Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along ~ Shoo Fly - Block #4

 

Welcome back to the fourth "chapter" of the Little House Sampler Sew Along!  The 4th book in the Little House series is On the Banks of Plum Creek.  When the Ingalls family was forced to move from the prairies of Kansas they headed north to Minnesota. 

They first lived in a sod house until Pas was able to build a clean new house beside Plum Creek. Pa purchased the materials on credit with the intention of paying off the credit with the fall wheat harvest.

Just before the harvest, a strange glittering cloud suddenly blocked out the sun.  Millions of grasshoppers descended over the countryside... destroying all of the crops in the area.

The Shoo Fly block represents this book in the series.  While not a grasshopper, you can be certain that the pioneers were saying Shoo! Shoo! to the pesty creatures.

I originally used this pattern in the Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail quilt.  The pattern made a 12" block.  I had to pull out the paper, pencil and calculator and reduce the block by 50%.  Finished unit sizes were 4" square.  Cutting instructions for the original block were as follows:

From Light fabric cut:  

4 – 4-1/2” Squares

2 – 5” Squares

From Dark fabric cut:  

1 – 4-1/2” Square

2 – 5” Squares

Always work with the finished unit size, make the adjustment and then add your 1/4" seam allowances (two seam allowances - one each on opposite sides of the block = 1/2").

4-1/2" minus the seam allowances of 1/2" = 4" (Finished unit size). 

Multiply 4 x 50% = 2 ~ 4 minus 2 = 2"

Add 1/2" for seam allowances = 2-1/2"

Cut 2-1/2" square units 

The half-square triangles... We now know that the finished unit size in the smaller block is 2" so we add 1" to the finished unit size (2")

Cut the units for the HSTs 3" square.  After making the HST units, trim to 2-1/2" square.  The resized cutting instructions are as follows:

From Light fabric cut:  

4 – 2-1/2” Squares

2 – 3” Squares

From Dark fabric cut:  

1 – 2-1/2” Square

2 – 3” Squares

This block is a beginner friendly block and will piece together quickly.  Before you know it, you will be ready to add the log cabin frame.  When finished, be sure to come back to join the block party for a chance to win a fat quarter (US mailing address only).

Only one knew the answer to the trivia question (thanks to a little help from the internet) I asked with the Harvest Basket pattern... Almonzo won first prize at the country fair for a pumpkin.  Almonzo waited for the dark of the moon in May to plant his pumpkin seeds.  He may have had a few "feeding" tricks to help the pumpkin grow as well. ;)

Farmers were known to plant (or butcher, schedule surgeries or even cut their hair) by the sign of the moon as well as follow many other "wives' tales".  My own Dad used such methods... Do they really work?  I can't say that I've ever seen solid evidence, but I certainly will not argue with anyone who chooses to use or follow them.  Afterall, the Farmer's Almanac was a trusted publication for years... and for more than weather predictions. ;)

Have you ever used or referred to a Farmer's Almanac?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!  Now, grab your pattern and get sewing!  I look forward to seeing your blocks!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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