As Laura states, “these endearing, poignant, and sometimes hilarious letters provide a unique window into the lives of children in rural America at the turn of the 20th century”.   

Following the letters is a section with complete, detailed assembly instructions and illustrations for each block.

  The book includes a CD with templates, foundation patterns where needed, and full sized line drawings of each block.  There are assembly diagrams for not only the queen size, but also king, lap and twin. 

Sampler quilts are always interesting to make and this one is even more so.   Just two blocks a week and you’ll be finished this time next year even if you take a few weeks off.   The Pony Club Sampler Quilt would make a great project for a quilt guild and would provide for interesting conversation.

You may want to join the Yahoo group “The Farmer’s Wife Pony Club Quilt“.   There you can chat with other quilters about your progress, post pics of your finished blocks, and view pics of other members’ work.

Laura Hird has been collecting copies of the Farmer’s Wife magazine and has one of the most complete collections in existence.  You can follow her blog, The Farmer’s Wife Quilt, where she posts excerpts from the magazines, and discusses upcoming projects.

 All Star Quilt allows you to choose a theme and then showcase it in the large center of the simple blocks.  The instructions are easy to follow.  Create a quilt that will mean something special.

Amazon Reflections takes a new approach to the stack-n-whack method.  Change your color palette and change the mood of the quilt, but you’ll still end up with a “wow” piece.

Snowball blocks and modified nine patches come together easily (even for a beginner!) to create Playful Rings.  No one has to know how easy it was to make this complicated looking quilt!

Traditional patchwork and machine applique come together to create this contemporary design, Caribbean Fiesta.  You’ll have to work a little harder for this one, but what a splash it makes, right?!   In these colors it kind of makes me want to play Parchessi.

Believe it or not, Whirligig is made up of only squares! Looks hard, but it really isn’t.  Take the opportunity to play with color, fabric and composition.

Nelly’s clear, concise instructions will walk you through the process of paper piecing this masterpiece, Sunset on Ellis Island.  Then you can say “I did that!”

From simple to complicated, all of Nelly’s designs are colorful and interesting.

Pippa began quilting in the 1980′s.  Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.  Many of Pippa’s quilts are in private collections throughout North America.   In the last ten years her focus has been on quilts with color and energy, celebrating life.    Kitambaa Designs specializes in quilt patterns for African and other vibrant fabrics.

Under the African Sun is an adaptation of the traditional Drunkard’s Path block.  African fabrics, batiks, or bright prints will make this a stunning wall quilt. Pippa’s clearly illustrated instructions make this pattern suitable for all skill levels.

Choose hand applique, machine applique or fusible applique as your method to bring to life Zebras Crossing the plains.  Lush green grass is in the foreground and a blazing sun is in the sky. 

Kitambaa Designs has a series of Art Deco inspired quilts that each vividly portray the feeling of a single word.  Fusible applique is use for the quilt Felicity.  You could also use pastels if that expresses bliss to you. 

Hope, another in the Art Deco inspired series, is colorful if a bit more monochromatic.  To me it looks like, if something other than a floral was used for the border, it would make a nice untraditional Christmas quilt. 

Go ahead, check out the rest of Pippa’s designs and add some color to your life!

Marble Game uses marble fabrics to frame prints.   The fabric used for the sashing within the blocks is repeated in the narrow border.   Tiny contrasting corners in each block come together to create multi-colored diamond pieces.  This is a great quilt for you to use up some of your scraps. Instructions for crib size and queen size.

Kara Schorstein started with the traditional Irish Chain Block, modified it, and created Crossroads.  Two simple blocks that work together for a striking design.  Instructions are for a table topper with a scalloped border and a queen size quilt.

Need a summer skirt?  Need to look like you lost a few pounds?  Try the Simple Slimming Skirt Pattern.  With sizes from 6 to 18+, there are three style variations and the underskirt is optional.

Need a new purse to go with your new skirt?  Oh, you made two skirts?!  No problem!  Make one of Lizzie’s Reversible Bags and you have a different purse for each skirt!

Do you have an occassional table that you like to dress up and change with the seasons?   Seasoning The Table gives you seven options for appropriate table toppers.  Log cabin blocks grace the center of each and you can choose the layout.

This selection barely scratches the surface of Seams & Dreams quilt patterns….. there are dozens more.

Rings & Things comes in two sizes, full and queen.  “Circles” made from angled lines surround stars.  Extra stars also appear between the cirles. The two different shades of purple add more interest to an already visually pleasing quilt.

Bargello Circles is an eye catcher.  Using circle fabrics repeats the bargello circle theme.  The rectangles that are strategically placed in the center area are given a little more interest by using striped fabric for some of them. 

Illusions is just what all these quilts are about.  When you are not looking for the straight lines, but standing back and looking at these quilts as a whole, the “circles” really stand out.  Pictured here in reds and greens this makes a perfect winter holiday quilt.   Replace the reds with pinks, use a softer green and you will have a garden looking quilt.

Offset Log Cabin blocks and sashing are used to create the circular illusion in Prarie Night Starburst.  This quilt looks complicated but it is mostly strip piecing so it is fairly easy to put together. 

Isosceles 12421 looks like there are curves everywhere…. it really keeps your eyes moving around… and around!

Did you see any you like?  Go ahead, try a circular themed quilts and still use your rotary cutter and ruler.  Have fun!

The placement of the light and dark fabrics in the Thirty Something quilt makes it look like it is pulsating.   This pattern is perfect for stash reducing or maybe you have a fat quarter bundle that you’ve been wanting to use.

Double Takes I has one pattern in two sizes.  Use layer cake squares for the larger quilt and charm squares for the little quilt.

Scrap Therapy Square Deal Quilt will work to reduce your scraps but don’t overlook getting fabric specifically for this pattern.  This pattern would really shine with the right batiks.

Can’t get any easier than Easy As 10…11…12!  Three fast, fun, and easy quilts.  One is fat eighth friendly, one is layer cake friendly and one is jelly roll friendly. 

If you are looking for a bigger impact, and aren’t afraid of a lot of pieces, here are a couple patterns you might want to try.

Reminiscent of a Trip Around the World quilt, Day Trip uses squares from 2 1/2″ strips to give the look of diamonds.   Lots of pieces but it will go together quicker than you think.

Little Sister Quilt is patterned after an antique quilt.  Simple nine patch blocks are placed in diagonal rows by color.  In the sample shown here, Sandy Klop chose to use different fabrics within the unusual border to make the quilt look more like an antique.

That was just a sampling of the quilt patterns available that use straight line pieces.  Don’t be afraid to be square!

Calla Lilies, with a stained glass look, seem to bloom right out of this wallhanging.  From Designs by Edna, fusible web and fusible bias tape are used with Edna’s clear instructions, including a numbering system for laying out the bias tape.

These Lovely Lilies are usually seen in large clusters along the country roads or in wide borders and the splash of color is beautiful. Surrounded by a pieced border this single stem boldly shines on its own.

Cottage Lily combines machine applique lily blocks with chain blocks.  I like the way the fabric choice for the chain blocks allows them to fade to the background and softly surround the flowers. 

Beautiful as a baptism or christening quilt this Whole Cloth Quilt features lilies of the valley and calla lilies.  One of the swags can be substituted with the baby name and a date.  This quilt is sure to become a family treasure.

Lilies in the Field is made entirely from piecing – not one bit of applique.  Lily blocks alternate with a modified Double Irish Chain.   Instructions are included for a bed size (74″ x 98″), a lap size (50″ x 74″) and a tablerunner (20″ x 44″).

And . . . just for fun . . . Your Pad or Mine?  with two flirting frogs each on their own lily pad.  A third lily pad floats nearby.  Constructed with paper piecing.

The Birdhouse Welcome wallhanging pattern can be made from  charm squares or you can raid your scrap bin.  Full size letter templates are included – you choose the applique method.  Finished size is 12″ by 28″. 

Spring Row Quilt is shown here in just a few colors, but with eleven birdhouses and lots of flowers and vines you could have so much fun playing with color and fabric. 

This is SO CUTE!!!  And just in time for Easter, too.  Quick Cozy Quilts series are patterns for three individual wallhangings.  Make just one or all three.  Each looks great on its own but are designed to look well together, also.

Love Grows… wall hanging features piecework and fusible applique.  Mary Kerr of Just My Imagination has written clear, easy-to-follow instructions.  The 16″ x 17″ wallhanging is embellished with ribbon (for the ivy) and yoyo flowers.

Kathy Sabatino designed these placemats and tablerunner with birdhouse duplexes… fully occupied; no vacancies In The Neighborhood.  The table runner has a birdhouse at each end and the middle has been left empty for a centerpiece.

Lovebird Lane Block of the Month is one of my favorites.  It’s so bright and cheerful. Each birdhouse has its own personality.  The border really completes the beautiful, romantic look of the quilt.

Periwinkle Lane Block 5 is another one of my favorites.  Of course, I like all the Periwinkle Lane blocks.  They are so colorful, fun to make, and the embroidery is just the right accent for the crayons.

Oops… gotta go. All this talk of birdhouses reminded me… I have to go put out seed for the birds!

Grab some bright colorful charm squares and create this beautiful Rainbow Garden.   This pattern uses simple applique and no curved piecing.  What a cheerful quilt to decorate a little girl’s bedroom. 

Bold fabric colors are showcased in Rainbow Crystals tablerunner and placemats.  There is no paper piecing or templates, just stack, slice and mix.  A great hostess gift and no two will be the same.

Hannah’s Rainbow quilt pattern is fat quarter friendly.  Moda Marbles, tone on tones, or very small print fabrics that read as solids work best.  The more different fabrics you use the more seamless the color transition will be. The rainbow binding really adds to the look.

Noah’s Big Job is an adorable wallhanghing that captures Noah as he prepares for the big rain.  Pair of animals are tucked in his pouch, he has a list in one hand and bird’s nest in the other.  Instructions are included for the rainbow sign and the wooden birds.

Rain, Rain Go Away is the April block from Indygo Junction’s Once Upon A Time… In The Country quilt.  It works as a small wallhanging all by itself.  I remember the next line of the saying as “Come again another day” – I like that it hasn’t been added – we wouldn’t mean it anyway!

Rainy Days by Bonnie Kaster will make you glad you are sewing and quilting instead of outside in the rain wrestling with your umbrella.   The silhouette applique shapes can be done by hand or machine.  You can almost feel the wind!

30′s Bunnies is a paper foundation pieced pattern by MH Design designed for small scale reproduction fabrics.  The quilt has a smattering of pinwheels and the bunnies come to life with their button eyes and embroidery floss whiskers.   ’tis the season!

Patriotic Pinwheels would make a great picnic table cloth for the 4th of July.  If you aren’t too messy, you could then spread it out so you can lay on it to watch the fireworks.  The smaller version is crib size.  Strip piecing techniques are used so this quilt will go together rather quickly.

Adding pinwheels to any quilt adds motion but the placement of the rail fence type blocks in this patterns seems to really emphasize the motion.  Spinners Pattern has intructions for two different sized table runners and matching placemats.

Picnic Pinwheels also has a great deal of extra motion going on.  I’ve seen this pattern done with a white background and it looks great that way too – the pinwheels seem to float around.

Go ahead and have some fun.  Make some pinwheels!