Block 68 of the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt is Mrs Fay. I couldn’t bring myself to face any more y-seams after battling a 4-year old with a viral infection and conjunctivitis on top of my own bout of illness so I was ever so grateful for Marti Michell’s conversion chart and templates. I’ve made Mrs Fay using the templates and she went together so quickly it was brilliant.  You can get the chart by clicking here.

I’ve finished all the blocks I needed for my Fat Quarter Shop version of the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt so from now on you’ll only get one version of the block done in a single colour way. I hope you still enjoy seeing these block as much as I do. Now for the tutorial.

Tutorial: Block #68 “Mrs Fay”

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 Perfect Patchwork Templates Set B and From Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates Set N.
• I used  Flatter by Soak in Yuzu 248ml as my starch.

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.

Please note:  Please read all instructions before starting the block.

1. Using the From Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates Set B and From Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates Set N cut the required pieces as per the conversion chart. Diagram 1 shows the pieces laid out as per block diagram and with the template numbers overlaid. 

2. I chained pieced the units together to speed up the process. Join the pieces as per diagram 2.

3. Join units as per diagram 3 to make squares.

4. Join squares to make three rows as per diagram 4.

 

11. Join rows to complete your block. Congratulations you’ve made Mrs Fay!

 

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).

Disclaimer: 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!