Farmer's Wife Quilt week 17

A week late with this post but last week I was busy getting ready for a jelly roll workshop on Saturday. Nineteen ladies who mostly finished their 60 blocks for a garden trellis quilt in the one day. Photos to follow.

62 Old windmill



63 Ozark maple



Some quilted quilts will follow tomorrow.

Second charity quilt

Thank you to Val once again for letting me practise on three charity quilts she has put together with her Thimbleberries Block of the Month leftovers. The use of the ferny yellow fabric and a selection of creams gives a lighter feel than you would usually expect from a Thimbleberries quilt. There is a story to that yellow fabric that I'll allow Val to share.








Fabric: Thimbleberries from various Blocks of the Month over a number of years
Quilting pattern: Trailing leaves
Thread: Karnak - King Tut for Superior Threads

I've learned a few things from this quilt:
* don't be mean with the wadding and backing
* A tension gauge will be a good investment
* I want to order some 100% cotton wadding in for clients or 80/20 but no polyester

Farmer's Wife Quilt week 16

Since returning from holiday I have been getting to grips with my Handiquilter and unpicking something I wasn't happy with, so sewing has taken a back seat. However in the company of crafty friends, Lorraine and Jenny, I had a bit of a sew on Thursday, completing one block started on holiday and finishing another from scratch. I don't think there are any simple blocks left for me to do now,so progress will be a bit slower.

46 Hill & valley


26 cut glass dish

Val's charity quilt

I had a few niggles after installing the Prostitcher on the Handiquilter, but I locked the legs as suggested and then the problem moved so I got out the Allen keys and the carriage was moving properly again. So I nervously loaded Val's quilt on to the leaders and I'm delighted with the results. Once the tension was just right you can leave it to the stitch the row for you. Well in theory you can, but I was mesmerised by it working and also nervous it would run out of bobbin thread or the top thread would break, neither of which happened.











Fabric: Thimbleberries from various Blocks of the Month over a number of years
Quilting pattern: Blustery breeze
Thread: Karnak - King Tut for Superior Threads

I've learned a few things from this first quilt:
* backings need to be absolutely square
* don't be mean with the wadding
* By making the pattern about a quarter of an inch bigger on each row I could have avoided a half row at the bottom
* I can do a pantograph and crop it for the last row

Farmer's Wife Quilt week 15

Whilst I was away I put together more than a few Farmer's Wife blocks which I pictured below. I think my progress is going to slow up now as all the easier blocks are done.



Caesarea Quilters has over 70 members and meets on the third Monday of every month and we have incorporated the Farmer's Wife Sampler into our programme for the next 14 months. We are introducing it this month with a talk about fabric choices and the first four blocks which are simple strips and squares. I know members are getting ready as I have been getting lots of questions. Don't worry ladies - we will be handing out rotary cutting instructions every month to make the four blocks demonstrated that month.

Farmer's Wife Quilt week 14

Travelling home tomorrow from our holiday. Here are just a few more of the blocks, 32 now done, 79 more to do!!

107 windblown square


91 strawberry basket