Honestly, I cannot keep track of what week this is for Farmer's Wife block posts. I have decided to just go ahead and post my progress whenever I have something to show for it. Somehow I managed to finish seven blocks this week. My sister Andrea has been to my house for a visit and we sewed together in the unfinished studio. She put together an entire quilt top made of vintage sheets! Check out her blog, I am sure she will post on her fabulous project.
I did have a problem with one of my Farmer's Wife blocks, Number 103 "Whirlwind". I am using the Marti Michell templates and pdf instructions that Marti sends out through her website. I struggled so with this block, and still am not sure if I was just being dense about following the instructions, or if there was something actually wrong with the instructions.
I think the diagram (to the left of the block) is incorrect. Isn't the angle of the cut (along the hypotenuse) reversed? I followed the directions exactly, but to my way of thinking, the trapezoids were unusable, as the angle where you nipped it off with the triangle template was wrong. I ended up ditching those pieces and making flying geese and sewing my sides together with partial seams.
I must have just misunderstood the directions, but if anyone else had issues with this block, using Marti's instructions, let me know. I will probably be hitting my forehead and saying "duh" when someone explains it to me.
18 responses to “Farmer’s Wife, Week Whatever”
Love your new Farmer’s Wife blocks! Well done!
Bummer that the Whirlwind block is giving you problems and I hope some wizard will help you along. Your polka-dot rose fabric is beautiful!
Have you had that conversation about the sewing studio’s interior with your sweetie? 🙂
Hugs!
Love your new Farmer’s Wife blocks! Well done!
Bummer that the Whirlwind block is giving you problems and I hope some wizard will help you along. Your polka-dot rose fabric is beautiful!
Have you had that conversation about the sewing studio’s interior with your sweetie? 🙂
Hugs!
Do the instructions say whether they are showing the “right” side of the fabric or the “wrong” side of the fabric in the diagrams? That could make mirror images of the piece — and create the cut on the opposite side.
I have a habit of reversing directions all the time so whenever I come up with a piece to cut like that I have to think it completely through (and then make a note on the template so I don’t waste time the next time I cut that piece).
Do the instructions say whether they are showing the “right” side of the fabric or the “wrong” side of the fabric in the diagrams? That could make mirror images of the piece — and create the cut on the opposite side.
I have a habit of reversing directions all the time so whenever I come up with a piece to cut like that I have to think it completely through (and then make a note on the template so I don’t waste time the next time I cut that piece).
That was a great call Sherry. I am finding the Marti Michell template instructions pretty sparse (they assume a lot of knowledge on the part of the reader). It is totally possible that the fabric was reversed and they didn’t mention it. That would totally explain the reversal of the shape.
That was a great call Sherry. I am finding the Marti Michell template instructions pretty sparse (they assume a lot of knowledge on the part of the reader). It is totally possible that the fabric was reversed and they didn’t mention it. That would totally explain the reversal of the shape.
Those are way cool FW blocks. You are making great progress.
Those are way cool FW blocks. You are making great progress.
I like your subtle mention of unfinished studio, Nicole! Do you think hubby has read your post yet today? Good luck on understanding the directions – I’m sure you will have lots of help here!
Cheers!
I like your subtle mention of unfinished studio, Nicole! Do you think hubby has read your post yet today? Good luck on understanding the directions – I’m sure you will have lots of help here!
Cheers!
Love the blocks. ;0
Love the blocks. ;0
Ohhh…thanks for the heads up about the instructions on the MM newsletter. I’m working from that too. Great job on your blocks!
Ohhh…thanks for the heads up about the instructions on the MM newsletter. I’m working from that too. Great job on your blocks!
What a shame on that block but your squares are looking really good. Love your fabric choice. I signed up to get the PDF’s but wont get mine until the first of September.. Looking good.
What a shame on that block but your squares are looking really good. Love your fabric choice. I signed up to get the PDF’s but wont get mine until the first of September.. Looking good.
Your blocks look fantastic. I am with you, I don’t know what week the FWQAL is up to I am just doing them when I do them. I am paper piecing mine and have only done two so far shame, shame!
Your blocks look fantastic. I am with you, I don’t know what week the FWQAL is up to I am just doing them when I do them. I am paper piecing mine and have only done two so far shame, shame!