The Winter Solstice and the Great Conjunction

December 21, 2020 is the Winter Solstice and the Great Conjunction. This evening, the two largest planets in our solar system—Jupiter and Saturn—came within .1 degree apart from each other. They nearly overlapped to form a "double planet." In our evening sky just after sundown, it looked like a red star beside a bright white star... which then sank into the horizon.

Blocks from The Farmer's Wife sampler

This astronomical event reminded me of the border fabric I used in this quilt top WIP [work in progress]. The blocks are a subset from my Farmer's Wife sampler quilt I started in 2018.

Astrology quilt top.

With a renewed interest in slow stitching, I'm considering hand stitched motifs in the woven alternate blocks. 

This is one of the corner blocks. It looks like a tree during the winter solstice. This quilt just might become my astrology quilt with each corner block representing a solstice or an equinox. Even the background fabric looks like a starry sky.

Winter tree

The shadows are long on this shortest day of the year. 

Stitching Success Tracker, December 21.

I'm looking forward to more hours of sunlight in the coming days.

Stan Leigh. One of our backyard kitties.

How to support your local shops during COVID-19 social distancing

With the uncertainty surrounding the Coronavirus, many of us are practicing social distancing and self-quarantine. As quilters, sewers, knitters and makers, we have the skill set (and the supplies, no doubt) to combat this isolation time with the crafts we are passionate about. We got this!

Attending to my Farmer's Wife sampler WIP [work in progress]. Assembling blocks 2 x 2.

Don't forget YLQS (your local quilt shop)!
During this uncertain time, however, I encourage you to not forget about our beloved quilt shops, yarn shops and independent sewing centers. These small businesses still depend on us!

Farmer's Wife blocks. Fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics.
Directory of Shops that carry Art Gallery Fabrics.

How YLQS is managing
Independent quilt, fabric and yarn shops are getting creative with ways to continue to support our quilting/sewing/crafting endeavors—offering curb-side pickup, personal local deliveries, virtual shopping via Facebook Live, Instagram and social media platforms, offering discounts on products and shipping, while figuring out how to use alternative methods to bring us instruction, tutorials and classes—in addition to keeping a sanitized shop and protecting themselves and their staff. It's an enormous feat of juggling and the learning curve for implementing new technology can be steep.

Ways WE can help and support YLQS:
Keep making and crafting!

Assembling rows of 6" bloc

• Go through your stash and revisit those UFOs. You'll likely need borders, sashing, backing or bindings to finish them. Call or contact YLQS and have them ship what you need.
• Visit YLQS on line. Fill the shopping cart and they will ship fabrics and supplies to you.
• Many LQSs are making kits of their shop samples, packaging class/club/BOM projects so you have everything you need to hunker down and craft at home while we get through this time. Buy a kit for yourself or for your kids as a creative outlet from on-line learning. 
• Ask for a personal shopping assistant. I've seen several shops walk through their store via Facebook Live and show new fabrics, kits, notions and products they have that will inspire or help you with your craft. Place an order.
• Purchase gift certificates—for your own future buying needs or for your friends.
• Shops are posting Flash Sales on social media and through e-news blasts. Take advantage of them.
• Fabric companies have opened up the archives of free project patterns for us to access. Be inspired to make something!
• Fabric and pattern designers, brand ambassadors and others are hosting "I-sew-lation" quilt-alongs and sew-alongs. Refresh your stash, buy the kit, pattern or book, and join in.
• Follow, Like and leave comments on social media. The traffic will elevate YLQS's page in on-line rankings... making them get noticed by others with similar interests.
• Post photos of your UFOs, WIPs and Finishes and tag and hashtag YLQS, the fabric and pattern designers and fabric companies. These small things improve on-line rankings. Spread the love!

Adding additional fabrics for a scrappier sampler quilt.

Non-quilters and non-sewers can support too!

• Purchase gift items (books, note pads, greeting cards, jewelry, etc.), gift certificates and finished shop samples and display items. 
• Inquire about and employ a shop's other services such as making T-shirt quilts, making heirloom or commemorative gifts (pillows, etc.), or embroidery services.
• Got a quilt top you've inherited, rescued or purchased? Commission their quilting services. Get that quilt finished so it can be enjoyed.

Completed Farmer'sWife sampler top. Auditioning possible borders.
I have placed an online order with my LQS for two fabrics to audition additional options.

Out of sight but not out of mind
I'm again working on my Farmer's Wife sampler quilt during social distancing. I've ordered two fabrics from one of my quilt shops for possible borders. I hope you revisit your UFOs and order supplies to finish a few of them. Studies have shown that participating in hobbies and crafts during uncertain times relieves stress and calms nerves.

YLQS may be temporarily out of sight... but don't let them be out of mind. They are depending on all of us NOW so when the world gets back to normal, these small businesses will still be afloat!

UFO quilt assessment

One of my Make Nine goals for 2020 is to finish one of my UFOs [unfinished objects]. 

Oh, where to begin?! 

Work in progress: crumb quilt.

Crumb Quilt
If I choose to finish a project from the "Quilt UFO" pile, there are four *relatively* recent quilts in progress. The one above is a crumb quilt made with leftover bits, trimmings and fabric swatches. It's the most recent project which developed out of the crumb patches I started making in October 2019.

I started piecing crumbs into strips in October 2019.

I was using fabric bits for leaders and enders while working on other projects. So, the crumb patches morphed into strips and the strips began to grow.

Crumb strips in November 2019.

By December, the crumb strips needed to be a project of their own.

15 inch quilt block made from fabric crumbs.

Kinship Sampler
In early December, forty-nine of my Kinship Sampler blocks made it into this top. While traveling in early December, I found fabric for borders and backing at Neff's Country Loft, a quilt shop with a fabulous selection of Diamond Textiles' textured wovens. So, I have the remaining fabrics needed to complete this quilt. I need a plan for the quilting, however.

Work in progress: Kinship Sampler from the 2019 100 Blocks 100 Days project.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler
In August of 2018, I started work on blocks for my version of the Farmer's Wife sampler quilt. The blocks I decided to make were completed in June of 2019 to make way for the July start of the Kinship Sampler.  I've decided on a "kitchen sink" layout for these Farmer's Wife blocks... but the blocks are still on the design wall... awaiting top assembly.

Work in progress: Farmer's Wife blocks

A curated subset of my Farmer's Wife blocks are set on-point for a small quilt or wall hanging. The center section of this project is pieced.

Work in progress: Farmer's Wife blocks

What moves to the top of the 2020 To-Do list?
Do I tackle the smallest project first? the most recent one? the one with all the materials on hand? the one that's been around the longest?

I guess it will be whatever mood strikes me. Unless, of course, there is a deadline.

A scrappy state of mind

Once the storage boxes and bags of fabric scraps are out and within arm's reach, it's difficult to stop at just one scrappy quilt top. The Tea Cup quilt blocks from my guild's Cuddle Quilt workshop last weekend were the impetus for the fabric leftover frenzy.

Tea Cup quilt top. 93.5" x 76.5"

I finished this quilt top for the Choo Choo Quilters' community service program. The block we used is called the Tea Cup block, and this quilt top marries scraps and leftovers from my and several guild members' fabric stashes. Proof that many hands working together can achieve great results—and lovely quilts.

While tidying up the cutting table from the Tea Cup project, I organized a collection of orphan blocks, test blocks and patchwork experiments. This pile of WIP kitty quilt tops are now in the queue to be quilted.

Four small quilt tops awaiting basting and quilting.

The next scrap quilt needing attention is my Farmer's Wife project, which I started just about a year ago. I've decided to make multiple quilts from the 111+ blocks I've amassed. For this larger group of blocks, it's the layout dilemma of sashing vs. no sashing. I'm leaning toward a multi-color sashing for this group.

The Farmer's Wife blocks in a straight set layout.

Below is a smaller group of blocks in a more controlled color palette. I think the on point layout is a good choice since several of the blocks (tree and baskets blocks) are more suited to this orientation.

The Farmer's Wife blocks set on point.

And yet a few more blocks remain...

The Farmer's Wife blocks made with Art Gallery Fabrics.

Guess I'll be back to pulling out the fabric boxes and scrap baskets again. This time from my stash of Art Gallery fabrics.

Nearing completion of The Farmer's Wife sampler blocks

My Farmer's Wife sampler project is coming up on the last mile of the block-making process. I have 93 out of a possible 111 blocks pieced. Below are the latest 30 additions to my ever-growing pile of six-inch patchwork mini compositions.

My latest 30 Farmer's Wife blocks made with Art Gallery Fabrics.

I've infused more Art Gallery fabrics into the original fabric mix. The more, the scrappier, right? And I've also been patchwork-liberated with my new philosophy of #myquiltmyrules—making it possible to modify, simplify and get a little more creative with the construction and the machine piecing of the blocks—as I see fit.

93 of 111 blocks from The Farmer's Wife sampler quilt. 

The plan is to finish the Farmer's Wife blocks by the end of the month to make way for the 2019 "100 Days 100 Blocks" Challenge that starts in July. I have the Kinship pattern and I've got my fabric chosen—a lovely array of Tweed Thicket fat quarters and Nikko III from Diamond Textiles (insert angel choir here).

Tweed Thicket (top) and Nikko III from Diamond Textiles anticipating
#100Days100Blocks2019 Challenge.

Yep, I'm a sucker for a good Challenge. What about you?

Simplifying assembly of Farmer's Wife blocks with strip piecing

You know what it's like when there is a bowl assorted candies... the favorites are the ones that disappear first. This is not unlike doing the Farmer's Wife sampler quilt. The "easy" blocks are the ones that get done first. Then you decide whether to continue with the project... or just say, "'nuff!"

63 completed blocks from the Farmer's Wife sampler quilt. Made with Art Gallery Fabrics.

Well, this project hasn't beaten me yet, but the "fun and easy" blocks are slim-to-none at this point in the game! I've already veered off the straight and narrow when I decided I didn't have to follow the patterns exactly as shown in the book (see this blog post). And now with 63 of the 111 blocks completed, I'm looking at the remaining not-so-easy patterns to see if, or how, I can modify the design or simplify assembly.

Strip piecing
Here is one block, Streak of Lightning, that went together fairly quick once I figured out a strip sequence.

Piecing a strip set.

The strip set was then cut into 6 strips. One for each row in the pattern.

Cutting the strip set into 6 units. One for each row.

Following the color placement, I cut off one end or the other of each strip.

Trimming the ends in order to match the block pattern.

With this method, the block was much easier to assemble and more accurate than piecing individual units.

Upstairs Downstairs.

I'm calling my block "Upstairs Downstairs." There is more than one direction to take for any given block.

48 Farmer's Wife blocks

Forty-eight Farmer's Wife blocks complete. There are 111 patterns in the book... if one were to make all of them.

48 Farmer's Wife blocks made with Art Gallery Fabrics.

A pattern is just a jumping off point

While cutting pieces for my Farmer's Wife sampler this weekend, I had an epiphany. Because I'm machine piecing these blocks—not printing and using the templates; not using the EPP [English paper piecing] method—I was omitting the five-unit blocks as the pieces were not nicely divisible into 6 inches (the finished block size). Then it hit me...

Modified Farmer's Wife block #32.

I've already modified the assembly of several of the blocks to make machine piecing easier, so why not modify the designs to better fit my construction method, too? It's MY quilt! I can do that. Right??

Modifying the Block Patterns
The Farmer's Daughter block #32 is a good example of my modification process. I decided to use part of the 5-unit design to make a 3-unit, nine patch block. My Cat's Head block: easy math, 9 patches vs. 25, less cutting, quick assembly.

Modified Farmer's Wife Farmer's Daughter block.

My Fruit Basket Block #42 is now a 4-unit Pint of Blueberries block. The top and side rows of half-square triangles were omitted.

Modified Farmer's Wife Fruit Basket block.

My Block #27 is one Starling instead of four Darting Birds.

Modified Farmer's Wife Darting Birds block.

The *new* relaxed guidelines I've implemented makes this sampler project much more fun! I'm still doing the cutting math, but I'm able to use more of the block patterns in the book. I think the variety of blocks with small and larger pieces is a nice change. It's MY sampler, right?

My Farmer's Wife Sampler Progress: 36 Blocks

There are 111 blocks in The Farmer's Wife book. Here are 36 I've made so far. Using the book as a jumping off place, I have more block possibilities to suit my machine pieced assembly method.

36 blocks for The Farmer's Wife sampler quilt.
Fabrics are from various collections from Art Gallery Fabrics.

Spicing up the Farmer's Wife sampler with more AGF prints

Picking up the Farmer's Wife block project... and making progress. These 9 have hit the finish line.

Farmer's Wife blocks (from top left): #75 Rosebud, #55 Linoleum, #39 Friendship
Middle Row: #71 Kitty in the Corner, #48 Homeward Bound, #35 Flower Basket
Bottom Row: #56 Maple Leaf, #40 Friendship Block, #61 Northern Lights

A benefit of tidying up my studio space is that more Art Gallery prints (were uncovered) have been introduced to the fabric smorgasbord for these blocks. Close-ups of my latest favorites are:

Farmer's Wife Block #39: Friendship 

Farmer's Wife Block #40: Friendship Block

Farmer's Wife Block #55: Linoleum

Farmer's Wife Block #71: Kitty in the Corner 

This sampler quilt project started with a fat quarter collection of Art Gallery's Color Masters, but the addition of the Elements blenders and prints from other AGF collections has made this sampler more robust. Each block is a gem on its own and I believe the expanded range of values and prints will add complexity to the composition and delight to the eye.

Plus, it's just more interesting and fun for the maker!

Annual purge and 2019 project inventory

Happy 2019 to all the quilters, sewers and makers!
As we head into the new year, there are new, different and (hopefully) exciting things coming to our world, sewing rooms and studios. To make way—and make room—for the new stuff, I do an annual purge of old things, recycle and repurpose what still has value, and organize my space. Through my attempt at organizing, I uncovered a few WIPs [works-in-progress], that I hope to make progress on and finish in 2019. (If I post them on my blog, it will make me accountable, right?)

Twenty blocks from The Farmer's Wife, made with Art Gallery Fabrics.

The Farmer's Wife blocks: progress is slow on this project because I have to calculate the cutting for all the blocks. I am machine piecing the blocks and the book only supplies an illustration of the block (not at 100%) and a CD with numbered templates. 20 blocks complete.

Scrap blocks.

Scrappy blocks: This is what I love to do with leftovers and discontinued samples. With scraps, there is only enough fabric for a single block, but the variety of colors and prints makes an interesting, one-of-a-kind quilt. 22 blocks complete.

Scrappy blocks on the design wall.

One potential layout. Trying to keep the background fabric as consistent in color and value as possible.

Floating Wacky Stars.

Floating Stars block: Another re-purpose for swatches and scraps. This one has a scrappy background and the star points are a random size and float. Further assembly will be easy with no points to fuss about. 4 blocks complete.

Improv piecing block borders.

I'm doing improv piecing that will either be alternate blocks or possibly wide borders. It seems I have a LOT of red scraps!

Hand embroidery with cotton embossed and yarn-dyed wovens from Diamond Textiles.

Hand embroidery: This hand embroidered appliqué piece using Cotton Embossed and yarn-dyed wovens from Diamond Textiles is a creeping along. My defense is that this is a "slow stitching" project and primarily worked when I'm on the road.

Stonehenge strips and Canvas blenders by Northcott Fabrics.

Stonehenge and Canvas blender quilt top: This is an exercise working with blenders from Northcott Fabrics. Currently, it's a quilt top only and traveling with me as a sample of using Northcott fabrics.

These are the WIPs that resurfaced during my latest tidy-up sprint. I know others will show their faces again in 2019 (my 100 Blocks City Sampler, a patchwork jacket, quilting my Wonky Star from a Mary Kerr workshop, and a hope for a Picasso top, for example).

However, I was happy to say goodbye to these boxes that went to the recycling center this weekend!

Off to the recycling center!

Fussy Cutting ruler for Farmer’s Wife quilt blocks

Since I'm skipping around in The Farmer's Wife sampler book and machine piecing the blocks with "easy math," I thought I'd add a bit of novelty to my blocks with selective fabric cutting—often called "fussy cutting."

The Farmer's Wife Block 20: Churn Dash with fussy cut center.
Fabrics from a Color Masters collection from Art Gallery Fabrics.

Selective Cutting/Fussy Cutting
Selective cutting makes the patchwork process more interesting for the maker and the challenge of seeking out motifs in the fabric... or finding a good block to feature a motif... is really fun. The resulting quilt blocks are also more unique. 

Last week I talked to the very helpful folks at Heavenly Stitches quilt shop about fussy cutting units for my 6-inch Farmer's Wife blocks. They showed me two possible rulers and we decided the Creative Grids Square it Up and Fussy Cut ruler would be best for the small units that comprise 6-inch blocks.

"Square it Up and Fussy Cut Ruler" from Creative Grids is a good tool for selective cutting.

In examining the ruler, it’s fairly intuitive but instructions are included in the package. The ruler's lines and markings are easy to see and ruler worked like a champ. Creative Grids rulers also have those built-in "grippy circles" to keep the fabric from slipping during the cutting process, which, as it turns out, are also helpful when centering the ruler on the fabric motif and marking the corner points. 

The Farmer's Wife Block 31: Evening Star with fussy cut center.
Fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics.

High Success Rate

Using this specialty ruler is much easier and the success rate is much higher than using a standard acrylic ruler for this technique. Contact YLQS (your local quilt shop) to get one of these great patchwork tools! The Evening Star block (above), with a fussy cut center, is next up for assembly.