Farmer’s Daughter Quilt Block
Skill level: Confident Beginner
The Farmer’s Daughter Quilt Block is a 5-patch block that makes a star-like pattern around a central 9-patch. The Farmer’s Daughter Quilt Block pattern is made up of simple squares and half square triangles typically using three colors. Depending on color choices, the 4 outer squares can sometimes give the illusion of a 3-D visual effect.
One of the things I really like about this block is it’s simplicity, and yet it still has quite a bit of visual interest. The grouping makes a simple star pattern. If only it had the word “Star” in the name, I might have an easier time remembering what it looks like! (I’ve said before that quilt block names are such a mystery to me…) I can only imagine that some sweet farming mom wanted to name it something to remind her of her daughter.
One block. Many variations.
The block is listed in Jinny Beyer’s book, The Quilter’s Album of Blocks and Borders, and is also known by the following names: Corner Posts, Flying Birds, Miller’s Daughter, and Rolling Star. In the 1930’s, the same design was presented by Nancy Cabot under the name Two Crosses. The Four X Star is identical in construction but differs in its coloring.
There are at least three variations of blocks similar in design to the “Farmer’s Daughter Quilt Block pattern.” The first known instance of it appeared in the Ladies Art Company catalog of 1898 as “number 419.” (Apparently there were so many patterns released in these catalogs that they resorted to giving them numbers instead of names. Which makes perfect sense to me!) Another Farmers’ Daughter design used the same construction but has a different coloring. This design is believed to have been introduced by Clara A. Stone, who wrote Practical Needlework: Quilt Patterns.
In light of the block’s design history, it’s easy to see how color/fabric choices can give it an entirely new look. Even though it’s clearly a traditional design, it still translates well into modern quilts.
Putting it all together
The Farmer’s Daughter Quilt Block pattern is made up of simple squares and half square triangles using three colors.
I chose to make a 10″ version of the block. First, I cut the squares as directed by the 10″ column in the pattern. Then I sub-cut squares where indicated. (These are the squares that have a slash through the diagonal in the pattern.) You might note that I caught an error as I was working…
I’m a big believer in arranging my patchwork pieces on a mini design board when I make blocks. You can read more about them in this post. I have several versions. When I work at home, I use the ones I made according to Lori Holt’s instructions made from a piece of foam core board. Since the board is rigid you can move it from your cutting table to your machine without the pieces moving around much.
I also have some foldable design boards that I made using cute fabric and fusible fleece. These are great for retreats and sewing group meetings because they fold and pack up easily. Even though they are not rigid, they still work well as long as you aren’t moving the board around between work stations. Photos of these are in the above mentioned post. More specific instructions are in the post, but to make them, simply fuse the fleece to a large square of fabric, then bind to finish it off. These make great gifts for quilting friends, by the way.
I went back and forth on the colors, but eventually decided to go with the peach
Constructing the block is fairly easy. First, I made the HSTs. I pressed to the dark side and trimmed up the little “ears.”
When chain piecing, I can make quick work of cutting the chain threads using this nifty gadget.
Then it’s just a matter of sewing the rows, then attaching the rows together. Here is my finished block. It didn’t turn out as well as I’d like. (Full disclosure, it’s about 1/8″ short on one side.) but I’ll keep it anyway.
I hope you’ll try out the block and tell me how it works out for you!
Block Construction
Exploded version of the Farmer’s Daughter Quilt Block
Coloring Sheets
Click to download coloring sheets
Pattern | Cutting charts
Click the image above to download the cutting charts to make a 10″ block.
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Quilt Block Patterns
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- Attic Window Quilt Block
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- Double Wrench Quilt Block
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- Five Spot Quilt Block
- Flutterby Quilt Block
- Flying Dutchman Quilt Block
- Flying Kite Quilt Block (aka Spinning Wheel Quilt Block)
- Follow the Leader Quilt Block
- Fool's Square Quilt Block
- Four Little Baskets Quilt Block
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- Friendship Star Quilt Block
- Garden of Eden Quilt Block
- Gentleman's Fancy Quilt Block
- Georgia Quilt Block
- Goose in the Pond Quilt Block
- Grandmother's Choice Quilt Block
- Grandmother's Cross Quilt Block
- Grandmother's Puzzle Quilt Block
- Grape Basket Quilt Block
- Grapevine Quilt Block
- Grecian Square Quilt Block
- Greek Cross Quilt Block
- Handy Andy Quilt Block
- Hartford Quilt Block
- Heart Quilt Blocks
- Hens and Chickens Quilt Block
- Honey Bee Quilt Block
- Hourglass Quilt Block
- House Quilt Block
- Hovering Hawks Quilt Block
- Idaho Beauty Quilt Block
- Idaho Quilt Block
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- Indian Puzzle Quilt Block
- Jack in the Box Quilt Block
- Jacob's Ladder Quilt Block
- Johnny Round the Corner Quilt Block
- Joseph's Coat Quilt Block
- Kansas Dugout Quilt Block
- Kansas Star Quilt Block
- King David's Crown Quilt Block
- King's Crown Quilt Block
- Lady of the Lake Quilt Block
- Laurel Wreath Quilt Block
- Lincoln's Platform Quilt Block
- Log Cabin Quilt Block
- London Stairs Quilt Block
- London Steps Quilt Block
- Love in a Mist Quilt Block
- Lover's Tiff Quilt Block
- Maple Leaf Quilt Block
- Maple Star Quilt Block
- May Basket Quilt Block
- Memory Quilt Block
- Mexican Cross Quilt Block
- Minnesota Quilt Block
- Missouri Puzzle Quilt Block
- Missouri Star Quilt Block
- Mothers Dream Quilt Block
- Mrs. Taft's Choice Quilt Block
- Nancy's Fancy Quilt Block
- Navajo Quilt Block
- Oh Susannah Quilt Block
- Ohio Star Quilt Block
- Old Maid's Puzzle Quilt Block
- Orange Peel Quilt Block
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- Rail Fence Quilt Block
- Road to California Quilt Block
- Road to Oklahoma Quilt Block
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- Sawtooth Quilt Block
- Scotty Dog Quilt Block
- Shoofly Quilt Block
- Simple Flower Basket Quilt Block
- Single Wedding Ring Quilt Block
- Sister's Choice Quilt Block
- Snail's Trail Quilt Block
- Snowy Windows Quilt Block
- Split Rectangle Quilt Block Units
- Spool Quilt Block
- Square Red Cross Quilt Block — a.k.a. The Plus Sign Quilt Block
- Squash Blossom Quilt Block
- Star & Cross Quilt Block
- Star Variation Quilt Block
- Steps to the Altar Quilt Block
- Summer Winds Quilt Block
- Swallow Quilt Block
- Swan Quilt Block
- Swing-in-the-Center Quilt Block
- Tall Ship Quilt Block
- Tea Leaf Quilt Block
- Tent of Armageddon Quilt Block
- Tipper Canoe and Tyler Too Quilt Block
- Tobacco Leaf Quilt Block
- Tulip Lady Fingers Quilt Block
- Twin Star Quilt Block
- Union Square Quilt Block
- Walls of Jericho Quilt Block
- Weathervane Quilt Block
- Wedding Rings Quilt Block
- Whirlwind Quilt Block
- Wishing Ring Quilt Block
- Wonky Stars Quilt Block
- Wyoming Valley Quilt Block
- X Plus Quilt Block
- Y-Block Quilt Block Unit
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