Finished: Farmer's Wife

468 days since my first stitch (my first block was Cut Glass Dish)

111 blocks (I swapped some from the original blocks to ones I preferred)

3413 pieces of fabric - 62 different batiks plus the backing

I learnt and discovered so much with this quilt:

I found Flickr!

I had learned just a week before I found the QAL how to foundation piece, so I decided I would foundation piece, because I didn't know how else to do it.

By March I was quite tired of foundation piecing, so I taught myself how to draught blocks so I could rotary cut - this is perhaps the most valuable skill I've learnt.

I have learnt about colour combinations and value and why some blocks looked awful and others really good - thanks, Mum, for your insights here. This block is one of my favourites - Peaceful Hours

I have learned that I like samplers - I don't get bored, and that I love small patchwork: my mini Swoon was perhaps the ultimate discovery - 81 pieces in a 6" x 6" block!

The quilting is straight lines 1/4" outside each block in a grid pattern, and then further lines echoing the setting triangles. I then bound it in black to frame it

The finished quilt is 100" x 80" (roughly - it's not easy to measure), so photographing it was problematic - we ended up taking it to the Methodist Church and holding it from the balcony - thanks Linda, thanks Aunty Jude

Regular readers - warning - you may get fed up of photos of this quilt over the next few weeks!

This is my first finish for the Finish Along Q4!