Farmer's Daughter Quilt Backing

My backing fabric for my Farmer's Daughter Quilt is from the line Books and Letters by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics.  http://www.windhamfabrics.net/cgi-bin/fabricshop/gallery.cgi?func=show&file=1&Category=576&Page=1&v=1

I first considered choosing a Kansas Troubles fabric because my grandmother lived her entire life in Kansas.  But when I found this fabric featuring journals, I knew it was meant for this quilt.  The purpose of this project was to create blocks to go with my grandmother's 1916 diary entries. 

My friend and long-armer is going to quilt it for me.  I love her work.  She does everything freehand.  She has gotten very good results using bamboo batting, so that's what she'd like to use in my quilt.  Since it is a large king-sized quilt, she feels the lightweight bamboo will be perfect.



Entry in her diary.  The last task of my grandmother's day. 
She kept a diary most of her life. 
This photo was taken in 1950 by Life Photograph Wayne Miller.

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/10/farmers-daughter-quilt-before-borders.html

Farmer's Daughter Quilt Before Borders

This is my Farmer's Daughter Quilt before borders are added.  The borders will also be black and probably about 3" wide, so they will not radically change the look of the quilt.  Before borders, my quilt is 108" wide by 117" long - so it is difficult to know how to photograph it! 

The 140 blocks range in size from 6" to 12".  After completing all the blocks, I first put two or three blocks together to create 58 rectangles 18" in length.  For example, two 9" blocks together are 18" in length.  Two 6" blocks with a 12" block above (or below) equal 18" in length.  A 10" block joined to an 8" block plus 2" filler strip equal 18" in length.  Finally, three 6" blocks equal 18" in length.

I wanted each block to be featured, so I decided on a stained glass effect.  I sewed a 3/4" horizontal black sashing between the blocks so that each of these 58 rectangles ended up being 18-3/4" long.  They were of different widths, though.  I ended up with:

1 - 14" wide rectangle
22 - 12" wide rectangles
18 - 10" wide rectangles
9 - 9" wide rectangles
3 - 8-1/2" wide rectangles
3 - 8" wide rectangles
1 - 7-1/2" wide rectangles
1 - 6" wide rectangle

I decided to have six rows of 18-3/4" long blocks.  I drew a chart on typing paper and began to distribute the blocks evenly among the rows.  After playing with it, each row was either 108.25" wide or 108.5" wide - only 1/4" difference.  A miracle! 

After laying it out on paper, I worked with one row at a time and laid out the real blocks.  For example, one row called for 6 - 12" blocks, 2 - 10" blocks, and 1 - 9" block.  I arranged them the way I wanted and sewed the same 3/4" black sashing in between the blocks.  I began with the middle rows first because I knew those would show up the most on my king-sized bed.  

I will take another photo when the outside borders are on! 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/10/farmers-daughter-quilt-backing.html