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A Farming Update



I have 76 Farmer's Wife blocks in black and batik. Two weeks ago I bought a few more batiks and I have just 35 blocks left to stitch. I have been through the book looking at the blocks that are left. I've been very careful and not left all of the difficult ones to last, though there are a few scary ones left. There are also some dead simple ones, thank goodness.

But I have left some of the blocks I really don't like. Why make blocks I don't like? Very early on I decided not to do blocks #3 Basket and #35 Flower Basket because the appliqued handles were the only curved lines on the quilt and I don't think they're in keeping. I've now found another 6 blocks that I won't be doing: #33 Farmer's Puzzle (I think it looks a bit like a Swastika); #42 Fruit Basket; #45 Grape Basket; #67 Pine Tree; #91 Strawberry Basket; and #95 Temperance Tree. Can you spot the pattern - I don't like basket blocks..... I'm also not sure about #88 Star of Hope, because there is an awful lot of "background"...I'll make it and see if I'm happy with it...

But to keep up to 111 finished blocks, I found some alternatives and started drafting them. I've already made a mini Swoon block as one replacement. I managed to fit in some sewing over the weekend and this is my replacement for block #42 Fruit Basket. It's called Woven Four Patch and comes from a book called 100 Traditional and Contemporary Quilt Blocks.
Yesterday I prepared another 6 blocks - cutting the fabric and drawing out the foundation patterns for a few of the awkward blocks all ready to stitch.

I am really enjoying these little blocks. Last summer Mum found some fabrics she liked for a quilt for their spare bed. We've looked at a lot of patterns but we've settled on another Farmer's Wife quilt. It won't need the full 111 blocks because Mum would like a piano keys border. Here are the fabrics. I will have to be careful to get the right contrast, but I think it will be beautifully subtle after my batik version.We're using the yellowy creams as background and then I'll fussy cut the other fabrics as there is a lot of variety of colour within the fabrics. I won't be starting this quilt just yet though.

Comments

Karen M said…
I love the contrast you have in your Farmer's Wife blocks. Very striking. Good luck finishing up.
aksherry said…
Wow! Your Farmers Quilt in those batiks are wonderful!
I'm impressed that your are going to do another one! It is going to look so different!
Greta said…
So I'm usually not a fan of batiks but your farmer's wife quilt looks so stunning like this. I love that you went with black which makes it pop so nicely.
i like that woven four patch block.
Claudia said…
It's great to see the progress and looks wonderful so far. I admire you for thinking of tackling another FWQ!

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