The Farmer Takes A Wife and She Quilts! Plus a GIVEAWAY!

Our Facebook Group has formed and we are undertaking the making of The 1920's version of The Farmer's Wife.  I am making some blocks in advance of our jumping off point. Initially I was thinking we would just go through the blocks from 1- 111 but then after some careful consideration about the skill levels of a variety of quilters I have decided to start out with some very easy blocks and build on the skills as we go along. I don't want folks getting discouraged right out of the box. This is a distance marathon and not a sprint.

First things first. If you don't have the book, get it. If you can't find it at your LQS then order online. Amazon.com and Missouri Star Quilt Company both carry it. Make sure if you are purchasing a used book that your copy comes with the Template CD which should be included with the book at no extra charge.

Next thing to do is join our Facebook quilt along group at this link

Sister of The Divide Group Sew Along  You will see this photo at the top of the page and you'll know you are in the right spot. 

This group is for folks of all skill levels. No matter if you are just starting to learn to quilt or you are a seasoned skilled quilter...all are welcome. If you have already started your Farmer's Wife and you are a ways along already but may need a little encouragement to make it to your finish line...we welcome you...please share your work no matter where you are in the process. Please feel free to offer constructive suggestions to those that may not be as far along as you are or need help with their piece work. Operative word there is constructive. Mama always said, if you haven't got something nice to say, keep your mouth shut.

Some things to gather: Now this depends on whether you are hand stitching or machine stitching.With my hands...I will most certainly be machine stitching. A sewing machine, neutral thread, scissors for clipping, a rotary cutter, a 12" ruler for rotary cutting strips, a 6 1/2" ruler for squaring up, (it is also very helpful but optional to have a 2 1/2" square ruler and a 2 1/2" clear fussy cut ruler.You can use your 6 1/2 square up ruler for both of these) a rotary cutting mat, a seam ripper, your iron and ironing board, a sharp pencil or chalk marking pencil or mark b gone pen.

There are a couple things to remember when you are sewing...very important to have an accurate 1/4" seam allowance and very important to press your seams open all the way. I always stress this when piecing, but with 6" blocks you will need to be attentive to this or your pieces will be wonkie and you will be unhappy. Your blocks will stitch out at 6 1/2" they are called 6" blocks because once you get them in the quilt, if you took a measure of the block size, that 1/2" would be in your seam allowances and it would measure finished at 6".

There are several ways to figure out if you have a proper 1/4" seam allowance. You can cut two pieces of fabric measuring 2" square and you can stitch them together. Press them open and you should have a measure of 3 1/2". If you are bigger then you are taking too small a bite, if you are short, then you are taking too big a bite. All of that can be easily accomplished by getting Bonnie Hunters Sewing Machine Seam Guide, shown in the photo above. You simply place it under your needle, drop your needle down and you can mark exactly where your 1/4" is for any machine that you are sewing on. Best $4.00 you will ever spend.

Double sided scotch tape or little tape tabs like you would use for scrapbooking will be helpful if you are using the templates. I will talk more about this later. Not essential to begin with. But you can keep it in mind.

Let's talk for a minute about fabric. 100% cotton. Get out your scraps, think about a color scheme or just enjoy yourself and see where it takes you. This is such a fun quilt to play with, you can go in any direction. You can use vintage civil war repro fabrics for a very traditional look, 1920-30's repro fabrics for that fun, bright look, you can go with a color scheme...maybe you like blues and whites, It can be anything you want it to be...there is no "right" color scheme. I am using Red, White, Black and Gray for my color scheme with a toss in of random color here and there. Have fun with it! Make it yours. You don't have to have everything matching...and you don't have to purchase yards of fabric to start...remember, these are 6" blocks! A little fabric to start will go a long way.

So whether you are starting, in process or close to the finish line, come join us, share your journey and let's have some fun making The Farmer's Wife Quilt.

And as an added Bonus this month, we are giving away the quilt pattern "Farm Grown" designed by Annalee Leonard of Daydreams Quilt N Sew in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Along with a $25 gift certificate to her shop for you to use as you wish.

To Enter: LIKE our Facebook page Sister of The Divide 

                COMMENT telling me what you like about farm life

                SHARE our Facebook page with your friends

That's all, nothing to purchase ever...this is just for fun and to encourage quilting. Good Luck! Drawing will be held on August 31st, 2017 and announced on our Facebook page on September 1st. We will contact the winner through their Facebook message option as well as announcing it on the Facebook page. 

Be sure to visit Annalee's shop, Daydreams Quilt N Sew located at 802 Pancheri Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho, if you can't get by in person, visit her website at https://www.daydreamsquilts.com/ She has a beautiful selection of fabrics, great patterns, books, notions, thread...just everything you need for quilting.