Blocks 42, 43, 44 & 45 (Water Turn, Welcome, Winter Star & Woolly Sheep) - Farm Girl Vintage Quilt & Featherweight Shop Sew Along
Farm Girl Vintage Sew Along
We have four blocks in this post, which is a bit more than usual, but we can do this -- we are nearly finished!
Psssst! If you're just joining us and want to get in on the fun with a darling and perfect collage of farm girl vintage styled fabric, then check out the Farm Girl Vintage fabric and accessories collection here. You can also order Farm Girl Vintage Book 1 here, and Farm Girl Vintage Book 2!
Begin this sew along by opening your book to page 69, grab some fabric scraps, get them prepared and cut, and enjoy more Featherweight sewing! Complete your blocks following along with the pattern, paying attention to several tips in the photos below. Be careful to be as exact as possible with your cutting and fabric alignments. It is also important to note that you may need to occasionally press your block seams open.
Water Turn Block 42
Choosing the colors was pretty simple for this one, because, like many other blocks, I just used Lori's book pictorial as my color guide. She has so many prints and colors to choose from in all of her fabric lines, and they all go together!
I love to cut corners -- figuratively and literally, especially if it saves me time and efficiency! I find it's easier to prepare all the corner seaming using the Creative Grids Folded Corner Clipper Ruler.
I can keep my seam guide in place and best of all, my points are more accurate!
SNEAK PEAK! This is coming very, very soon, so keep watch on our website. It's called the Featherweight Accurate Seam Square and makes setting my needle for a perfect scant seam allowance simple.... and accurate... each and every time!
Featherweight Accurate Seam Square -- COMING SOON!
No need to remove the seam guide when sewing half square triangles. Just cut the squares in half point to point and sew the triangle pieces together.
Repeat the cutting process for all corner cutting units.
Welcome Block 43
Anytime I get to use the sweet mint print in the cut pieces above, I am thrilled! It's an older print from one of Lori's fabric lines - I think it may have been in her Calico Prints, maybe? The pink flower pots is from her Farm Girl Vintage Companion prints here.
When using the Creative Grids Corner Clipper Ruler, be sure to measure twice, cut once, and cut along the correct edge.
We've learned this before, but we will review it again here for this Welcome Block. Because the pieces are so tiny, pressing open is often necessary for block sizing and accuracy. Thus, pinning can be more of a challenge. The trick is to double-pin, side by side. I prefer these ultra fine glass head pins.
Make sure when you are sewing the corner units together that your half square triangles are in the correct position... or you might need to seam rip a piece or two... not that I would know anything about that, of course.... ;)
Winter Star Block 44
This block is a bit more tedious and time consuming, but if you take your time, are careful and square up each and every unit (and being willing to shave off even the slightest little bit) then you will have lovely points and a perfectly sized finished block. First, take a look back at Autumn Star, the second block we sewed when we started our sew along... you'll notice it is very similar! We are using a different technique for cutting / sewing the corners now with the Creative Grids Folded Corner Clipper Ruler, but the two blocks sew together very similarly.
Notice how my angle for cutting is different in these two photos?
So, this is the part that is really important. Measure twice, cut once... except the measuring is more like "making sure you are cutting at the exact angle that is indicated in the pattern book for trimming away". These little units will end up as diagonal stripes, not flying geese, so be very careful when cutting and sewing them together. The best way to do this is to lay out all the units that will need cut and sewn. Set them out exactly as they are in the book and chain piece.
This is where the layout is very important... remember, you want diagonal stripes, not flying geese, so don't cut the wrong angle!
It might not look like very much to square up, but shaving off the smallest sliver does help with the overall block construction... I know it seems tedious, but if you are one for fastidiousness, you will be very pleased with the results as you pin and align the points. This Creative Grids Itty Bitty Eights Ruler 3" x 7" is one I use constantly, and is definitely one my favorite rulers, because there are no solid lines. I can see exactly where the fabric intersects with the itty bitty lines in order to more accurately square the pieces and units.
These units are very small, so it helps to press seams open and then double pin the points for proper alignment as shown here.
Don't forget to square up your unit again once it is sewn together.
Finish sewing your block and enjoy watching it come together!
Woolly Sheep Block 45
This block will always remind me of little Babe and the Suffolk sheep Carm's family used to have.
Again, squaring up each unit will help considerably. Every little bit shaved off makes a difference!
Another great tool to have at your sewing station for these small pieces, units and blocks, is the little cutting mat by Lori Holt. It's the perfect size to verify that you are grabbing the correct piece for each unit.
Little Babe is coming together -- so cute!
Using the Sew-Line Trio Pencil, I traced the lines to embroider the legs.
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What about you!? What colors have you put together this month for your Farm Girl Vintage blocks? Let us know, and feel free to post pictures in the comments below. Or join us on the Facebook group to share and enjoy more Featherweight Fellowship online!
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