First Month's Blocks

Month 1 Use templates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11, 14, 17, 19, 25.  If you purchased our fabric pack and book we sent you the first months templates pre printed to get you started, but all the templates are on the CD in your book.

Week 1

Use templates 4, 5, 9, 17.

Using template 4 measurements, rotary cutter and ruler.
Cut
6 x 2’’ squares in aqua
4 x 2’’ squares in yellow and
4 x 2’’squares in pink.

Using template 9, cut 2 x 3 ½’’ x 2’’ rectangles in green and
template 17, cut 2 x 5’’ x 2’’ rectangles in pink.

Following our photo for colour placement, lay all your pieces out as in the book and sew together as described.

 

Construct all the blocks using this method. Check that your block measures 6 ½’’ square. If it’s a bit smaller take a smaller seam allowance. If it’s a bit big increase your seam allowance. It doesn’t really matter what size your blocks are as long as they are all the same size as each other. If you trim your blocks keep the horizontal and vertical lines level with the lines on your ruler.

Week 2

Use templates 11, 19, 25.

Using the white fabric cut 6 x 1 ½’’ strips from the short side. Crosscut 4 of these into a 3 ½’’ and a 2 ½’’ rectangle. Crosscut 1 into 2 x  2 ½’’ rectangles and cut the last into 3 x 1 ½’’ squares.
This will give you 4 template 11, 6 template 25 and 3 template 19.

Using the pink fabric cut 4 x 1 ½’’ strips, crosscut these into 4 x 3 ½’’ and 4 x 2 ½’’ rectangles and cut 1 x 1 ½’’ square. Using the red fabric cut the same as the pink but cut 2 x 1 ½’’ squares.

Week 3

 

Use templates 1, 3.

Using the white fabric and the measurements from template 1, cut 3 x 2 ½’’ squares. Then cut 6 x 2½’’ squares in aqua. Then cut 1 x 2 ½’’ square in pink.

Using the measurement from template 3 cut 4 x 2 7/8’’ squares in white and 4 x 2 7/8’’ squares in aqua. Fold the white squares on the diagonal and press. Match with an aqua square, right sides together and stitch ¼’’ either side of this line.

Cut apart on the line and press. This will give you the 8 ½" square triangles you need for these 2 blocks.

 

 

Week 4 

Use templates 1, 2, 3, 14.

Using the measurement from template 14 and the spotty green fabric cut 1 x 5’’ square and crosscut on the diagonal, then cut 1 x template 14, to give you 3 large triangles. Cut 1 x 2 7/8’’square and 3 x 2 ½’’ squares.

Using the pink fabric cut 1 x template 14. Cut 1 x 2 7/8’’ square and 2 x template 2. Remember to trace these on the right side of the fabric. Make up the ½ square triangle, as before and use in Block 35.

Fussy cut 1 x 2 ½’’ square in white and cut 1 x 2 7/8’’ square in aqua and crosscut this on the diagonal to give you 2 template 3.

Arrange the pieces for block 35 (see images below) and sew the centre and the very ends of the seam between the 2 template 14 triangles and press the seam towards the basket. To make the handle, trim the ¼’’ hem from the back of the bias strip. Tuck the ends through the openings in the seam and pin in place, ½’’ from the raw edges of the block.

Appliqué the bias strip handle in place, stretching the top edge slightly, so that it sits flat. Resew the seam, catching the handle in place trim the bias ends and press.

That’s the first month done! Don’t you just love them! We do!!!

Before we begin . . .

Each month you will receive enough fabric to make eight, 6 ½’’ blocks the same as ours. Instructions, tips and inspiration will be here on the blog and in the book you already have. We have started with easy blocks using squares and rectangles and have matched blocks using the same templates and colours.

Firstly decide if you are going to machine or hand stitch your blocks. We are machining ours.

For machine sewing trace and cut out your templates on the outside fabric cutting line and use a ¼’’ foot to piece together. Trace all templates on the right side of the fabric. You can also use our Quick Rotary Cutting method below.

For hand sewing cut out your templates on the inner seam line. Trace around the template on the wrong side of the fabric, this will be your stitching line, cut out with a ¼’’ seam allowance. Be aware that asymmetrical templates, like # 2, need to be reversed when traced on the wrong side of the fabric.

Preparing the Templates

The first month’s templates are all in the first template folder on the CD. Template 1 should measure 2 ½’’ square when printed. If you have ordered our fabric pack it will have this months templates pre printed for you.

Roughly cut the templates out and glue them to a sheet of, matt school project cardboard, from the newsagents. We find cereal box card too slippery when tracing around. Use template plastic if you wish.

For Quick Rotary Cutting Technique measure the straight edge of each template and write this size on the template.

Use this measurement to cut your fabric with a rotary cutter and ruler. All squares and rectangles can be cut this way. When using this technique for Triangles draw two lines from the rounded off corners until you get a matching point and use this point as your measurement.

Pairs of triangles can be cut as a square then crosscut on the diagonal. For squares consisting of two different coloured fabric triangles, as template #3 in week 3, don’t cut them into triangles until after sewing them together. ( I’ll show you how in week 3.) To cut asymmetrical shapes place your ruler over the cutting line and rotary cut, be careful to keep your fingers out the way.

Iron all your fabrics, well, before starting to trace and cut!

We’ll provide cutting instructions for the first few months.

Once you have all the pieces cut for your block, lay them out in their correct position and follow the construction diagram in the book and see our week by week guides as we go along.

Gently press with the iron each seam as you sew, this helps to stop any stretching of the small pieces. Then open up and press flat. This should keep your blocks neat. When joining rows press the seams in opposite directions, this keeps the joins flat. Try to press seams towards the darker colour. Your blocks should measure 6 ½’’ square.

Good luck and have fun!  Debby and Eve x

Are you ready for some Farmers Wife Prettiness ?

Welcome to The Farmers Wife Quilt Along.

 

 

FabricDirect.com.au are so pleased to have you join us.  Be sure to send us your email address so you can be placed on the mailing list or follow this blog for all of our tutorials, tips and inspiration.

 

We will be getting started this week so here is what you need to know.

1/ Get yourself a copy of the book. If you have ordered it from us they will be sent out over the coming week. 

2/ Decide if you are going to use your own stash of fabrics or join our club and get a fabric pack posted every month.  Join our Fabric Club.

Alternatively you can do a combination of both, join our club to start with. We will be showing the fabrics in the upcoming blocks each month so you will be able to put a hold on certain months to use your own stash if you like.

3/ Follow us here on our BLOG for all the tutorials, tips, inspiration and fun.

4/ Follow our Pinterest page for some gorgeous Farmers Wife quilt inspiration. Follow our Pinterest Page.

5/ Decide if you are going to hand piece or machine piece your blocks and get ready for some serious prettiness coming your way . . .

This quilt can be made in different sizes as explained in the book from 50 blocks for a lap size up to 145 for the King Bed Size, you can follow along until you have made as many as you feel like.

What makes a house a home

A home is not a home unless it is full of cheerfulness and kindness.  It needs healthy, playing children, the spirit of work and also the spirit of love and inter-responsibility . . .

 

extract from The Farmers Wife Sampler Quilt book, what a wonderful sentiment and a great inspiration for getting started on making this beautiful quilt (but lets face it, everything is nicer in pretties).