Farmer's Wife Blocks 6-10

                          ( blocks 6-10)
Here are my Farmer's Wife's blocks so far...so much fun.

10 down, 101 to go! I hope I have enough Strawberry Fields to finish all of my blocks!

Fabric Basket for My Flea Market Fancy

The beginnings of a fabric basket....I wanted something to hold the Flea Market Fancy that I received in this swap.  I was going to buy a small plastic storage container but then decided on one of these. I use, the very sweet, Ayumi's tutorial. These are the cutest things ever and of the 10 or so I have made I actually get to keep this one!

Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt

By now you have probably seen all of the posts about the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt quilt along. I picked this book up from my library last year and loved it but thought it too daunting to tackle. But now with all of this great support and inspiration I thought I'd join in. Yes, there are templates involved with some of the blocks, but I'm choosing to use freezer paper for my templates and it's not too bad.

I've made 5 blocks so far using my Strawberry Fields Layer Cakes. I love how each one is turning out.

This one is my favorite so far.

These are loads of fun to make.

You should join in!

Twister Block Tutorial

 This is my tutorial for the Twister Block also called the Kansas Twister. I saw this is Judie Rothermel's book Aunt Grace's Scrapbag. She used templates.  I only use templates as a last resort! I used so many templates when I first started quilting that I really don't like them much. So I looked at the template and thought of using a strip set for this block. Super fast, fun and easy!

First cut 2 strips 1.5 inches x WOF (width of fabric)

Next sew them right sides together and press toward the printed material (twister blade).

                          (click to make bigger)
 Now you will need to make a ruler out of thick cardboard (this is not a template LOL)  Make a 60 degree triangle. I just laid one edge of my card board on the dotted tringle line on my cutting mat, then lay your ruler on corresponding opposite dotted line. Cut. Then cut 2.5 inches away from the point of the triangle.
 

Now lay your triangle on the strip set. I keep the printed piece on the bottom and the white piece on top. You want your triangle tips to be white ( or the background fabric if not using white).

Now cut on both side of your ruler (cardboard triangle). Slide your ruler and cut again.

Until you have six triangles with white tips. Save your other triangles for a reverse twister.

Lay your pieces out like this.

Sew your block together like this. These 2 first. Press towards the print.

Sew the next piece onto the unit like this.

Now make a bottom unit just like the top unit you just made. Pressing always toward the print.

Now sew the top and bottom units together. Press open the center seem so that it will lay flat. If you pressed toward the print then your seams will meet together perfectly.
That's it!

Make a reverse twister with the extra triangles. Don't they look cute? Like little birdies!

A Sneak Peak and The Generosity of Quilters...

The first thing I want to do is say a HUGE THANK YOU to you ladies who sent and are sending me packages of Flea Market Fancy. Your generosity blows me away. I had the best time swapping fabric with you all. I hope that you liked what you received in return. From what I've heard so far I think I did okay. I am more than over joyed to be opening the packages you've sent to me. My heart flutters each time and I am in awe. If I could give each of you a big hug I would! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Here's a little peak at what I've been making. I took some pieces of Hope Valley that I had left from the Flying Geese Pinwheel quilt I started making last year (yikes, that's still not finished), to make these Twister Blocks. They are so fun.

I found the pattern in this Judie Rothermel book. She uses templates but after looking at it for a sec, I thought I could just make a strip set and a ruler from thick cardboard (think bottom of layer cake package, yes, I save everything.lol). And it was so easy! I will post a min-tutorial next time.

I also doubled the size of mine. I think I love these!

Doll Quilts and a Book Cover

 I've had a stacked coins on my "to do" list for a long time. I finally made one. I had a fabric swap with Lauree over at Flicker. She wanted browns, blues, greys and oranges. I really liked the stacks of fabric together when I was taking pictures for her. I turned some of the pieces into this doll quilt.

 I used a piece of the vintage sheet that I used to back the Arcadia Whirlygig quilt for the back of this quilt. It was a perfect match!

 I didn't do a lot of quilting on this one but I like it.

 I think I am just going to keep making mini's and doll quilts...

                (photo credit Collecting American Country via Wee Wonderfuls)
so I can have a wall like this. Isn't that great?!

 I've been wanting to share these book covers I made. They cover my grandmother's cookbooks. I treasure these books and use them so often.

 I am afraid of them falling apart.

The book(s) is/are Meta Given's Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking. I have learned a lot from these. I love the homemaking tips.

They have the greatest retro pictures too. The inside cover is the best.

I thought this Cosmo Cricket Early Bird fabric would be perfect for them. I used warm and natural batting and muslin backing. I stitched on the "line" of each section of the fabric. It doesn't get easier than that!

Quilting on the String Quilt and a Plea for Flea Market Fancy

 I finished straight line quilting my strings quilt. I got the suggestion from Tong and I love it!!!!

It takes a bit longer to quilt than stippling but it was well worth it. I didn't mark my lines just sorta went with the flow.

 Now I'm hand binding it. I can't wait to wash and crinkle it.

So I'd like to put out a desperate plea to anyone who would be willing to swap some Flea Market Fancy for any fabric I have. I am looking for seeds and posies. 2.5 inches square or bigger. I will over compensate with fabric I have. I can post some pics later or on flicker. Let's see, I have some Arcadia, I have Sweet (sniff, snif..I am willing to give away some of it for this cause :) I have peeps and stripes and flowers on gingham and a few others and all of the colorways) I have some Heather Ross tadpoles in jars on peach. I have some Heather Ross Mendocino shown in these pics. Denyse Schmidts new line for Joann seen in these pics. Lots of different Amy Butler, daisy chain, lotus dots, midwest modern. Lots of reproduction fabric. Tip top elephants (grey and pink). Heather Bailey Fresh cut 4 prints). I have some sherbert pips pink girl on swing, red dogs, pink dogs and aqua people on scooters. Some charm packs momo's  It's a Hoot and Eva by basic grey. all kinds of fabric. If you are interested (please, please, pretty please, with a big fat cherry on top) I would be extremely grateful to you! leave me a comment or e-mail me to work out the details. whynotsew(at)yahoo(dot)com 
Have a happy Sunday!!!

Scrappy String Quilt Progress...How to Quilt It?

I basted my string quilt today. I love this quilt. It isn't just my new favorite but it may be my most favorite of all the quilts I've made. Yes, I'd say it is! It has so many of my favorite fabrics in it. I love looking at it. I think I am also really happy with it because it was completely stress free making it. I just grabbed my strings and strips and away I went and through caution to the wind. I see another in my future for sure.

(I dropped my camera and broke the lens so I had to use our old camera. These pics aren't the greatest. I apologize for that.)

I backed it with the last big piece I had of my favorite vintage sheet. I used this on the back of the Honky Dory Whirlygig quilt. It's funny how the simplest of things make me very happy. To me this is the best quilt ever and it's not even finished yet. I'm glad I get to keep it!!

So how should I quilt it? I was thinking 1/4 inch lines on each side of the horizontal and vertical seams. hmmmm... what do you think?

Also wanted to add I appreciate the comments and opinions about pre-washing. It's good to discuss these things:)