If it's February 1st, it must be SOW-A-LONG day!

Well, the day has arrived! We are starting our Farmer's Wife Sow-A-Long! YEAH! I hope you are all ready, excited and prepared to start.  
First a couple of guidelines: 
I will be posting the instructions/blocks on the FIRST and THIRD Wednesday of the month.  Sharing of your blocks' progress can be done once I figure out HOW the heck to do that!
Next: I am going to be posting cutting instructions. It's not going to be the only way to do it. You may have your own favored methods. Go for it. No one particular way is right.  Do what works for you!!! That's my motto!!


Remember the blocks finish at 6" (6.5" unf).  I will indicate finished/unfinished sizes of the sections.  So, check your 1/4" seams regularly!!!I always sew my blocks larger than needed, so I can cut them down to size. To me, that's easier than trying to make them bigger! :-) I also am pretty religious about sizing up my sections and blocks as I go along. That's another thing that's entirely up to you.
We are doing 6 blocks a month. I will be indicating the numbers of the blocks which correspond to the book's numbers, not our numerical order. On page 127, there is a diagram of the quilt laid out with all the blocks. You can copy that and cross off the ones we've done, if you want. Of course you can lay them out as you wish! Note that I am doing 2 different colorways for each block, just to give you an idea of how they can look with different fabrics. 
I also am suggesting you CHANGE your NEEDLE to start.  I just read an email suggesting the TOPSTITCH needle is the best, and I fortunately had one...let me tell you, those babies have the BIGGEST EYES ever!! Wind a new bobbin, so it's ready (not that these blocks use a lot of thread...VBG). Clean out the lint and give your machine a little oil! 
This is going to be FUN! Don't stress; don't get nervous or worried! Go at your own pace. Do what you can.


BLOCK 4 (page 131) Basket Weave

Cut light, medium and dark strips 1-1/2" x 16; Sew together in sets of 3; subcut each set 3-1/2 x 3-1/2" (unf.) Sew together as indicated.




BLOCK 21 (page 148) CONTRARY WIFE

Cut (5) 2-1/2" background squares .  Make 4 half square triangles (med/dark) which are 2-1/2" unf, using whatever method you prefer. I use the easy angle ruler, cutting my strips at 2-1/2. You can also cut 2 squares 3", mark the diagonal, sew on both sides and trim to 2-1/2". Sew sections together as indicated.




BLOCK 6 (page 133) BIG DIPPER.

Light fabric: cut (2) 4-1/2 squares, cut diagonally twice
Med fabric: cut (2) 4-1/2 squares, cut diagonally twice.
Sew together consistently on the same side so you have mirror images. Each quarter square triangle will measure 3-1/2" unf.


THAT'S IT!!! It was easy, right?? Won't take any time...You'll love it.
I would love to see your progress on your blocks. I'm trying to figure out the best way to share that. That's a work in progress.


Next installment: Wednesday Feb. 15