Autumn is the last block of Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt for 2015! Amazing really to think that we’ve been at it now for three months and after today we’ll have made 28 of the 99 blocks. I really love the look of Autumn, it reminds me of a gift with a bow for some reason which is kind of fitting given the time of year. This was the first really small piecing and cutting that we’ve done and it’s great that it’s a little more forgiving with the points.

I had fun fussy cutting both these versions of Autumn. I’m so happy with that flamingo that’s framed in the middle tiny square. However, I’m not happy with that rogue flamingo that I put in upside down. Don’t be surprised if I unpick it and move it while we’re having our break (there’s actually a couple of blocks I’ll probably be doing again during the break!). I’m also quietly happy that I managed to use just two fabrics (well three because of those four little strips in the middle, but lets not talk about those) for my flamingo block but through fussy cutting for the negative space in the Constellation fabric it looks like I used a solid as well. This is a fun block and I’m thinking I might make a few more in my future.

 

Tutorial: Block #9 “Autumn”

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  Marti Michell My Favourite 6.5″ Squaring Up Ruler, From Marti Michell Patchwork Templates Set B and From Marti Michell Patchwork Templates Set N.
• I used Flatter by Soak in Yuzu 248ml as my starch.
• I used washi tape to help mark out my fussy cutting.
• 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. Measurements can be found in this book and it’s associated media.

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)

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. A note on fussy cutting: If you’d like to fussy cut your pieces for this block I found it handy to put some washi tape on my ruler to mark out the measurement I needed. This helped me to visualise the area that would be on display when the block was made. Remember you need to factor in the seam allowance and what will be lost in that space when the block is made. Diagram 1 shows an example of how I marked out my cut lines. (Ruler pictured is the Marti Michell My Favourite 6.5″ Squaring Up Ruler – it’s awesome and it’s now my go-to all purpose ruler.) If you’d like to know more about fussy cutting, see other’s work with fussy cutting or share your own fussy cutting be sure to check out my Facebook Group, The Fussy Cutters Club. 2. 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 168. You can also use the cutting instructions on the conversion chart. I have used the Conversion Chart,  Marti Michell My Favourite 6.5″ Squaring Up Ruler, From Marti Michell Patchwork Templates Set B and From Marti Michell Patchwork Templates Set N to cut the pieces required to make the block as shown in the book.

3. You can chain piece this entire block, however I’m going to show you each step. Let’s start with the middle. Think of it as a small 9 piece block on it’s own. Join the first pieces of each row of the middle block, as shown in Diagram 3.4. Now join the last pieces in each row of the middle block as shown in Diagram 4.

5. Once you’ve made your three rows you’ll join them together. Start with joining the top row to the middle row as shown in Diagram 5.6. Join the bottom row to the block to complete the middle block.

7. Now you’ll add the large triangles to the middle block. Add one triangle as per Diagram 7.

8. Add the opposite triangle as per Diagram 8.

9. Repeat with the remaining triangles to make your larger centre square as per Diagram 9.10. I chain pieced this step to make it faster. You want to join all the little triangles in their pairs to make Half Square Triangles (HSTs).

11. I chain pieced this step to make it faster. You’re now going to make the components to make the three rows in this block. We’re going to join the HSTs to the rectangles (9C). Start with one end as per Diagram 11.

12. I chain pieced this step to make it faster. Join the remaining HST units to the opposite ends of the rectangle (9C).

13. This is where you need to think of the block in terms of rows. There’s three rows; 2 skinny (top and bottom) and 1 large (middle). Join the 9D pieces to the ends of your top and bottom rectangle and HST units as per Diagram 13.

Join a rectangle and HST unit to the middle large square as per Diagram 13.14. Repeat for the other side of the rows, as per diagram 14.

15. Join the bottom row to the middle row as per Diagram 16. 16. Join the top row to your block and Deck the Halls you’ve made Autumn!

Accompanying Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt Block Tutorial

When I hosted the 2015 Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt Sew-Along I had some blogging friends jump in and make the blocks and share their thoughts, tips, tricks and alternative fabric choices with everyone. These tutorials provided a great way for participants to find some new bloggers to follow, learn more about the craft we all love and get some alternative ideas for fabrics and colours.

You can find this blocks accompanying tutorial here*: Kitty @ Night Quilter

*Please note: Where possible I will link to the accompanying tutorial, however given the time that has elapsed since the first event in some cases the tutorial may be missing. In this case I will link to the blogger directly so that you can check out their work.

 

 

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!