The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 35 Flower Basket

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 35 Flower Basket

This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 35 Flower Basket. I almost completed this little block over a year ago and intended to put something in the basket, but on my final analysis, it was going to look to heavy, so I went back to the original and stuck a handle on it.  In my opinion, there were way too many basket blocks in this quilt - they are not my favourite.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 99 WCTU

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 99 WCTU

This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 99 WCTU.  I am guessing the WCTU is like the WI? 
Once this was finished it looked a bit wobbly.  I gave it a good steam, but it is going to take removing the papers and sewing it to the final quilt to make it work.
Only 3 to go!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 106 Wild Rose and Square

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 106 Wild Rose and Square

Is this my first outdoor shoot for 2020? I think so.  This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 106 Wild Rose and Square. Very pretty.
The countdown is close as there are only 5 more to go and then I will give you all a BIG REVEAL of the blocks I have done so far.  But then what?  The final layout has not been worked out and I don't have another set of blocks waiting int he wings (but I do have plenty of books with some in!).

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 80 Single Wedding Star

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 80 Single Wedding Star

Today I am presenting the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 80 Single Wedding Star.  The current situation is allowing these to progress at an alarming rate - alarming because I don't know if I have enough to keep me quiet for the next week. I am SO near the end.
Personally I am feeling overwhelmed by the number of Quilt-Alongs and projects that seem to be currently thrown at me from all directions.  As if I don't have enough projects of my own to tackle! At the moment I am taking the situation to take breath and take the opportunity to live a less frantic life. I have plenty of projects waiting in the wings for when the moment takes me.
Joining with Slow Stitching Sunday

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 82 Spider Legs

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 82 Spider Legs

There are 44 pieces in this 4.5" Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 82 Spider Legs.  There is always a little panic when I see such small pieces, but once they are sewn to the next one, it is already a bigger piece, so the worry soon goes.
Current circumstances have meant that I have pulled out my Farmer's Wife bag to do at home.  Usually I save it for trips or waiting rooms, but that won't be happening for a while ....

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 76 Sawtooth

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 76 Sawtooth

It has been a while since I finished a Farmer's Wife quilt block, so I have started to put a bit of effort in as there are so few left to do.
This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 76 Sawtooth.  Lots of little triangles on the edge which needed a bit of persuasion to lie flat, but  it looks OK in the picture.
Meanwhile, my other quilts, including my Nearly Insane and Dear Jane sampler quilts are touring the UK with Grosvenor Shows.  They will be in Duxford next weekend.

Joining up with Slow Stitching Sunday.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 88 Star of Hope

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 88 Star of Hope

While many of you are waiting for the final part of Bonnie Hunter's 2019 Frolic Mystery, I am quietly sewing up the last few Farmer's Wife blocks. The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 88 Star of Hope is the next in line and I was pleased to finish it over one evening.
With the New Year in full flow, do you have a sampler quilt which you have your eye on?

Joining up with Slow Stitching Sunday 

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 77 Seasons

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 77 Seasons

This is the first Farmer's Wife block I have done in 2020 - The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 77 Seasons block.  This was a quick win with just nine pieces, a great way to kick start the piecing for 2020.  I think I just have nine blocks left to do and then to decide how I am going to put them together.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 75 Rosebud

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 75 Rosebud

I had a lucky find this morning - I was looking in my English Paper Piecing travel bag and I found this completed block sitting at the bottom, the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 75 Rosebud block.  It looks like quite a simple block, but there are 28 pieces in it.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 87 Star Gardener

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 87 Star Gardener

Getting all these Farmer's Wife Quilt blocks together is within touching distance with about 10 to go. This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 87 Star Gardener - pretty pinks, pretty greens.
Joining with Kathy at Slow Sunday.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 79 Silver Lane

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 79 Silver Lane

Some of the little Farmer's Wife blocks I am working through at the moment have quite a few pieces.  This one, the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 79 Silver Lane, has over 40 pieces in a 4.5" block.  I cut out the pieces many months ago in April 2019 - I love that I fussy cut the white pieces!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 49 Honeycomb

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 49 Honeycomb

Here is a block I finished a while ago, which is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 49 Honeycomb.  I thought some bees would appreciate to flowers to collect some honey when I was choosing the fabric.

Joining up with Slow Stitching Sunday!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 90 Storm Signal

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 90 Storm Signal

Here is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 90 Storm Signal - the same pretty colours I have used throughout the quilt. 

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 89 Steps to the Alter

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 89 Steps to the Alter

My Farmer's Wife Quilt continues. As we enter into December it makes me wonder if I could get all the blocks done by the end of 2019? This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 89 Steps to the Alter quilt block which I finished hand piecing last night.  When I was faced with all the little pieces in a bag it was hard to imagine how this block came together, but when I cut it out (back in April 2019), I was sensible enough to take a photo for reference. 

Linking up with Kathy for Slow Stitching Sunday

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 94 Tall Pine Tree

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 94 Tall Pine Tree

This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 94 Tall Pine Tree.  Not the most elegant of blocks, but I tried to make it interesting by having two tones of green and I made sure that the wording in the print was all going in the same direction.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 98 Waterwheel

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 98 Waterwheel

Another outside shot, whilst I catch the last rays of the Autumn sun. Last week here in the UK we had some snow in November - it didn't last for long, but I think it must be the earliest I have ever seen snow.
This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 98 Waterwheel. With the winter nights, my regular weekly slot of watching Strictly Come Dancing on a Saturday night is helping these little blocks come together nicely.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 107 Windblown Square

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 107 Windblown Square

This is The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 98 Waterwheel.  Today I thought I would show you an 'in progress' shot.  I carry my English Paper Piecing around a lot, so for convenience I usually lay my little pieces out on a teatowel. It is quite grippy and if I need to stand up or move it suddenly, they can be neatly folded up and put to the side without too much disruption.
Have a happy sewing day!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 107 Windblown Square

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 91 Strawberry Basket

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  91 Strawberry Basket

It is the end of October and here in the UK we have a bright sunny morning, so I thought I would take advantage of the lovely weather to do an outside shoot for my Farmer's Wife block today. The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  91 Strawberry Basket is the latest of blocks which I have been stitching whilst the dancing is on the television.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 84 Block Spool

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  84 Block Spool

I think we must have all done this block at some time in our quilt life.  This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  84 Block Spool.  I tried to get the striped fabric in the middle to look like wound thread!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) - October 2019 Update

Farmer's Wife Quilt blocks

About this time of year I like to give an update on the progress of my current project - The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's).   It doesn't look like much has been done since the last update, but the pile of blocks has definitely got bigger and I know that I have cut all the papers and pieces to complete the final blocks.

Farmer's Wife Quilt blocks

I have done 91 blocks which means there are only 20 remaining.  As I have often said, there is no hurry.  At the moment this project really is a background project, but maybe with the winter nights drawing in, I may be spending some more time by the fire in front of the telly.  Once I have made all the blocks I need to make a decision about how I am going to set them - too many choices!

Farmer's Wife Quilt blocks

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 102 Whirlpool

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 102 Whirlpool

So glad to be making quiet progress with these blocks.  This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 102 Whirlpool. It looks like a traditional block, so I expect it also has some other names - do you know of any?  

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 100 Weathervane

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 100 Weathervane

As well as being a the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 100 Weathervane, this is a traditional block which you may find elsewhere.  My local quilt group had a challenge 'WEATHER' recently and this was the only idea I came up with, but with my slow stitching, it never came to fruition. I will bank it for a future group challenge.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 105 Goose Chase

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 105 Goose Chase

Don't look too closely at this one. The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 105 Goose Chase at this stage is a bit distorted and I am relying on the sashing / neighbouring block to tame it in submission.  I often get queries about this problem with regard to English paper piecing.  As I said, I hope the neighbouring piece will bring it back, then once the paper is removed the fabric will relax a bit, and finally the wadding and the quilting will fill it out.  That's the plan, but meanwhile I will press on with the remaining blocks.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 93 Swallow

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 93 Swallow

Thank goodness for Strictly Come Dancing - I have finally found a regular slot each week to get some of these blocks done. This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 93 Swallow - yeah I guess I can just about see a swallow in that block - what do you think?
Linking with Slow Stitching Sunday

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 103 Whirlwind

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 103 Whirlwind

So many of these Farmer's Wife blocks have similar names, it is easy to confuse them.  This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 103 Whirlwind, 102 is Whirlpool, then there is 105 Wild Goose Chase and 104 Wild Geese. I think my chart for tracking my progress is correct, but I am ready for any nasty surprises at the end! 

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 110 Wood Lily

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 110 Wood Lily

I enjoyed this Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 110 Wood Lily, mainly because it had lots of pieces in it which makes for more interesting fabric combinations and a more challenging block to piece.  In total I think there are 57 pieces in this 4.5" block.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 78 Shooting Star (front and back)

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 78 Shooting Star

For some reason this block took me ages to get together. It wasn't difficult, it just seemed to be the victim of my lack of time.  This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 78 Shooting Star and for a treat I have included a picture of both  the front and the back for you.  As well as the English Paper Piecing technique, it shows you how I code each piece and once done I put the block number on for reference.  I hope you are having a happy stitching day!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 78 Shooting Star

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 92 Streak of Lightening

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 92 Streak of Lightening

A much needed injection of time has been put towards my Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) in the past few weeks, thanks to a trip to France and plenty of stitching time in the car.
This is The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  block 92 Streak of Lightening.  I think this is quite a well known traditional quilt block. Naturally, I have done it by hand using English Paper Piecing and you can still see the tacking stitches still in place.  I was just pleased to have all the writing on the feature fabric in the same direction!
#Farmerswifequilt

Great Northern Quilt Show, Harrogate 2019 - Some Scraps are Bigger Than Others

'Some Scraps are Bigger Than Others' Quilt made by Frances Meredith

It is a busy weekend for quilt shows this weekend.  Whilst my Dear Jane has been having success at the 2019 West Country Quilt and Textile Show, my latest quilt, 'Some Scraps are Bigger Than Others' has travelled up to Harrogate to the 2019 Great Northern Quilt Show.  I am pleased to report that it has received a Judges Choice Award.  This quilt is made up of small half square triangles, using up the bucket of scrap fabrics which I have accumulated over the past few years - a very satisfying quilt to have.

Dear Jane Quilt - West Country Quilt and Textile Show 2019, UK - Best Piecing

'Dear Jane' quilt made by Frances Meredith

My Dear Jane quilt has been out and about again, this time to the West Country Quilt and Textile Show 2019.  I am pleased to say that it won a rosette for 'Best Piecing'.  It was lovely to chat to those of you who are in the middle of your Dear Jane journey - keep going, it will be worth it!

'Dear Jane' quilt made by Frances Meredith

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 73 Rainbow Flowers visits Scotland

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 73 Rainbow Flowers visits Scotland

Following on from my last post, here is another Farmer's Wife Quilt block which was completed on my recent trip to Scotland. Here is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 73 Rainbow Flowers visiting a remote beach on a beach in North Uist, one of the Western Isles of Scotland. It has to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in the world.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 73 Rainbow Flowers visits Scotland

I chose this block to do while travelling in the car - just 7 pieces. A nice quick win.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 85 Square Dance visits Scotland

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 85 Square Dance

Fabadashery has been on tour again and the Farmer's Wife Quilt blocks joined me as I travelled to the Western Isles of Scotland.  Here is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 85 Square Dance at the end of the Hebridean Way at the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse.

Western Isles of Scotland - Isle of Lewis and Harris

It is a long car journey up to Scotland and the most northerly place I have ever been on the planet, but there is still further to go on a future trip.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 85 Square Dance

I only had one charm square of the centre fabric, so it had to be put to good use with a fussy cut middle and some clever use of striped fabric on the sides. 

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 104 Wild Geese

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 104 Wild Geese

After all the excitement of last week, I am back to the routine and have managed to finish a little block, the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 104 Wild Geese/  There are 29 pieces in this little block, but it seems to have taken me a while to get the together.

2017 Rainbow Scrappy Challenge

'Jane's Pinwheel' Quilt  62" x 62"

It is a long time since I linked up to the Rainbow Scrappy Challenge.  When I started this in January 2017 I was struggling to keep up.  The top was finally completed in January 2018 after a serious attack on it over the Christmas period, but since then it has been lingering around waiting for me to quilt it.  Before I had decided how I would quilt it I forced the issue by entering it into the 2019 Quilt UK, Malvern Show which is on this weekend.

'Jane's Pinwheel' Quilt  62" x 62"

So last weekend I was quilting it on my longarm quilting machine, in between my customer quilts.  I stitched in EVERY ditch and then added a simple orange peel design.  I wanted the piecing to be the focus, not the quilting.  It has made a dent into the Kim Diehl fabrics left over from my Dear Jane quilt, but there are plenty more to come out of that bag.
Linking to So Scrappy Saturday

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 109 Windows

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 109 Windows

With the stitching of the Farmer's Wife quilt up and running again I was pleased to notice that I have reached 400 Followers to this blog - welcome Barbara Woods!
This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 109 Windows.  It used up the last of this patterned fabric I had and now I look at the photo, it is looking slightly distorted.  No fear. It will be forced into shape when the time comes.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 59 Night and Day

 The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 59 Night and Day

Here is the first  of the blocks from the recent prep session, Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 59 Night and Day.  It reminds me of the 1952 Festival of Britain logo.  I think this is the only bit of this green I have left, so pleased to squeeze it into this block.

April 2019 Farmer's Wife Progress

Farmer's Wife Quilt - Prepping English Paper Piecing

As anticipated, the Easter break gave my a small slot of time to prep the next set of Farmer's Wife blocks.  This process usually pulling every Fig Tree fabric that I have out onto a table, whilst I decide the colour combinations of each block, so I try to do it in one blco of time to minimise the disruption.  I have scanned all of them into Electric Quilt 8, so I do a lot of designing in that programme.  The good news is that I have cut out and bagged up all the remaiing blocks and they are all ready and waiting for the little moments that I have for English Paper Piecing.

Farmer's Wife Quilt - Prepping English Paper Piecing

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 74 Ribbons

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 74 Ribbons

This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 74 Ribbons. I only had limited amounts of the white patterned fabrics, so some of the seams are at the limit.
I am reaching a tricky part of this quilt - I have run out of prepped blocks to do.  Let's hope the Easter break allows some time for designing and cutting.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 38 Four Winds

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 38 Four Winds

Back in the day when I was working on my Nearly Insane quilt, I had worked out that on a 6" block, 100 pieces was just about right to keep it interesting and enough of a challenge. This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 38 Four Winds.  This block has at least 50 pieces in it  but is only 4" square. It has kept me quiet for several days.

Suzi the cat on the window sill

Meanwhile, there is no rest for the wicked.  Suzi has had to abandon the comfort of her bed for a permanent station on the window sill. The pigeons just won't let up.