Welcome to week 4 of the Fab Farm Sew Along! This week’s block is the cow.
Now, spring is always full of baby farm animals and I remember loving to go to the nearby farms to see the baby cows. There was a small farm at the top of our street, and down a few blocks, near the elementary school. We went to see those cows nearly every day when we were first allowed to travel alone.
I have some exciting news. I have two quilting friends co-hosting in the next few weeks – Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts about Quilting and Nancy of Grace and Peace Quilting. They both do beautiful work and I can’t wait to see what they have done with their Fab Farm blocks.
Cutting The Block
The cutting instructions for the large and small quilts are both on page 22. Again, in order to make the cutting and identification of the pieces easy, let’s use SEPC.
- Scan the cutting instructions
- Enlarge the cutting instructions
- Print the cutting instructions
- Cut – both the paper and the fabric, attaching the paper label to the fabric pieces.
There was nothing particularly tricky here.
Making Block 4
As I begin, I gather some of the pieces for the first units – the face, nostrils and front leg. The instructions are on page 23. I might have changed the eyes, they are a bit dark next to my black but visible when in the right light…maybe a little quilting around the eye will help make it stand out a bit more.
HINT #1: Take a photo of the cow on page 21 to refer to as you are piecing.
I have begun using a picture of the animal on my phone to check that I am getting all the pieces. This prevents me flipping back and forth to check against the picture of the completed cow, and helps me check that I know where I am going with the units.
HINT#2: Watch out for the extra snout pieces!
Figure 4 on page 23 shows that the snout gets a few more pieces added to it, 3-Ks and 1-AA – don’t miss it as it is embedded in the assembly of the face/nostrils/front leg unit. I didn’t miss them, but don’t want you to!
HINT #3: The finishing piecing for the block is on 45.
I didn’t realize I missed this until I went to write the post. I just used the picture as I finished the piecing on page 22. I wish all the labels were in it, like they are on page 21, it is sometimes hard to be sure you have everything.
The Finished Block
I love the way the cow looks and the piecing went smoothly.
The Schedule
Here’s the schedule. If you want to pick a block and co-host with me on a particular week, I would be thrilled, please email me if you are interested.
| Date | Block |
|---|---|
| Monday, April 3, 2023 | Fabric Selection |
| Monday, April 24, 2023 | Block 1 Strawberry |
| Monday, May 1, 2023 | Block 2 Horse |
| Monday, May 8, 2023 | Block 3 Goat |
| Monday, May 15, 2023 | Block 4 Cow |
| Monday, May 22, 2023 | Block 5 Chicken Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts co-host |
| Monday, May 29, 2023 | Block 6 Bee |
| Monday, June 5, 2023 | Block 7 Pig Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting co-host |
| Monday, June 12, 2023 | Block 8 Sheep |
| Monday, June 19, 2023 | Block 9 Short Sunflower |
| Monday, June 26, 2023 | Block 10 Tall Sunflower |
| Monday, July 17, 2023 | Parade of Quilts |
Pattern and Kits Available
I am listing some links for patterns and kits. They are affiliate links, so a little comes to me (no additional cost to you) to support the costs of running the blog.
- Amazon: Fab Farm pattern*
- Annie’s: Fab Farm Pattern*
- Fat Quarter Shop: Fab Farm Pattern*
- Fat Quarter Shop: Fab Farm Quilt Kit* (currently scheduled for July)
Coming Up on My Blog
I am looking forward to sharing My Strippy Stars quilt. I was hoping to have it done before the end of the month, but I will share it next week. I will also show you how I helped a friend with a quilt (not well made by someone I don’t know, if you ask me) so that it could be the remembrance she needed.
My Strippy Stars
Fixing a T-Shirt Quilt
Fab Farm SAL – Block 5 (5/21)
Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd (5/22)
Ships Ahoy
Linking Up
Fabrics Stash
Fabric in this month: 12.26
Fabric out this month: 4.00
Fabric in this year: 36.25
Fabric out this year: 31.75
NET Fabric: +4.5 yards!
Having to move to back pages to finish the block kinda threw me at first. I’m slowly getting caught up with the blocks, now that the chicken is done!
I’m with you and Wendy–not sure why we had to flip to the back for the rest of the cow instructions! And I also noticed the eyes don’t show up well. But that is the way the original quilt is, too. Overall this is a fun block!!!
Kathleen that cow is soooo cute! I’m looking forward to Wendy’s and Nancy’s posts.
We lived next door to a farmer and his wife, and they milked their cows in a small white concrete block building. When I was 10 I would walk over to their place and watch them milk by hand. Then they got machines and boy was that a cool thing to watch! I’ve always loved everything about them, from the smell (can you imagine!) to their mooing to the calves.
I don’t know if you remember, but several years ago for an RSC project I made a paper-pieced cow face each month. I loved making those cows, and the quilt eventually went to my aunt who lives on the farm. Your cow is adorable and I love seeing all the animals together so far!
Another cute and fun block! I love cows! I received my book and am so glad you are adding your tips for piecing! I just looked at it and set it aside until I can start playing! Thanks for sharing with us at MM.
What a cute and fun block! I love cows and this one is adorable. I really appreciate your piecing tips. When I have a chance to get this started, I will definitely be coming back to re-read them! My book did come and I plan to try making the smaller one, but I had to just set it aside for now!