Lily has finished Farmer Boy!  She enjoyed it but not as much as the stories about Laura so she is happy to be reading On the Banks of Plum Creek now. I am excited because this book introduces Nellie Olsen and I know she will be amused by her antics.

Last time I mentioned that the next block was going to take a bit of design work.  Well, this isn’t it!  Lily would like to sew a sheep block after a funny story that she read about in Farmer Boy.  However, I am having a hard time designing a sheep block that is a simple sew.  I told her I would work on it in a bit but meanwhile, we are carrying on.  In Farmer Boy, Almanzo’s milk fed pumpkin takes first place at the fair.  Lily decided that it would be fun to have a pumpkin block, which is oh so much easier.  This is Block 7 in the sew along. I think we are going to make about 20 blocks for a 4 x 5 layout after reading all 9 of the novels.  We are starting the 4th book now.

To create this 14″ finished pumpkin block, cut the following:

Out of background fabric:

A:  2″ x 14 1/2″

B:  Cut two 3″ x 6 1/2″

E:  Cut four 3 1/2″ squares

Out of stem fabric:

C:  2 1/2″ 3″

Out of pumpkin fabric:

D:  10 1/2″ x 14 1/2″

Sew the B pieces to either side of C.  Press.  Attach piece A and set aside.

Place the four squares of background fabric at the four corners of the pumpkin and draw a diagonal line from point to point and stitch along the line as Lily is doing in this picture. Trim 1/4″ to the outside of the stitching line and press.  Now attach the top of the block to the bottom.

As usual, Lily chose all her own fabrics. I like the background print because Almanzo grows corn and it looks like corn to me.

One more picture of my little seamstress!  I hope you are having fun sewing along. I read Lily all of your comments and she is enjoying all the support and encouragement (and praise!)