IF EVERYONE JUMPED OFF A CLIFF WOULD YOU?

If that cliff is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt, then yes, I would.

I first saw it almost two years ago when I bought a different book of small square samples.  I got the other book and promptly shelved it when I saw the 6" squares and the historical colors, which goes with nothing I own or hope to.  The recent popularity of the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt on the blogosphere got me rethinking.

I started on a square or two and pretty soon, dinner was forgotten, the kids were a distant memory, and housework never existed.  (I am sure they will all be there when I am done.)  Here's what I've got so far

I'm about 1/5th through.  I think I am going to make about half of them and do a lap quilt and then I will evaluate my commitment to the relationship.

Jelly Roll Race Quilt

While I was visiting Elizabeth she told me about these quilts she had seen.  And I was intrigued because I bought a jelly roll on impulse that I later regretted (I like the fabric, but hey, it's expensive!) and so it would be a great way to put it to good use with minimum risk.  Turns out, it might be one of my favorite quilts.  It will be super easy to quilt, too, because all I have to do is follow the line.

Basically, you take a jelly roll and sew all the short ends together to make one SUPER LONG (44" x 40) strip.  You cut off 18" on one end.  Fold it together and start sewing down one long side.  When you get to the fold, cut it and finish the seam.  Now you have two really long strips.  Sew them together again and cut at the end.  Now you have four pretty long strips.  Repeat two or three more times, I can't remember but you'll be able to tell.

The longest part of sewing this quilt was refilling the bobbins.  For real.  It's that fast.

Oh, and I found this tutorial, if you'd rather.  It's here.  I really liked how she sewed her strips together on the diagonal but I was worried about not sewing all my lines in the same direction and then it would be a mess.

Quilt As You Go Log Cabin Pillow

I saw this darling quilt here and wanted to try quilting as you go, but I didn't want to commit to a quilt (even a lap quilt) because I have several things in the works.  I needed instant gratification!  I used my Chez Moi something roll (thinner strips than the jelly roll) and this was so fun and just stitched up in no time.  Love.

Now I need to make a table runner using this same technique.