2018 Finishes - Farmer's Wife #52

Going back to July 2011, another blogger started a quilt along doing the Farmer's Wife sampler quilt.  This was really popular around that time,  and several bloggers and local quilt shops were doing it either as a quilt along or a BOM.  I had already purchased the book several months earlier (you can purchase one here on Amazon, or anywhere else you want to get a copy.  The local library might have one too.  This sampler is by Laurie Aaron Hird, and has a total of 111 sampler blocks.  The book comes with an accompanying CD rom with all of the templates.  Marti Michell also has most of the templates in acrylic to use with this sampler.

In the book, the first half of the book shows a completed block along with a letter from 1920's wives that inspired each block.  The second half of the book has a page for each block, showing cutting instructions and construction diagrams.  

I jumped all in, really excited.  I printed all the templated out on card stock, cut them out, and started cutting out each block. I blogged about each block I made.  I was so into this sampler, that I opted to do it in two separate color ways.  One in civil war reproductions and the other with a fabric line called Breath of Avignon by American Jane from Moda fabrics.

I used both the acrylic templates and the card stock templates to get each block, then placing the cut pieces in an individual zip lot sandwich baggie for construction at a later date.   Little did I know, until I was in too deep of construction, that the card stock templates were copied at normal printing (which is at about 98%) instead of setting my printer to print them at 100%.   So, many of my blocks were off up to a quarter of an inch.

Some of my blocks came out 6.5 inches and some came out at 6.0 inches.  Panic time!!!  I gave it some serious thought.  One, do I trash the whole project and move on, wasting all that fabric, or two figure out how to make it all work together. 

I took option 2.  I took the framing fabric and added an additional 1/2" to the blocks that were too small, and then framed all the blocks according to the directions.  Anyone looking at it would not see the correction.  It takes only me to know what happened and the fix.  Especially after it was quilted, there is no glaring or even an easily noticeable fix to the error.

I am still working on how to fix the other color way to get that quilt done.  I am guessing this one will fall under my 2019 Finishes.  

To read about my finished quilt on the blogger who started the quilt along, please go here.

Here are some up close pictures of the different blocks and the finished framing and cornerstones, and you can't tell.  

I opted not to add any borders other than the offsetting triangles and bound it with the same fabric I used in framing the blocks.

I tried to get a picture of all the blocks used in the sampler.  Just a note about the blocks done in this sampler.  Remember they are only 6.5" square, and some of them had up to 65 pieces per block.  Sometimes it would take about 2 to 3 hours per block to make.  

This quilt requires lots of time and planning.  

Warmest...

Size: 72" x 84"

Fabric Lines Used:  Civil War Reproductions

Colors:  Black Gold, Orange, Green, red, blue, purple, yellow

Pattern:  The Farmer's Wife

Designer:  Laurie Arron Hird

Long Arm Quilter:  Carol Nelson

Year Began: 2011

Year Completed: 2018

2017 Finishes - Shirt Tails - #36

Well, this is another program quilt, through the Homestead Hearth called Shirt Tails, distributed by Quakertown Quilts, Inc.  designed by Vikie Stipe.    I was a sucker and fell for the fact is was done scrappy and in civil war reproduction fabrics.  The blocks are 9" and sewn into 18' blocks and then with some bonus blocks you have a really scrappy looking quilt.

It is 62"x80" in size.  Like that it is rectangle rather than square.

The following are close ups of the different blocks in this quilt.  I liked doing this quilt as each set of blocks were different and I didn't get bored.

The border is a different take on piano key borders.  This one has a background square at the end of each key, and then laid in opposite directions to create a subtle look about it.  The corner stone blocks are a quilt block rather than just a solid cut piece.  Again, really scrappy!!

I used a dark backing for once, one that fit the style and period of the quilt.

Size: 62" x 80"

Fabric Lines Used:  Various Civil War Reproductions

Colors:  Browns, red, green, blues, pinks

Batting:  Warm & Natural Cotton

Pattern: Shirt Tales by Quakertown Quilts, Inc.

Designer:  Vikie Stipe

Long Arm Quilter:  Carol Logan Nelson

Year Began: 2009

Year Completed: 10/17 

Mini Quilt Club

Yep, I did it again!  I signed up for another program/club this year.  I am a sucker for getting kits in the mail and or a BOM!  

Moving right along, this is a yearly club of mini quilts.  You can view them or sign up here if interested.  It is for 6 quilts, one every other month, for a year.

I signed up because I thought that in doing all my big quilt projects, I would like to do a small project, something that I could get done rather quickly and feel accomplished.  I also liked that these mini quilts will all be done in Civil War Reproduction Fabrics.  That way, when I go to display them, they will have some cohesiveness about them.

This is mini project is called " Mams's Scrapbag".  I was able to make it in two nights.  My only issue with this one is that I didn't not square up my blocks, so my center came out about 2" bigger around on all sides.  So, since there was only enough brown border for the smaller version, I adapted four corner posts from some leftover scraps from the center.

Home machine quilting was another reason I opted to do some of these mini quilts, as I can work on these on my machine.  I opted to do a cross hatch for this mini, and the picture below is the one direction.

Here is a close up of the cross hatching quilting showing both ways on the mini quilt.

 This is a up close look at the finished quilt with the binding all done.

And the final version.  Looks like I need to iron it, as it is been folded in my sewing bag from the weekend.

Warmest...

Little Quilt

I came across this mini quilt in one of my magazines (American Patchwork and Quilting, Oct 2017 issue)  and was inspired by it enough to want to do one myself.  It is called Chocolate Stars by Jo Morton.  She does a line of mini quilts each year for a program called Little Women's Club.  She even has a book out just recently with nothing but these little quilts.   The block in the lower left hand corner in the first picture is an old vintage block that Jo Morton takes and does a remake on that block.

This mini quilt will be done completely by hand.  So, I dug out one of my floss pocket holders and put all the small pieces in to keep them organized and easy to travel with while in the vehicle.

One of the reasons that this mini quilt will be better off done by hand quilting is because it had several set in seams.  These are so much easier to do by hand than by machine.

Here is a partial one done.  

And getting more done on the star block.  

I am enjoying this little quilt and it's process of doing it by hand.  Even if it takes me a year or so....

Warmest...

2017 Finished Quilts - Civil War Scrappy Nine Patch - #27

Again, I am skipping around, I am all done posting the 2016 finishes, and I am onto 2017 finishes.  I am keeping the number system, so I can keep track of the number of quilts I have done.  I have done more than this(just a few is all), but I have just begun recording them beginning with my 2016 New Year's resolution.

I got back four quilts from my long arm quilter the beginning of May of this year.  I have already posted about one of them, as it was a gift that needed to be mailed right away.

This quilt was also a BOM, but this one from Homestead Hearth. The pattern is from the book, Primitive Gatherings, by That Patchwork Place (which had to be bought to do the quilt), and simply called "From the Nineteenth Century Quilt".  Basically it is just a scrappy nine patch.  I posted about finishing the top here.   I organized the blocks so it would be longer and less wider.  I was going to try to make it bigger, but I waited too long to finish this quilt, and I couldn't locate more of the background fabric.  It is a tea stained and spotted muslin by Windham Fabrics.  Instead of taking it apart to make it the correct size, I left it alone and it turned out fine.

When I posted the last 10 quilts on my FB feed, this quilt was most favorite quilt from my friends.  I think people relate more to classic quilts, or old fashioned quilts, rather than the new designs.  I know that I like them the best.  

Close up of the scrappy civil war reproductions used in this quilt.

It has a plain white muslin backing and a tan binding.  I am hoping to tea dye the backing, so it will match the front better.  

Warmest...

Size: 45" X 85"

Fabric Lines Used:  Windham Muslin and various civil war reproduction fabrics

Pattern: 9 patch

Designer:  Primitive Gatherings

Long Arm Quilter:  Carol Logan Nelson

Year Began: 2008

Year Completed: 04/2017

2016 Finished Quilts - A Civil War Tribute - #24

Sorry about being out of order for the quilts I finished this year.  But, as I give them away, or in this instance, sell a quilt, I took some pictures (the best that I could at the time) so I would have some record of them in my blog and my quilt notebook.  As I get them quilts done this year, I have numbered them, and it has helped me keep better track of what I have done and accomplished.  I wish I had started a system like this when I first started making quilts.

This quilt was called "A Civil War Tribute".  This was one of the the biggest quilts I have worked on, one of the most complicated quilts I have had the privilege of being a part of, and one of the most difficult quilt patterns I have ever followed.  I have found the bigger the quilt, the worse the pattern is, and somehow harder to get to come out square.

I confess, that I did choose to make this quilt to the original pattern from the 1800's and in order to get the blocks to come out to the correct size, the seams were 3/8's inch, and 7/16's inch.

You can read all the posts that I wrote about it here, if you are interested in the progress of me working on the blocks.

While at a trade show with my husband, I was spending some down time, hand stitching the binding on this quilt.  Remember it is about 102" X 112', so it was a rather large quilt for hand stitching the binding.  It was taking a lot of the down time (in between customers) to get this one bound.  Another vendor's wife was admiring the quilt, and telling her husband she would give anything to have a quilt like that for their bed.  He came over to ask how much a quilt like that would cost, and I mentioned to him the cost of materials and the amount of time one spends in making a quilt.  He didn't blink an eye, stating that he hadn't gotten anything for his wife for Christmas, and felt this would be perfect since she like it so well.  Sold!

Here is the finished quilt.

A close up view of a corner showing the pieced border and binding.

And lastly a picture of the backing and the quilting done by my long arm quilter.

I'm glad I sold this one, as I didn't like it as much once finished as I did when I signed up for the BOM.  I am so glad someone else will be enjoying it on their bed.  Warms my heart.

Size:102" X 112"

Fabric Lines Used:  Civil War Tribute Collection by Judie Rothermel

Civil War Reproduction fabric from Marcus Fabrics

Pattern: Civil War Tribute 

Designer:  Judie Rothermel

Long Arm Quilter:  Carol Logan Nelson

Year Began: 01/2010

Year Completed: 12/2016

Warmest...

Simple Nine Patch

I pulled out another UFO last week, all the nine patches were put together, except the last month.  So, I finished them up and pieced them together.

This was a BOM, and the pattern was found in this book, Primitive Gatherings.  Had to buy the book to participate in the BOM.

This is a picture from the book showing the finished quilt.

There are several ways you can make a nine patch.  Many designers have come up with efficient and easier ways to make this block.  These women designers use a totally different technique than I had ever done, and the blocks came out better than if I had done it any other way.  

This is my top with the blocks sewn together.  It is made up of civil war reproduction prints and a tea stained muslin.   I just love the simplicity of this quilt.  I am excited to get this one done.

The only draw back of this quilt is I didn't want a square quilt, so I made it longer.  In doing so, it is now not wide enough, and obviously there is no scrap leftovers.  So, I have bought a muslin that is a pretty good match and I will have to tea stain it a bit to be a better match, and will use some of the civil war reproduction scraps from the quilt Civil War Tribute.  

Another work in progress in the queue.

Warmest...

2016 Finished Quilts - Land of Lincoln Sampler - Quilt 7

I have written several posts on this quilt during the construction process of the top.  It is out of civil war reproductions and the top center block has a picture of President Lincoln, thus the name, Land of Lincoln Sampler.

It is more of a wall hanging, lap quilt. as it measures 60" X 60".  Right now, my mom covers up with it for an afternoon nap on occasion.

Here is the picture of President Lincoln, in the center of a block.  Sorry for the shadow of me taking the picture.

The blocks were all different, most I haven't done before, but this kind of project always builds more quilting skills.

The backing is nondescript, just a plain small beige reproduction print.  

The setting blocks between the quilt blocks are five strips of the various fabrics used in the quilt, this was a first for me using this type of setting blocks, and it is a wonderful way to use up leftover fabric, rather than adding another background fabric.  

Next are the specific facts about the quilt:

Size:  60" X 60"

Fabric Lines Used:  Various civil war reproductions, sent in kits in a BOM program.

Pattern:  Land of Lincoln Sampler #244 by Civil War Legacies

Designer:  Carol Hopkins Designs

Long Arm Quilter:  Carol Logan

Year Began:  2011

Year Completed:  2016

Warmest...

Newly Selected UFO BOM

I am still working through the many UFO BOM projects that I have acquired over the past 15 years or so, and have selected this one to work on over the next several months.  

This is called "Quilt Block Sampler", having a total of 84 different blocks to complete the quilt top.  Not going to get bored working on this one, that's for sure.  That's why I stated I would be working on it for the next several months.  It is the kind of BOM that I can work in a block or two in between other projects, and still feel like I am accomplishing the goal of getting this one done.

This is a page out of 23 pages provided as the only direction on cutting out the block and completing the block.  The cutting directions are listed on the left, the completed block is in the middle, and the last picture on the left, is the break apart block, kinda giving direction on how to put the block together.  Most blocks are pieced, but there are a few that are to be paper pieced, and a couple appliquéd.

Here is the big sack, full of individual sacks, each one a block to this quilt, and not sure if you can really tell from the picture, but the fabric is civil war reproductions.  The company, Homestead Hearth, is where I purchased this program/project about 5 years ago.  I know they are not carrying this BOM any more, but they have over 30 BOM's to choose from at any given time, so I am sure you could find something very similar to this one.

I am including a picture of the finishing kit package, as the sack is representative of Homestead Hearth Quilt Shop.  I know where I received the BOM from, just by the packaging they use.  They have always used this paper pattern sack to ship all of their monthly programs out.  I think it is endearing the different ways quilt shop identify themselves to their customers.  

Warmest...