Last blocks of the year

Christmas has crept up on me at an alarming rate this week!  It was the last week of term at school and Monday and Tuesday just dragged.  As for the rest of the week, it was over in a blink and despite being very organised I still have a mountain of jobs to do!

Yesterday afternoon I tidied the spare room where I usually sew - the fabric was put in boxes and my machine packed away.  I won't have time for sewing between now and Christmas I expect, so I will indulge in a spot of, more sociable, festive knitting instead.

The Farmer's Wife blocks I want to share today are probably the last two I'll manage before the New Year.  In total I've managed 20 blocks since September which I'm really pleased, if not amazed, about.

Puss in the Corner

Despite posting this picture upside down (flowers and cherries do not grow in the above formation), I like this block (albeit wonky) a lot.  It's a deviation from the festive red I've been drawn to, but it is fresh, pretty and girly.

Northern Lights

More red I'm afraid but I do so love these to Lecien prints together!  This one was very quick to cut out and piece - instant gratification!

My parents are coming over to spend the day today so I've a few festive jobs to be getting on with this morning.  The weather is vile outside so I hope the ladies (Mother, Myself and the Big Girl) will indulge in some knitting this after afternoon.  It's what wet, grey days were made for!

More blocks!

I wasn't expecting to complete two Farmer's Wife blocks this week but somehow I managed it!  I think one child having two sick days at the beginning of the week probably helped - I cut out the fabric while we were cwtching in, then sewed them up when the Busy Boy (sadly not really a Baby Boy any more) had a marathon nap yesterday afternoon.

Spool

This is my second attempt at this block - the first was early on in the quilt along and basically made it into the scrap basket quite quickly.  I originally found the half square triangles hard to match up and disliked the fabric selection.  Over the ensuing weeks I think my cutting and piecing has improved and I am much happier with this version of 'spool'.  The fabric selection works well and I really like the contrast between the colours and the large spots against a background of small spots.

Streak of Lightening

I was ever so slightly daunted when I cut out the fabric pieces for this block as there were many little bits.  Thankfully there were no point or seams to match up so it was very straightforward.  Needless to say I'm not relishing the prospect of many tiny triangles which feature in a lot of the future blocks!

Love the red and white fabrics - both by Lecien - they compliment each other well.

The Most Wonderful Time...

I am starting to feel a little more festive - the cold weather has most certainly helped this feeling, not to mention the fact my Christmas tree is up!

This was taken in the late afternoon sun, earlier in the week.  My husband went on the tree buying expedition on Sunday afternoon with the Big Girl who wanted a 'Norman Tree' - turns out this is a Nordman Fir.  'Norman' must be about 8 foot tall and is very, very fat :-)

I've indulged in a little more afternoon Christmas sewing this week too:

A Christmassy cushion cover, made with 2.5 inch fabric strips to fit a 12" square cushion.  I'd like to make another Christmas quilt this year but I think I might be running low on time.  What I really need is a couple of snow days ....unlikely I say. Very.

Last Week's Work

As I alluded to in yesterday's post, I did manage to complete two Farmer's Wife blocks last week!

Churn Dash

I love churn dash blocks - they are quite straightforward to make and I think they look lovely put together.  I'm really pleased with the colour combination and how the central portion stands out against the paler fabric.

Flock

I was a bit apprehensive about this one when I came to it because of all the small triangles, so I was surprised when it turned out as it did!  It could do with a good pressing (I sewed the individual square blocks together in the wrong configuration to begin with) and the Bambi prints are accidentally upside down but you live and learn and I WILL NOT take it apart again!

I'm still using a lot of red and white spots in this project - at the moment I'm blaming the festive season!

Christmas Sewing

My Christmas sewing has finally begun!  This is a Christmas gift for a very special Aussie baby and is currently on it's way Down Under. 

I found a bib tutorial at Chickpea Sewing Studio - home of lots of lovely pictures and sewing ideas.  The fabric I think is from  'Countdown to Christmas', which was one of Moda's Christmas ranges last year.  I've been saving the fat quarters for a while.  I love the reindeer print - it has the names of Father Christmas' reindeer's printed on it and is sooooo cute.  My favourite part of this bib is the fastening!  I bought the non sew variety and I think it gives it a very professional finish!

On the Farmer's Wife quilt front, I did unexpectedly manage two blocks last week.  I shall photograph them later for sharing.

Have a wonderful day!

Slightly Behind

Last week I fell behind - I only managed one block of my Farmer's Wife Quilt.  Oh dear. 

Broken Sugar Bowl

However, I do have another block to share - I guess it's ever so slightly cheating as I didn't make it last week ....but it is all my own work!!

Rainbow Flowers

I made this block in the early weeks of the project but didn't include it as I wasn't entirely happy with it.  The slightly wonky gingham pattern makes the pieces look as if they're not cut properly, and the top left corner square has certainly had some seam allowance issues along the way - well it's not quite a square is it!?

On balance I decided I do like it so I'm (naughtily) including it as the second block of last week.  Now I have to find the time, and it's Wednesday already, to make this week's contribution.  I think it is quite likely to be one block only this week as Christmas is marching up on me VERY quickly and I have sooo many lovely festive fabrics waiting to be used!

Have a Happy Wednesday!!!

Challenging Myself

I've tried to challenge myself a bit this week as regards to the Farmer's Wife Quilt.  When selecting blocks to make I tend to play safe - mainly choosing blocks that I either like the most or I know I will be able to make!  This week I decided to go for blocks that scare me a little - those ones with lots of little pieces.  I chose 'Hovering Birds' and 'Whirlpool'.  The success rate was 50 % - 'Hovering Birds' was completed, 'Whirlpool' was abandoned! 

Hovering Birds

As 'Whirlpool' remains in little bits on my sewing table, and to keep up with the two blocks a week demand, I chose another block to make:

Windmill

 A far more straightforward block!!  I think I will try and make one out of the two weekly blocks a more difficult one thus avoiding being landed with all the technically challenging ones at the end!