Today I am again guest blogger for the Farmer's Wife 1930's Sampler Quilt Sew-along and I hope you won't be too disappointed with me.
Before I choose fabrics for each block of my 1930's Farmer's Wife quilt I always read the letter first, then pick fabrics based on the words / theme / feeling of the letter. When I come to write my blog post I read the letter again. When I reread the letter for block #51 Lily I had to laugh... it is titled 'Just Plain Humans' and it made me think about being 'only human'.
You see this is not the most polished of blog posts, I failed to get some great photos - actually I failed to get any photos of my progress at all because I have been sewing at night and I just relaxed into it. I don't have a special way of constructing this block and only a warning of bumpy backsides... I do have a pretty block though!
#51 Lily
I focused on the natural things the family enjoy; the "beauty of the wildflowers and the greening of the greasewood and sage" and the marvel of "lacy snowflakes".
Even my one good picture has a stray thread on it!
Notes:
- I do wish I had used the From Marti Mitchell templates for this block. All the small triangles and angled seams have caused a jumbled mess on the back and I found it really hard to press. The templates help reduce bulk a lot.
- When you are hand piecing small pieces that have mirror image shapes it is crucial to make sure you cut the correct number of each shape because they only fit together one way. I find it helps to lay my pieces on top of the diagram so I can keep track.
Despite the lumps I did enjoy sewing this block, I followed the block assembly in the book and came across no problems.
I hand pieced this block and I do have a hand piecing tutorial for you to show you my methods (at least I have something to offer!), click here for the tutorial.
I will be doing a catch up of my blocks soon as I have quite a few I haven't shown yet. Go ahead and subscribe to my blog to see more and there are other patterns / tutorials coming too!
5 comments
Post a Comment
Please don't worry about the back of your block- it's beautiful! And its lumpy backside will be well hidden sandwiched in a quilt! You have chosen lovely fabrics that reflect Lily's words perfectly!
I like the back of my work to lay flat and I am particular about the work nesting so that when it is hand quilted I am not traveling thru a lot of bulk.
Block materials and reading about why it was inspired are excellent ideas.
Your block is beautiful! Love the Carkai in there.!
The block looks great. I printed your hand piecing tutorial, thanks.
The back of the block is just awesome...of course the front is even more so.