The FWS Pony Club Quilt-Along Wk 28 Miller's Daughter & Mountain Maze Discussion Page
 

I have one done for this week!!! go look! H.

I'm so sad I didn't find this board sooner! I'm a new quilter. I am currently working on a sampler quilt (among other things). It's my first sampler and I fell in love with the process of choosing fabrics for just one block and not committing to an entire quilt. I love that each block is in itself like it's own little quilt. So I found myself in the craft section at Barnes and Noble the other day. (because when I'm not quilting, I'm reading!) I found the Farmer's Wife Sampler Book and just had to buy it because I myself AM a farmer's wife and recently learned about sampler blocks. It was like it was put there on that shelf just for me.

So I have this book and I am utterly excited and overwhelmed by it. I've seen two types of FWS quilts. (1) Scrappy Style and choosing fabrics from your stash that fit the block. And (2) Pre-choosing coordinating fabrics and doing all the blocks out of those few colors.

What did you gals choose? Are there any pro's and con's to either way? And if I choose coordinating fabrics, how much do you think i'll need? As a beginning quilter, will I be able to tackle this project? ALL advice is appreciated.

HilaryK8, I'm glad you jumped in here. There are a whole lot of threads from when we did our FWS quilts-same group that's doing this one. If I wasn't a senior blonde I'd post a link but search under FWS finished quilts here and you'll get lots of different ideas. Some did scrappy; I did and like you I enjoyed picking the fabric one block at a time. Don't feel overwhelmed-just take it one at a time. By the time you're 1/3 of the way through you will have learned so much. I've become a much better quilter thanks to practice and all the help along the way from the group. Ask any of us questions either here or by PM.

As a beginner, it's a tough project but if you take your time with each block you'll get it. And have fun with it! I think this is a perfect project for you as a farmer's wife. When I started I didn't know the difference between a pony and a jack ass LOL. Good luck, and keep us posted.

Hilary K8, The Farmers Wife Sampler quilt is the first one that leader Honchey lead us through and the thread is on QB and people are still viewing it along with tips for each week when the goal was 2 per week. Some of us are still trying to finish and post on that thread; mine is ready for the Long Arm Quilter now. I learned a lot from this group...even though I was self-taught with bad habits, they taught me on this board how to do it right.

The Farmers Wife Pony Club is based on Laura's second book by that title. Thus we have this thread. If you have enough patience and persistence, you 'can' attitude, with hints on the threads of QB, you can do the blocks. Des Moines, Iowa, Creekside Quilt Shop started the lessons in their shop, and many other Local Quilt Shops also give lessons and help.

The fabric you choose is whatever you like; as you look through the thread on QB, you will see that we each chose a different path with the weekly blocks. Not all was perfect, in my case, but highly enjoyable. Frustration ruled a bit in the learning process, but we forged ahead to the finish or almost there. You never know your limits until you try, and always ask questions...and keep asking until you are satisfied with the answers.

Well now I'm going to have to go buy that book too! I love the idea of sewing along with friends so I'm going to try to talk my aunt into starting the FWS with me. Two blocks a week sounds fun! Now I'm going to go check out the previous week entries.

HilaryK8, please join in on the fun of the Pony Quilt Club, you won't be disappointed. Lots of good advice and if you need help, just ask. I just posted mine for the week, now I have to get busy on the next few weeks. Lots of color selections also.

HilaryK8--Welcome welcome!! Here's the link Jan was talking about

http://www.quiltingboard.com/blocks-...e-t148904.html

I was attracted to the FWS book too because I am a FW as well. And guess what we got a good solid inch of rain today! Looking out the window to the corn field can't believe how many tassels popped out in the last half hour and the corn leaves opening wide to accept this lovely rain. Sky is still rumbling a bit so maybe more is on it's way. This little bit will help our third crop hay--desperately need this.

Oh and it's okay to chat on this thread, right folks? Because here is why I didn't get my blocks done yet this week. My 8 yo GD is learning to sew. Last winter I bought a small Janome machine just for my little girls and this week we have started. We started in Lynda Milligan's book Sewing Machine Fun for Kids. Em has caught on to threading the machine and putting the bobbin in and has sewn some Christmas ornaments. Tomorrow it's hair scrunchies! (1) Threading the machine. (2) Sewing stars. (3) Christmas in July! Now off to find some fabric for scrunchies and this week's blocks:o[ATTACH=CONFIG]350018[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]350019[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]350020[/ATTACH]

Great job, Oksewglad, teaching granddaughter to sew. Wow. What a proud moment. Please keep up with the progress with photos and show us more...and we can all 'adopt' a granddaughter on this site.

Finally, I have my "Gone Fishing" panel designed into a Queen size...so will halt progress there to do a few more blocks for PC. Cut out two this afternoon; hope to do more tomorrow.

OKSewGlad, hope that shower can happen here....we are sooooo dry, cracks in the ground everywhere and watering just takes the garden so far....tomatoes are dying...new seeds are not growing any...(fall flowers planted in miracle grow soil)..Praying for rain that is not in the long range forecast.

Hi HilaryK8, hope you stay around a while and join us, I joined the FWS group and I must say it was the most enjoyable 12 months of sewing, 2 blocks a week and lots of encouragement along the way. I had no hesitation on starting the Pony Club quilt (although my fabric is a rose theme). Enjoy the book and my only advice is don't get overwhelmed take it 1 block at a time and you'll get there.

No blocks so far this week, hope to get some sewing time on the weekend, gosh where does the time go ?????