Our Choice for 2015 Quilt Book of the Year
This Book Will Inspire You and Provide Project Ideas for Years!
If we had to choose the Quilt Book of the Year for 2015, it surely would be The Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt: Inspiring Letters from Farm Women of the Great Depression and 99 Quilt Blocks That Honor Them by Laurie Aaron Hird (purchase it here).
Photo courtesy of LifeAfterLaundry.com.
We run across mention of this book several times every day as we’re planning articles for our readers. Quilt-alongs and Pinterest boards specifically dedicated to this book have sprung up like weeds.
It’s no wonder that the book is finishing the year in the number 1 spot in the “Quilts and Quilting” category on Amazon!
Block 20 – Caroline. Photo Courtesy of The Patchsmith.
So, what’s all the fuss?
For starters, the book features real-life letters from The Farmer’s Wife magazine that were published during the 1930s. These letters talk of the challenges (and hope) that farm women experienced during the Great Depression. Not only do they give fascinating insight into our history, they’re also incredibly inspiring.
Block 5 – Anne. Photo Courtesy of The Patchsmith.
The book also contains 99 unique quilt block patterns that were inspired by the letters and meant to be made up into a sampler quilt. The quilt in the book is sewn with 1030s reproduction fabrics, adding to the book’s popularity.
Block 7 – Augusta. Photo Courtesy of The Patchsmith.
The blocks range from simple to fiendishly complex. Thankfully, a CD of block templates is included with the book.
Making the entire sampler quilt is quite the project – which probably explains the large number of quilt-alongs that have popped up.
However, many quilters choose a few of their favorite blocks and put them together into smaller quilts.
It’s fun to explore the many ways that quilters are using this book and its patterns. You’ll find many examples on these Pinterest boards. You’ll also find several quilt-alongs there.
The 1930s Sampler book, published by Fons and Porter was published in June, 2015. It’s a follow up to the author’s popular book The Farmer’s Wife Sampler Quilt: Letters from 1920s Farm Wives and the 111 Blocks They Inspired (purchase it here).
We feel that both books, but especially the 1930s Sampler book, are must-haves for every quilter’s library.
