September 1, 2014 marked the official beginning of the online The Farmer’s Wife Pony Club
Swap. We are a Facebook group of 37 women divided into 8 sub-groups on a 12 month journey to make our own truly unique version of Laurie Aaron Hird’s sampler quilt. Half of us are using 1930’s reproductions and half are using batiks.
For some crazy reason I asked our fearless leader, Debra, to assign me what we are calling block #199, otherwise known as Bird’s Eye View. It involves curved piecing which I have never done. Am I delusional for wanting to achieve Master Quilter status at some point in my life? The pictured block was made by Wanda Tims Towery of Arkansas who is participating in two groups.
As a novice curved piecer, I have to admit this one is a stinker. My husband made the comment that he suspects this block was originally intended for hand piecing. He very well may be right, but I’m on a deadline, so I NEED to do this on the machine. Fortunately, Debra the Amazing, was able to walk the members of our group through the construction and is allowing me to share her pictures and directions.
Step 1: When cutting your templates, cut this piece with extra on the two outside edges, about a 1/16”.
Step 2: Sew the first two pieces together and press the seams open.
Step 3: Find the center point and put a pin in it. Make sure when you fold it back that the pink edge matches the print edge.
Step 4: Put pins in several place after finding the center points by folding like in the first step.
Step 5: PIN, PIN, PIN!!!
Step 6: This is how I sewed mine. Go slow and watch your 1/4 mark. I also used a smaller stitch length.
Step 7: Next….
Step 8: Trim your excess on the white. Be very careful to use the 4 1/2″ mark and the center mark to line up.
Step 9: Flip the block and square up the pinks.
Step 10: Put all 4 pieces together and check your 8 ½” mark
Step 11: Yay!!!
Step 12: Cut out your center.
Step 13: Now cut down to the dotted line on your template paper.
Step 14: Fold the template into 1/4s to find your center. I used a pin to locate it to the center of my block. I used a water removable pen and draw around the template.
Step 15: Applique the center on, I used Needle Turn method. DO NOT PRESS until you wet the fabric and remove all the marks. Press and cut out the center on the backside or leave it. It is up to you. I leave it.
Step 16: All Done! Yay!!!
A couple of tips:
My friend, Wanda, recommended the use of a light spritz of sizing, starch or Best Press to each piece to keep the bias edges from shifting while being sewn. I tried it and it works beautifully.
In Step 6 where it says to go slow, GO SLOW. If you can set your stitch speed, use the snail setting. Trust me.
It’s Friday again, so do you have plans to sew/quilt? I’ve been seeing reports where the mountainous areas are getting snow. Quilting season has officially begun. 🙂
Linking up over at Crazy Mom Quilts.
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Blessings!
Melissa
Wanda
The Pony Club Quilt Swap is going to challenge my sewing skills for sure, but it is going to have an end result of an awesome quilt!
Love reading your blog, and love you too!
Debra Phelps
Love your blog and I am so excited to be a part of it. Looking forward to doing this quilt. The Farmer’s Wife Sampler Quilt was beautiful in Civil War Reproductions and Patriotics, but The Farmer’s Wife Pony Club Quilt will be unbelievable in 1930’s Reproductions and Batiks!