128. Farmer's Wife

 Back in 2011, Carla Timberlake (lollyquiltz.blogspot.com) and I embarked on a joint venture. 

Farmer's Wife is a book by Laurie Hird, containing 111 6" quilt blocks. It was inspired by The Farmer's Wife Magazine, which in 1922 posed the question:  "If you had a daughter of marriageable age, would you, in light of your own experience, have her marry a farmer?" The magazine at the time had 750,000 subscribers, and received over 7,000 letters. The best answers to this question are included in this book, along with the traditional quilt blocks they inspired.

We tossed around a couple of different ideas on what would work the best for each of us. We finally landed on the idea of just starting with the first letter in the book and going through the book sequentially, doing the two blocks pictured with each letter. I had started reading the letters and found them fascinating so it seemed like a good idea, and the blocks would essentially already be chosen for us.

Each week we would sew two blocks and comment on what the letter of that week meant to us. I chose to make mine out of shot cottons by Kaffe Fassett, while Carla chose bright and cheery prints. 

This was the first block, and the pieces were so small.

Some blocks I loved. 

Want to see my least favorite block? This wins the prize.

This is the only block that has a non-solid; I included a striped fabric to mimic the thread in the spool.

So many blocks.

In 2012 I went to spring quilt market in Kansas City, where Carla lives. I was able to spend the night at her house. I had brought some of my blocks along and we laid them out on her deck.

Carla finished her quilt in 2013. 

Photo by Carla Timberlake

It would take me another two years to complete mine. and I actually cannot find a post about my completed quilt. Go figure. 

I loved Carla's layout, and copied it for my own quilt. However, I didn't want mine to be quite so large, so 30 of the blocks went on the back.

This was a major project. If it were not for Carla as a partner, and knowing that every Friday I needed to post two blocks and write a short synopsis of that week's letter, the blocks would probably still be languishing in a drawer somewhere. 

Title: Farmer's Wife

Pattern by: Farmer's Wife book by Laurie Hird

Date Completed: 2015

Size: 74" x 74"

Quilted by: Dea Oskerson