Happy Twenty Seventeen!

Gearing up for a fantastic Farmer's Wife year!

If you are like me and have a lot of loose Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt blocks just hanging around...

maybe this is the year to finish them up!
Join me mid month for my new video series on Farming methods and useful tips!
Let's get plowing!
~karen
To learn more click here or join my farmer's wife quilt revival facebook page!

Take Advantage of Etsy's Wonderful Offer!!

I received an email from Etsy letting me know they are going to give $10 to everyone who purchases $50 or more on Etsy through December 27th!!

Get a bonus when you buy

Spend $50 on an Etsy purchase and get $10 towards your next one. Ends 12/27. Full details: etsy.me/2016gift

Spend $50 on an Etsy purchase and enjoy $10 to treat yourself to your next must-have. Now through December 27.

Here's a link to my Etsy shop  

Great time to grab a few after Christmas presents for yourself!!

Not only is this awesome for your next purchase anywhere on Etsy...but how nice of Etsy to support me in offering this special!!!

If you're looking to purchase the entire collection of Farmer's Wife Quilt Revival Classes, you can pick them up on Etsy for $95 AND receive $10 towards your next Etsy purchase!

Or pick up a couple of my patterns and continue shopping in your other favorite Etsy shops!!

Kick off 2017 with some new quilty projects!!

Ringing in 2016 with a FREE Farmer's Wife Quilt Revival Class!

Yes!  You read that correctly!!  Purchase Class One and receive Class 2 for FREE!  OR...Purchase your next class and i'll send you the following class no charge!  This offer is good for the entire month of January!!  (one free class per farm wive offered)

Here's what my farming looked like in 2015.
I continued to piece (what i call) The Blue Farm Collection. 
Started in 2014 and have a total of 68 completed.  

Many have asked if i will offer similar classes for the new 1930's Farmer's Wife book. The author included paper piecing templates for each block and rotary cutting measurements for many.  It is a beautiful book and doing another set of classes is not in my future.
  
However, using 30's prints with blocks from the 1920's Farmer's Wife Sampler book = same great look!
Here's my (2015) 30's flimsy, finished with a total of (20) 1920's blocks. Quilt measures approximately 53" x 60" with borders.

It's on my longarm now...

The quilt above is set similar to the table runner pattern offered in The Farmer's Wife Quilt Revival Class 2.  I decided to use 'my runner' for a little cafe type curtain in our vacation rental home we call~

     Lucky's Mountain Chalet

Our little Lucky boy passed away last December...i'm still terribly heart broken

Oh and btw...Lucky's get~away is a great place to bring a group of quilters!  I have it set up with tables, chairs, ironing boards, irons, power strips, cutting table, cutting mats, long acrylic rulers, design wall.... just say'n!  Click on the link above for more pictures and details! (and no...i did not pick out that pink tile! gah!...but it's clean!! L0L)

Okay...back to the Free Class! 

i'm like a squirrel... 

You'll find purchase options on My Patterns link at the top of my blog. 
Today through January 31, 2016 ~ you will receive one free Farmer's Wife Quilt Revival class with your first purchase only.  (This offer is good for one free class regardless of how many classes a farm wife orders in January)

I will do my best to email the free class to you as soon as possible.  If a couple days go by and you have not received it...please email me with your purchase information. chezstitches@gmail.com
 Whether you purchase directly through my blog, Craftsy or Etsy, make sure your email address is correct. If you have the option of including a message with your purchase...please do so, and add in your email again.  Just to be on the safe side.  

Happy Farming in 2016!!  

From Lucy and Me!!

my first attempt at an overlay....LOL

Let's have a Give~Away! Chance to win the first 6 Farmer's Wife Quilt Revival Classes for FREE!

I can't believe it's been a whole, entire, 12 months, 365 days...since i began offering classes online to make the Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt using modern methods.  

Here are a couple amazingly inspiring Samplers...

just to get you in the mood to win!

 A close up of Amy's Class one.

The beauty of my classes...you do not have to commit to the entire quilt! Classes One-Six include modern instructions for more than enough blocks to make this nice lap quilt...and the lap quilt pattern is included in Class Six too!

tah dah!!...here is Amy's finish!! 

Visit Amy's blog and discover her Farm journey here

 Another...'make ME smile' Farm quilt belongs to Jane.   Like Amy, Jane began her Farm journey long before she stumbled upon the Farmer's Wife Quilt Revival classes....once they began using my classes...well, the rest is history.  No more sticking this UFO in a drawer...nope!  

 Another breath taking finish!  Jane has a lot more pictures on her blog too...visit her here

Oh... and here's a chance to win the first 6 FWQR classes for free!!

What do you need to do?
1. Follow my blog
2. Leave a comment below...just let me know you're in! 

3. ***AND...If you have a blog/pinterest/instagram...i'd love it if you would share this blog post with your readers!  If you do...please include the link(s) to your blog, pinterest, or instagram in the comment section below too showing your 'share' about my Give~Away.  Your links will be a great opportunity for me to visit you!

For each share...blog, pinterest or instagram...your name will be entered in the drawing.  That could be up to 4 times!
Once for being a follower, again for sharing on your blog, again for sharing on pinterest and again if shared on instagram.  

'Sharing' can be easy....just 'pin' one of the pictures above to your Pinterest board and encourage your readers to visit.  Instagram...Find me here, and regram my photo! 
 Or include a link to this post in your own blog post!  EZPZ!

This is going to be a short window of opportunity...so enter now!
Comments will be accepted today through January 31st midnight Pacific Standard Time.  
Winner of the Farmer's Wife Quilt Revival Classes 1-6 Give~Away will be announced on February 1st 
Thank you to Amy and Jane!!  Nice work ladies!!

Plowing through MY Farmer's Wife blocks

These blocks will not be found in The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt. There are 12 Farmer's Wife blocks that truly can not be successfully pieced without the use of templates or the paper piecing method.    

The Final Class (12) of my Farmer's Wife Quilt Revival Lesson is almost ready to publish and i have decided to offer the remaining blocks by sharing an easier crop.  No templates and no paper piecing.  Yay! 

Here's what i'm working on...

See more recent updates by following me on Instagram....@laughyourselfintostitches

Click HERE to read about my Farmer's Wife Quilt Revival Classes

Sunday Farming Blocks...Class 11

My newest farm blocks...and a few tips on piecing their buds and petals.  

 Tulip Block #96

 Bouquet Block #8

Flower Pot Block #37

All the flower blocks are assembled in a similar manner.  Each 'flower' is divided into a right and left section.

 Flower Blocks #96 and #8 have a triangle sewn to the top and side of the 'bud' template. An additional triangle is sewn separately to the 'petal' template. 

   

I recommend laying out all the fabric pieces to see how your block will come together.  My photos  below are for Block #8. 

Starting with the right section of the flower, begin by lining up the 'bud' template with the top triangle. Sew together and press towards the dark.  When piecing the left bud template with its top triangle, press to the light....this creates opposing seams.  

Add the side triangle.  Finger press both the side triangle and bud template to determine the center.  Sew together, press towards the dark and set aside.

Finger press the 'petal' template with its coordinating triangle and sew together.  Press towards the triangle.  Sew the petal unit to the bud unit shown above.

Repeat this process for the other half of the flower. 

Sew each flower half unit together

Press the final seam open

Block #96 is constructed almost the same.  The flower petal unit is just a bit different.  Watch your pressing to create opposing seams.

*******************************************************************************

The pictures below represent Block #37.  

Notice there are no side triangles sewn to the bud templates. Refer to the photo in the Farmer's Wife Sampler book page 164. Sew your smallest triangle to the top of each bud template. Press them for opposing seams. Stitch the 2 bud sections together and press the seam open. 

Sew the medium size triangles to the pink petal templates. 

The angles of the templates and triangles can be confusing. Lay them out first and then turn them right sides together and sew. 

 Now it's time to sew the bud to the petal units...with a 'pivot'.  Notice my pencil line through the seam of the petal unit.  This is a quarter inch mark.  Line this up with the appropriate angle of the bud unit.  It may look wrong as the angles are in opposition.

(in the photo below i have already sewn one petal section and am adding in the second)

Pin into place.

Begin sewing but when you reach the pinned spot, STOP with your needle down.  Lift the presser foot and pivot, adjusting the fabric.

You will have something that looks like this below.  Make sure you adjust the fabrics so no tucks are created.  The tuck you see in the photo is just above the sewing line and not stitched into the seam.

The seam will naturally want to be pressed away from the bud.

Add in the remaining triangles to complete the flower portion of Block #37

If you are interested in my modern piecing methods to make The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt ...click HERE

Growing Pumpkins on the Farm~~

Since we are in the midst of a remodel and all my festive decorations are packed for god knows how long....This is my only Halloween/Thanksgiving purchase.  Sad...

Feeling in the mood the other day...i snapped this pic with my small unquilted and a bit wrinkled (that's for you Bev) Farmer's Wife table-topper/runner...  

 ...and my hooked Pumpkin nest.  Momma Pumpkin is keeping her 'seedlings' warm.  (See my hooked nest post HERE )

On to more important items....

Below is block #30 from the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt using my instructional lessons from Class 9.  In my instructions, one will end up with enough pieces to make 2 blocks.  One pieced together as shown in the 

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt book...

and the second block can be made by turning the half square triangles from the outer edge of the block as shown above, to the center of the block, shown below...creating a completely new look.
 If you are using my instructions to make your Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt...reserve this block above for a future class.

Learn more about my Classes HERE 

More from 'The Blue Farm Collection'

Busy plowing and a bit of weeding (seam ripping) today. 

This series of blocks come from Class Three of the Farmer's Wife Quilt Revival Classes.  Two more blocks will complete this class.

 Using modern rotary cutting and piecing techniques!

Click HERE to read what other quilters are saying about my Classes!  

Join our Farmer's Wife Quilt Revival Facebook page HERE...see if my Classes might interest you!