Granny, Jenny, Addie, Margaret, Milly – Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt

This set of blocks from the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt saw me use a mixture of techniques, and a new machine thrown into the mix! Why does that matter? Because it means I’m still getting used to where the 1/4″ seam is in relation to the new style foot, as well as adjusting to the machine’s power and finding the sweet spot on the pedal. But it’s definitely in a very good way!

Granny

This is actually the first block I pieced a while back using the From Marti Mitchell templates! As an official blogger, I was actually gifted all the template sets needed. I’m still going to be using a mixture of methods, but for the simpler blocks like Granny, I will step outside my comfort zone and use the templates. It’s been an interesting process, learning to work with such small pieces, as you’ll see later on with Addie… But for Granny? They worked really well!

Kate Spain: Verna, Daydream
Hello Kitty: Osaka (local okonomiyaki)
Aurifil: 2435

Jenny

This block was the very first proper thing I pieced on my new machine, as opposed to just testing on scraps! I paper pieced this block, and I love how it turned out. This is a block you have to mirror image print the foundation paper piecing templates, a frustrating quirk of this book that thankfully only effects a few blocks. As I’d already printed out the templates before working this out, I just traced the lines onto the back of the templates and then paper pieced as usual.

Kate Spain: Solstice, Horizon
Hello Kitty: Enoshima Train
Aurifil: 5017

Addie

Oh Addie, Addie, Addie… This was another block where I tried using the templates, but we had a bit of a fight this time. Mainly due to the fact that I was still adjusting to the new machine’s 1/4″ seam. I think I managed to fudge my way through it alright, without losing too many points and ending up roughly square, ha! Live and learn, people, live and learn.

Kate Spain: Flurry, In From The Cold, Joy
Hello Kitty: Tokyo Tower
Aurifil: 2250

Margaret

Having battled with Addie, Margaret and Milly were a breath of fresh air! They were both pieced using the standard method of making two HSTs at a time, and despite dealing with so many small half-square triangles, it came together so well! If I had to choose a favourite so far, it’d be Margaret – it’s extremely similar to Milly, but it’s blue and involves a star!

Kate Spain: Sunnyside, Solstice
Hello Kitty: Kyoto (or maybe Osaka… My husband and I each bought the exact same kimono-ed Kitty, one from each place, and the only difference is the string colour…)
Aurifil: 2715

Milly

When choosing fabrics for Milly, I kept to the same number of prints as in the book, but swapped the dark blue value for the lighter yellow and orange “daisies” print in the middle. I like that it sinks into the background and lets the other prints create pinwheels! I should also point out that for both Margaret and Milly, you could easily use the alternative method of making 4 HSTs at a time, but I used the standard method as it worked much better for being able to use my limited charm squares instead!

Kate Spain: Sunnyside, Daydream, 12 Days Of Christmas
Hello Kitty: Doctor Yellow (research and testing shinkansen)
Aurifil: 3920

You can follow my progress on Flickr, or on Instagram – @blossomheartquilts and #thespanishfarmerbhq – and see all my blog posts for my Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt.

Important Links

• All the block tutorials by Angie and bloggers.
• Any and all FAQs for the sew along.