisp and clean and reminds me of winter! That Mother's Dream block is soooo pretty.

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