We're mailing the Farmer's Wife PDFs again!

We still hear from people who are interested in making their Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt using our templates :) so we began another round of mailings on November 20, 2015. Sign up to receive a PDF that covers 10 blocks in the original Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt book (not the 1930s book) every two weeks by visiting our website and using the "join our email list" button in the righthand column.

If you have any questions, all the details about the PDFs can be found in the November 2013 archive at right.

If you are interested in the Farmer's Wife 1930s Sew-along, those details are in the August 2015 archive.

Thanks for using our templates!

Let's Make a Tree of Paradise Quilt Block

The Tree of Paradise quilt block is sometimes called Tree of Life. It's been a little diagram in our catalog for a long time, and when a quilter named Ellen called us recently to ask about the pattern, we were a little surprised it wasn't in the Encyclopedia of Patchwork Blocks Volume 4.

So we made the block -- beautiful! -- and wrote up the instructions for Ellen, and now we're sharing it with you!  The pattern is also available on our website with full-size paper pattern pieces (visit "Free Patterns," in the About Our Products menu, on our website, where there are also more and bigger pictures).

The underlying grid is 7 squares across and 7 down, which means it can be made with Template Set L. There are variations with two half-square triangles or three half-square triangles "hanging down" on the sides of the tree. We like the proportions of this version, with 2 green half-square triangles hanging down on each side.

Cutting the Pieces for the Tree of Paradise Block

 Light Fabric
    18: #71 triangles*
    3: #70 squares
    1: 6-inch square
    2: #67 squares
    2: #68 triangles

Dark Fabric
    18: #71 triangles*
    6: #71 triangles
    2: #68 triangles (1 trunk)
    1: rectangle 3″ x 4½″ (trunk)
*Layer light and dark fabrics right sides together, then cut 18 #71 triangle pairs. Do not separate; they are ready to sew.

Making the Block

1. Join the light and dark #71 triangles to make half-square triangle units. Make 18.

2. Make the 3 x 3, or 9-patch, unit. Arrange 6 of the units made in step 1 and 2 #70 light squares into rows, as shown, and join the rows.



3. Make the left and right side units. Arrange 6 of the units made in step 1 and the 6 dark #71 triangles into rows as shown and join. Make 2.



4. Join the large * light triangles to the pieced units made in step 3. Make 2.



5. Arrange 6 of the half-square triangle units to make mirror image rows, as shown. Make 1 each.



5.  Join the units made in steps 4 and 5, as shown. Make 1 each.



6. Make the tree trunk unit. Join the light and dark #68 triangles to make a square. Arrange it with the light #67 squares and #68 triangle as shown and join into rows. Join the rows. Make 1.



7. Prepare the dark rectangle for applique by turning under ¼″ on 2 long sides and one short side and pressing.



8. Position the rectangle right side up on the unit made in step 7, aligning the short folded edge at match points shown. The trunk piece is a bit long, to accommodate placement. Applique in place using your favorite technique. Trim trunk piece even with top edge, if necessary.



9. Add the dark #68 triangle to the unit made in step 8. Make 1.


10. Arrange the units as shown. Join into 2 rows, then join the rows to complete the block.

 

Copyright © 2014 Martha G. Michell

Happy Independence Day!

Happy July 4th, everyone!  We're celebrating the traditional way -- with hot dogs, apple pie, sale shopping and fireworks!

We're having another "Make Your Own Sale"!  Now through next Thursday, you can save on almost everything on our Website! Even fabric and all quilt kits (except English Manor).

Save 7.5 off fabric and kits, and 15% off everything else.
 
Treat yourself to something on your wish list, or treat a friend to a special gift you know they would love. Regardless of what time zone you are in, you can save money on our quilting products until 12 midnight your time on Thursday night, July 10, 2014!

More info is on the "Special Offers" page on our website.

Wishing you a safe and happy July 4th weekend!

Our good friend Mary Huey has a new tutorial on her blog on cutting and sewing split diamonds and making other six-pointed star designs with Template Sets G and H.  Check it out!

Mary is teaching a six-pointed star sampler class at next month's NQA show, too. 

(This image is from the back cover of Six is for Hexagons.)

Smashing Sashings Children's Quilt

I recently discovered a wonderful alphabet panel designed by Jennifer Heynen for In the Beginning fabrics and thought, what a great sashing star quilt that would make!  So I made one!

 
It's a great example of how easy and quick it is to use an all-over print in place of pieced blocks to make a smashing quilt -- the sashing stars are the patchwork!  It's 47 inches and uses 2 alphabet panels.  Easy peasy to make, and perfect for a child's nap or play quilt.

And we made a 2-page pattern that you can download for free!  It's on our website, or just click the link below and save it to your computer.  Info about our original Sashing Star Set is here.

Download the PDF.

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm happy to announce that From Marti Michell is a Grand Prize sponsor of the 2014 FabShop Hop!  Our amazing! prize is a quiltmaker's dream package -- all this plus a Wild Rose tote bag and template DVD!

So get over to fabshophop.com and start hoppin'! And next time you're on Facebook, "like" FabShop Hop and From Marti Michell to get future news!

EDIT:  Congratulations to Joyce K!