Dear Friends,

Our local Sarpy County Fair in Springfield, NE is fast approaching. The past several weeks I have been mentoring an up and coming 4-Her with her quilt entry for the county fair. This is Ellie’s fifth quilt, each one becoming more advanced as her skills have improved. She has done a terrific job picking out the fabrics, colors that she loves, and sewing the blocks together. This week I am showing her how to make and sew on the perfect binding. We are all hoping that the judge will reward her efforts with a coveted purple ribbon.

Grandma Louise and Grandpa Earl were 4-H parents and club leaders in the rural Sarpy County community.  Pictured are my mom and uncles with their 4-H livestock ribbons. And, my mom in front of her grand champion calf and in her sewing project, a dark turquoise wool suit (I have that suit hanging in my closet). They were all quite the award winners.

I started my love with a sewing machine as a 4-H member, too.  I remember my first project was an apron with a cased waistband opening for a plastic hoop to slide through. Then came the Quick Trick Skirt with an elastic waistband. I think both are still in the cedar chest at my mom’s house. I also made a wool suit and numerous high school formals. My siblings and I did the livestock exhibits, too. All four of us had sheep to exhibit and my brothers also showed cattle.

This is the last block (#12) of the ‘From Louise’s Garden’ Sew Along.  In two weeks I will provide the setting instructions for the final quilt layout.

Finished Block 4-1/2″

Cutting for one block:

from light background cut 3 | 1-3/4″ squares

from light background cut 6 | 1-5/8″ squares, cut once on the diagonal

from medium #1 cut 1 | 2″ x 5″ rectangle

from medium #2 cut 3 | 2-3/8″ squares, cut once on the diagonal

from dark cut 3 | 1-3/4″ squares

Using the 3 light and 3 dark 1-3/4″ squares, make 6 half-square triangle units. Square these units to 1-1/4″ square.

Using the photo for placement, stitch block units together.

 

Happy Stitching,

Debbie