Wednesday, March 22, 2023

A Farmer's Wife Sampler Top

Farmer's Wife Sampler
66 x 84
It's a top! Finally!

The theme here this month in my little sewing space is 1930s. I blogged earlier this month about some Farmer's Wife Sampler blocks I started in 2011 made of '30s reproduction fabrics. I made some blocks but didn't want to make all the blocks included in the Farmer's Wife Sampler (FWS) so came up with an idea to use an alternate block - Quarter Square Triangles (QSTs) - and to add in some 6 inch old swapped blocks made with '30s repros.   I chose to use some Kona Spring Green I had on hand for the QSTs because it is very close to the green my grandmother, a farmer's wife, used in her quilts.   How do I know that? Well, I inherited an old worn out quilt of my grandmother's and I made my version of that quilt and have a photo of them side by side as you can see below.

My grandma inspired quilt next to my grandma's quilt with their green borders. 



So, anyway...back to my FWS.   I didn't want to fuss around all that much with the block layout so randomly sewed blocks together.  If I had fussed around I would probably still be fussing (I never come up with the perfect arrangement) so why bother with all the fuss? After I made the top with the alternate blocks it looked incomplete around the edges so I added a border all around of Flying Geese and rectangles so it would complete the Square in Square look around the blocks. 

And now I'm so glad I moved that old UFO forward! 

Hooray for Farmer's Wives and for Grandmas! 

And sew on...

 

19 comments:

Podunk Pretties said...

Beautiful! Now I'm thinking I need some of that green!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

it seems like you have had many finished tops lately - congratulations!

Kigwit said...

That turned out beautifully!

Gretchen Weaver said...

That green was really popular back then. I also have a couple older quilts, one made by my grandmother and other one is from her sister. Both use that green. Your quilt is beautiful!

JCH said...

Very pretty with the green. I have this quilt on the go too. I think I have made one block. :0

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I love the blocks set with alternating quarter square triangles. Green is the color I think of most often with the 30s related quilts too. Is this one going to be hand quilted?

Linda said...

What a great flimsy. Like how you alternated the QSTs with the FWS blocks. Shows them off even more. Love seeing your quilt alongside your Grandma's lovely one.

Deanna said...

I finished a three (sort of four) generation butterfly quilt similar to yours. Such an adventure. You can see it here: https://weddingdressblue.wordpress.com/2019/11/09/mina-opals-butterfly-quilt-complete/

Linda Swanekamp said...

Oh, the QSTs look wonderful in this quilt. They pull all the other blocks together. The spring green is refreshing, yet vintage feeling. You did a great job getting all done.

Kaja said...

That is a really lovely shade of green, it makes a perfect foil for all the bright colours in the bocks. The photo of your quilt next to your Grandma's is fabulous - I love the idea of a pair made in different times by different people - hooray for Grandmas indeed.

Julie in GA said...

Those QST blocks are a great alternate to the Farmer's Wife blocks, and the green you used is perfect! I love seeing the two butterfly quilts; both are gorgeous!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Hooray indeed! Whenyou blogged about this one earlier I had a feeling it would be wonderful and it really is. I love the extra border and how it allows those outside blocks to breathe. YOU DID IT SO WELL!

Beth H said...

Oh!!! Quarter Square Triangles. How many time did I read that before I realized you had not set the blocks on point!?
I love that clever management of sampler blocks!!!
I am totally using that idea some day! I have been getting good at QSTs, so i am happy to use them to fill out a top.
Awesome idea. Thank you.

Nann said...

The QSTs are the ideal setting for the FW blocks. And, yes--there can be too much fussing. Best to stop before fussing becomes frustration. [And for once I followed my own advice last evening.]

Quilter Kathy said...

I love this layout! What a beautiful sampler quilt!

Ivani said...

The alternating quarter square triangles was a great idea. Maybe I copy this for my The Farmer's Wife Pony Club blocks.

Kathleen said...

Is that poison green, do you think?

gorgeous quilt...

Chantal said...

Congrats on moving a UFO out of the drawer. It turned out great. I love what you did at the last border. It finishes the quilt perfectly. Bravo! ;^)

Allison said...

Great quilts! Really good idea to make the Flying Geese border to complete the QSTs. Using the colours from your Grandmother's quilts really does give the quilt top an instant vintage look.