Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Block 76, Nancy, Tutorial

Happy Friday and welcome to my tutorial for the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt Sew-Along with Fat Quarter Shop, Marti Michell, and Angie of Gnome Angel. If you are new here, welcome to my blogging corner of the world where I have been sharing my quilting and sewing for over 7 years! I hope you’ll have a look around!

 The block I’m sharing today is block #76, “Nancy.” I was excited to get to share this block for my first tutorial since it looked a little more simple than some that will be coming up!

(I have four more blocks to make to be all caught up, but at least I got this one finished up in time for today’s post). I’m using Denyse Schmitt fabrics from my stash for all of my blocks, and I’m also adding in Moda Bella solids from my solids stash!

The tutorials for this sew-along have been terrific, and the Marti Michell conversion charts (if you are using the templates) have also been absolutely wonderful. 

I did use the Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates Set A for my block, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. If you don’t have the templates I really recommend following the rotary cutting instructions for square A and triangle E and then printing off the templates from the CD included with the book. 

 I began by choosing two fabrics that wouldn’t overwhelm each other so that my photos would be nice and clear and easy to follow. I starched my fabrics before cutting. I really think this helps keep the pieces from stretching out of shape and makes small pieces much easier to work with.

 In the photo above I placed all of the block parts in the same layout found in the book, but before I begin sewing I always place the parts and pieces as they will be in the block. This helps me keep everything in the right place as I’m sewing. I love using my design boards for these blocks!

  
After placing all of the parts and pieces on the board I decided to piece the flying geese units using the contrast E triangles (grey stripe) and the main fabric (orange leaves) C triangles. I chain-pieced the flying geese units and then also chain-pieced the contrast rectangles to the flying geese sections.

 After completing these sections I placed them on the board again where it was now a lot easier to see how the block would come together.

 Next I sewed the center diagonal section as shown in the book. This section of the block went together quickly and easily. I pressed the rectangle seams toward the center square, the flying geese towards the rectangles on one side and toward the triangles on the other side (I have a picture later in the post that shows the pressing of these seams).

 The next step is to sew the large triangles to either side of the remaining flying geese/rectangle units. I pressed these seams toward the triangles.

 The block is now in five separate sections. I then added the triangle and flying geese/rectangle sections one at a time to the center section.

 Below is a photo of the back so you can see the pressing…

  
At this point all that needs to be added are the final two corner triangles. I actually could have added these before sewing the units to the center section.

 My block measured exactly 6 ½″ x 6 ½″ which is a good thing–I should also mention that I used scant ¼″ seams when sewing. This is something I always do when using templates. It seems to help ensure my blocks don’t finish too small.

You can find Angie’s block tutorial for this block here, and you can find Marti Michell’s template conversion post here. Marti’s post also has a lot of useful information about keeping the fabric grain line in mind as you construct this block.

I hope you’re quilting along!

The Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt: Inspiring Letters from Farm Women of the Great Depression and 99 Quilt Blocks That Honor Them by Laurie Aaron Hird for Fons & Porter/F+W; RRP $28.99 – Click here to purchase.

 I’m hoping to catch up on the four blocks I’ve fallen behind on this weekend!


Thanks so much for stopping by!