Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along ~ Harvest Basket - Block #3

 

Welcome back!  It is time for block #3 of the Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along.

Book #3 is the story of Almonzo Wilder's childhood.  Unlike the other books, which follow Wilder’s own life growing up on the American frontier, Farmer Boy tells the childhood story of Almanzo Wilder, Laura’s future husband. Set in 1866 in upstate New York, this book offers a vivid and detailed look at what life was like for a prosperous farming family in the post-Civil War Northeast.  Farmer Boy is structured around the calendar, offering readers a month-by-month account of life on a working farm in the 1860s. 

The inspiration for this block comes from Chapters 19 & 20 (Early Harvest & Late Harvest) with the stories of harvesting hay, oats and wheat, as well as beans, pumpkins, carrots, turnips and potatoes.

There was no time for rest and play for anyone in the family.  While the boys were all out in the field harvesting, the girls were in the house preserving.  Cucumber pickles, green-tomato pickles, and watermelon-rind pickles; they dried corn and apples and made jams and jellies.  Nothing was wasted of all the summer's bounty.  Apple cores were saved for making vinegar and a bundle of oat-straw was soaking in a tub on the back porch.  Whenever there was a spare moment, Almonzo's mother braided an inch or two of the straw for making next summer's straw hats.

The block that accompanies this book is the Harvest Basket.  It was originally a part of my Pieces From the Past series (Basket of Diamonds) and measured 9" finished.  For this quilt, like all of the LHS blocks, it needs to be 6" finished.  As you can see in the photo above, the block layout is 4 x 4 units.  Each unit needs to measure 1-1/2", finished.

The square pieces simply need 1/2" added for the seam allowance.  And like the Native Star block last time, when making Half-Square Triangle units you add 1" to the finished unit size = 2-1/2".  For a more precisely sized unit, many will add 7/8".  I prefer to use the oversized method because it allows me to square up the unit when trimming and the end result is a proper sized finished block.  Remember, you get two HST units from each set... In this pattern you will have a few extra HSTs, as noted on the pattern.  (The extras can be placed in the spare parts department.)  

Add the log cabin frame around the block and then come back to link up your finished block for a chance to win a prize!

Now for a little fun, here's a trivia question for you to answer before you go to payhip for the pattern.  

What does Almanzo win first prize for at the country fair?

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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