Lily and I have been reading These Happy Golden Years for the past couple of weeks and are nearly through.  I have been reading most of this one aloud now that Lily is back to school. She claims that it is her favorite book so far, primarily because Almanzo and Laura are falling in love.  So, you can bet that our second block for this book will have something to do with their courtship.  In this book, Laura has her first two experiences as teacher.  The money she makes helps to send Mary to college and pay for an organ as well as material for a new dress.

We decided to make a chalkboard. I had been thinking it might be fun to write Laura’s name on the chalkboard but I thought it might be too much stitching for Lily so I suggested we write ABC.  She surprised me by saying that she thought we should write Laura’s name and then ABC and 123.  I was delighted that we had the same plan in mind and never let on that I had been thinking it too or she would likely have changed her mind!

This was Lily’s first time hand embroidering.  As it turns out, she absolutely loves hand stitching so I have started her on a hand stitched label for the back of the quilt.  She wants to do more hand stitching asap.

The chalkboard should be cut to 9 1/2″ x 11 1/2″.  We cut it oversize and drew the letters out in chalk.  Then she stitched them using an embroidery hoop.  When she was finished, we cut it down to size.  Next, we added a strip of “wood” to either side measuring 9 1/2″ x 1″. Then we added “wood” to the top and bottom, 1″ x 12 1/2″.  Next we added the background fabric to the right and left measuring 10 1/2″ x 1 1/2″; then to the top and bottom measuring 2 1/2″x 14 1/2″.

Cutting Chart

Blackboard:  9 1/2″ x 11 1/2″

Wood frame:  cut 2 measuring 9 1/2″ x 1″, cut 2 measuring 1″ x 12 1/2″

Border: cut 2 measuring 10 1/2″ x 1 1/2″, cut 2 measuring 2 1/2″x 14 1/2″

We will be back later this month with block 18!  To find directions for all the other blocks, scroll way down on my right side bar until you come to the Search function.  Type in “Little House on the Prairie” and you will find them all.