I've been sewing along with Kathleen @KathleenMcMusing and others, making the Fab Farm quilt designed by Elizabeth Hartman! This week we're working on the pig block!!!Here's the pattern cover and the full size quilt. ⤵️ I'm making the baby size quilt, which is 1/4 the blocks and size. My first tip in making the Fab Farm quilt is to choose fabrics that have strong contrast with your background. The original background is grey. ⤴️ Due to the coloring of some of the animals, a standard white/cream background won't work.
I'm using a grey Grunge for background. I loved these two fabrics for the strawberry block, left below ⤵️. But from a distance, the green blended into the grey background too much, and I had to remake it with a stronger contrast. That was a good lesson to learn on the first block--I rethought my fabric choices after that.
My second tip is to use stickers to label each of the different pieces. These stickers ⤵️ were from the Dollar Tree.One sticker for each of the letters is sufficient, and if there are multiple pieces with the same letter, clip them together with Wonder Clips. I stored them on one of my foam core boards while assembling.⤵️My third tip is about pressing. Elizabeth Hartman gives a blanket statement to "press all seams open". Sometimes it's easier though to press to the side, especially if there are 2 or 3 seams on one side and no seams on the other. So feel free to press to the side, when the seams want to go that way. But! When there are a lot of seams that come together, they need to be pressed open. Here's my new favorite notion in the studio ⤵️, a 20" Ewe & Me Wooly Pressing Bar!!! It makes pressing seams open so easy! And it doubles as a clapper. I recommend getting the 20" length--you'll want it for pressing larger quilt seams open, too.
Interesting Info: "Buta" is pig in Japanese (pronounced boo-ta), and a pig says, "buu, buu" in Japanese, not oink, oink! Here are my first seven blocks! ⤴️ There are ten blocks in all. Kathleen McMusing will have another link party when we reach block ten. Check out her tips for the pig block today, also!
Grace and peace!!! ~Nancy
Love your piggy and the grunge dots are perfect. Such great hints too. I hate pressing seams open and have forgotten to mention that I mostly don't on it. The pressing bar /clapper looks fab!
ReplyDeleteLove Miss Piggy, I think she is my favorite so far. I need to go look at that pressing bar, I am not a fan of open seems because they are difficult to press.
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestions especially knowing what the animals look like and how that impacts the background fabric. Your piggy is so cute. But AYEEEE look at all the pieces. I'm so not in to lots of little pieces anymore.
ReplyDeleteYour piggy turned out really well - I like all of your blocks! I dislike pressing seams open (too fussy), but I can see where that pressing bar would be a handy tool!
ReplyDeleteOh!!!! I love them all!! This is going tobe such a fun quilt!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow so cute and great tips
ReplyDeleteIt's turning out wonderful. You're doing great work. Thanks for sharing the in progress photos.
ReplyDeleteNancy, these are just adorable. I just purchased the pattern and have been reading it. I appreciate all the tips you and Kathleen are giving with each block! Thanks for sharing on Monday Musings!
ReplyDeleteThis piggy is so adorable. The quilt is admirable to take on...and so sweet. I hope it's one you will be keeping for yourself or someone very very special.
ReplyDeleteVery cute piggy! The pressing bar looks like a great tool. I agree with pressing seams to one side when it makes more sense.
ReplyDeleteThey are all looking so good!
ReplyDeleteI am loving your version of the farm! I think I need to check out that pressing tool...it looks very handy! :)
ReplyDeleteCute little pig! I love the fabric you choose for the ears and feet! The Pressing Bar looks great.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your tips, and linking up!
Great tips but I especially like the sticker one. I am going to file in my memory bank for the future. Thanks for sharing in Sew & Tell.
ReplyDeleteCute pig! Thanks for your tips, though I have a question about Wonder Clips (I think those are what you meant to call them). Do you have a problem with them breaking? I sure do! In the past year I've had to throw away at least 30 of them because the flat side broke. I've owned mine for about eight years, so perhaps they wear out? I've heard good things about the seam presser/clapper combo. It's great that you own one and are enjoying using it. Keep having fun!
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy, those are so cute! Thanks for the tips - it can be pretty daunting working with so many pieces! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteOh these are adorable, thank you for sharing them at Handmade Monday :-)
ReplyDeleteI thought the pig block was amazing and then I scrolled down and saw the others. What a wonderful collection. This is going to be a darling baby quilt. Beautiful work on all your blocks, and great tips as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute little pig! I am still debating a dinosaur from her other pattern for my nephew. But they are quite a thing to cut and organize. Though I do not mind the small pieces that much. Enjoy the rest of your blocks. xo
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