Awhile ago, I was looking on Amazon and saw a new quilt book called, Farmer’s Wife By Laurie Aaron Hird. I put it on my wish list hoping that someday, I might purchase it.
Being a farmer’s wife and admirer of sampler quilts, I thought the book might be something I would like. Well, Kelli bought it for me for my birthday. I was real happy but after looking carefully at the quilt, it looked pretty overwhelming….there are 101 different blocks in the quilt and some even have inset seams…something I don’t know if I am ready to tackle!Â
Looking more carefully at the book, it was inspired bya 1922 contest in the Farmer’s Wife magazine. Readers were supposed to write in answering the following question: “If you had a daughter of marriagable age, would you, in light of you own experience (as a farmer’s wife), want her to many a farmer?” The book features written responses from farm wives along with quilt blocks that were inspired by those responses.Â
I read one response and started crying. Growing up a farmer’s daughter and becoming a farmer’s wife, I could really relate to the letter. The farming life is both a blessing and a curse….and it’s not something you can do a little bit. It isn’t just a job, it’s a life….a life for the whole family. Most days, I love it. Most days, I wouldn’t trade it for anything…but their are days, that are difficult.
After reading one letter in the book, I am hooked. Although I don’t want to tackle any inset seams….I’m thinking I might give it a try. Although making 101 different blocks seems monumental….I think it might be fun.  It will be a quilt to remember. Now I am trying to calculate how many blocks I have to do in a month to finish it in a year….it might just have to be a two year project :)
Ironically, my daughter Kelli, who gave me the book has been dating a farmer for almost two years. So would I advise her to marry a farmer? Yes…I would.
How funny! You are a farmer’s wife, and the things you do on a daily basis are so intimidating to most people. Yet, you don’t give them a second thought. You just do them, because you need to.
I suggest that you approach the inset/Y-seams the same way. Take a few scraps and play with the process until you can make them look good. From the photos in the sidebar, it looks like you do a lovely job of quilting. So it shouldn’t take more than a few tries before you have the hang of it! I am off to give paper piecing a whirl myself.
Good luck on your Farmer’s Wife Quilt! It ought to be a stunner when you are finished!
Thanks for the vote of confidence….I need it sometimes.
I want to remember this book…sounds like something I would love to read.
I grew up on a small farm in Tennessee, surely different to the farming that goes on here. And I worked at an orchard near her for 20 yrs…just a small orchard…and I know it is not farming but it is a life I love.
It sounds like you had a wonderful farm experience. I have been gone for a good chunk of January and can’t wait to get caught up so I can get a couple blocks finished.
love the civil war quilt—have you thought about selling the kit—-might be interested if the price is right—-let me know—-love your blog—keep it up Marie