Patience is the next block in our Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt Sew-along and it’s probably the block that most people thought we would start with. The block is a simple 9 patch, however unlike 9 patch blocks it doesn’t have 9 distinct pieces of fabric, in fact it’s a bit unusual in that the same fabrics “touch” in the block. (Which begs the question “Why do it as a 9 patch?”.) This tutorial will show you how to make the block as outlined in the book, however Marti Michell’s conversion chart will show you a way to combine the piecing to reduce seams and bulk. You can do them either way. I’ve made my Fat Quarter Shop version as per the book and my scrappy version as per the Marti Michell way. I did this because the book version allows for fussy cutting of a favourite fabric to highlight the pieces of it you love, while the Marti Michell version allows you to show off more of the fabric. It just depends on what look you’re going for.

 

Tutorial: Block #79 “Patience”General Information

• I pressed my seams open.
• I used a Schmetz 70/10 needle.
• I used 50wt Aurifil #2600 (Dove) thread for piecing.
• I used the From Marti Michell Patchwork Templates Set B.
• I used  Flatter by Soak in Yuzu 248ml as my starch.
• Fabrics shown in the tutorial are from the Gnome Angel Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Bundle from Fat Quarter Shop.

If you’d like to know “My Top 10 Beginners Patchworking Tools” you can find them by clicking here.

Measurements for the pieces needed to construct this block will not be provided in this tutorial. It is a pre-requiste of making this block that you have a copy of the book, The Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt: Inspiring Letters from Farm Women of the Great Depression and 99 Quilt Blocks That Honor Them by Laurie Aaron Hird – available from: Amazon | Pink Door Fabrics | Fat Quarter Shop | The Quilting Company | Interweave (Affiliate Links).  Measurements can be found in this book and it’s associated media.

On Point Blocks

Please note I am not doing my blocks on-point. If you are fussy cutting your blocks please be mindful of your fabric placement so that the motif will sit correctly if you decide to put your blocks on-point.

Conversion Chart

You can find the From Marti Michell Patchwork Template Conversion Charts by clicking here.

Helpful Links & Videos

Marti Michell shows you how to cut using your ruler and templates:

For another video on this template set click here.

How to Make the Block

General advice:

• Tolerance Levels: you need to decide what is an acceptable tolerance level for “mistakes”. For example if your blocks are consistently 6¼” instead of 6.5″ are you ok with this. Or if your seams matching are less than an eight of an inch “off” are you ok with this. There’s no hard or fast rule and it’s different for everyone, so remember it’s your quilt so make your decision for you.
• Press your seams at each step. Click here for a great article on how to press your seams for patchwork.
• You can iron and starch your fabric prior to cutting. I also starch when pressing bulky seams.
• When pinning, pin away from you so that you don’t move your pieces when pinning.
• Where possible I chain piece all the pieces I can in one step. If you’re unsure of what chain piecing is, click here for a tutorial on how to do it. However, for the purpose of the tutorials I will step you through all the seams individually.

1. Use your rotary cutter and ruler to cut all pieces required for the block as per the instructions in the book. Cutting instructions can be found on the disc that came with the book. Block directions are located on page 238. You can also use the cutting instructions on the conversion chart. I have used the From Marti Michell Patchwork Templates Set B to cut the pieces required to make the block as shown in the book. However you can use the accompanying conversion chart combined with the From Marti Michell Patchwork Templates Set B and From Marti Michell Patchwork Templates Set D to make the alternative version of the block.2. Join the first 79A to the second 79A in each row as per diagram 2. You can chain piece this step.

3. Join the last 79A to the first and second 79A in each row as per diagram 3. You can chain piece this step.4. Join the bottom row to the middle row.

5. Join the top row to the block, and in a time quicker than it took for me to type this tutorial you’ve made Patience!

 

Book Details

The Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt: Inspiring Letters from Farm Women of the Great Depression and 99 Quilt Blocks That Honor Them by Laurie Aaron Hird – available from: Amazon | Pink Door Fabrics | Fat Quarter Shop | The Quilting Company | Interweave (Affiliate Links).

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase those items through my links I will earn a very small commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link, in fact in some cases I can offer you a better price via an affiliate link. I will not recommend something that I do not use myself. These commissions help me keep being able to provide you with great content for free. Thank you, in advance for your support!