Today is my turn as a guest blogger for the Farmer's Wife 1930's Sampler Quilt Sew-along with Fat Quarter Shop and Gnome Angel. I have made block #58 Martha.


I am hand sewing all my blocks, switching between hand piecing and English Paper Piecing. I do find hand piecing to be quicker but I still enjoy cutting up papers occasionally. Recently I saw a link on Miriam's instagram to a tutorial by The DIY Addict for a different kind of stitch and I really wanted to try it out. I know some of you are already using it and really enjoy the result it gives. To see The DIY Addict's Flat Back Stitch tutorial video, click here!


Here's what I found trying the Flat Back Stitch for the first time:

⬝ Use tape! It really does help keep your seams straight. I used some washi tape and it worked really well.
⬝ My stitches are really tiny and close together, I did this when I started doing whip stitch too, I think it's my natural anxiety making me overly cautious.
⬝ It was slow. Again I was really slow when I started epp and, like anything new, I am sure I will speed up a little with practice (though all hand sewing is slow!)
⬝ It was tricky to sew together the sections, not being used to the stitch made joining the component parts together a bit difficult. I think this is just me getting used to a different way of doing it and finding out the best way to jiggle those points to meet.
⬝ You really can't see the stitches from the front!! This is a huge bonus for me, especially when my epp blocks are going to sit with my hand pieced blocks. You can't see the stitches on my hand piecing blocks either but the ones I have whip stitched you can. Now I'm not saying that's a bad thing, after all it is handmade work but it is satisfying to have them be invisible.
⬝ I have only made one block but the stitches seem strong. I have tried doing ladder stitch and variations before but felt the stitches didn't hold up as well as whip stitch. The flat back stitch does in my opinion.

I am going to make more blocks using this stitch, I would love to get quicker and the end result really impressed me!


#58 Martha
This letter is all about the "delightful memories" of being raised in the country. I chose the lighter brown fabric to represent the "cool dust pushing up between my bare toes", the brighter fabric in the centre for "bursting a red-ripe watermelon over my knee" and the mellow dots for "turning somersaults into the deep, fragrant hay in the newly filled mow".



One of the aspects of quilting that brings me so much joy is trying new things! I really enjoyed making a block with this new stitch and learning a different way to epp. If you try it please let me know what you think!







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