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Hello Friends!
I realized I haven’t shared a sewing project here in a while and I have one that I’m super excited to share today!
The new fabric line I am sharing today is called… wait for it…
Farmgirls Unite
And oh my word, it is such darling fabric. It has everything Farmgirl that you could ever want: bandanna print, florals, gingham check, farm animals, rain boots, garden gloves, and strawberries! And all the perfect colors.
is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
Those are the cutest binders!! I would love a tutorial to make one. That fabric is really cute, even if I am not a “farm girl” 🙂
Hello Dori. I started following you when a professing friend in Florida (Karen Byrd) bought me the subscription to Farm Girl magazine. We had been chatting about quilting and she said “you have to follow Dori”. So, I’m not a quilter but I love growing flowers, have two daughters, love the simple life and although I’m not a quilter, I do love to try simple projects. I would love a tutorial of the binder cover. That is something I can see in my house and something I think I could handle. Have a wonderful summer. I hope those zinnias and sunflowers are coming along wonderfully and maybe one day I’ll stop by and buy some.
So cute!!! Love the fabric and your patterns!!
I love the cover and the case! I would definitely be interested in a tutorial. Also, where did you find the fabric in the states? They are delightful!
Dori, I would love the pattern for your binder! They are so eye catching in that fabric! Thanks for sharing these ideas. I have to have some of that fabric…lol.
Absolutely love your projects and the fabrics!
And, the wedding pictures from the last blog were wonderful!
Oh, they are just so lovely!!!!
Great job and thanks much for sharing.
Cute, cute, cute!! ❤
The binder covers and pencil holders are awesome. I sure wish I had your talent. Yes, my summer has been wonderful. So glad your flower business is growing.
What pretty fabric and such clever projects…thanks for sharing! And what perfect timing…I just wrote a post about how I found a wonderful, FREE 1956 sewing machine (by the side of the road no less!) When I get her ready to go, I’ll definitely be whipping up something fun with this fabric, thanks again!
Love all the fabrics and the wonderful things you have made with them! Your lucky friends will love them also.
Dori, I love your blogs. This one really made me happy. Even though I’m not a quilter, your Farmgirl projects made me smile over and over. The fabrics are beautiful and you do such a wonderful job creating with them. Happy sewing and I look forward to viewing your next post.
I am new to quilting and would love a tutorial or the pattern for covering the binders. That fabric is fabulous!! Thank you! Wanda Sue FS#3677
Where can I get the fabric? It is awesome!
Your FARMGIRLS UNITE is so fun!! Beautiful and inspiring.
Those are lovely and if you have the time to update the pattern and instructions for the binder cover, I am all in. Thank you for the link for the fabric – I love the idea of cute sayings on the selvedge!
What a fun and cheerful project, and yes, I would love the pattern, such a clever idea!
I would love to see an updated tutorial. I have thought of making my own binder cover pattern but have not invested the time in the trial & error phase. Oh.. And this fabric is just perfect
Yes please Dori rewrite your binder cover pattern so we can either purchase or use it. Thank you – you always have such fun stuff to share!!!
Dori
You come up with the Most darling projects!!!
YES do what you do & get that pattern out there. It is a unique & personal gift idea!! Something that a graduate would love or a new bride or mom.
God Bless You! You encourage many!
Thank You
Gail
Matthew 6:33
I love this! Yes, please share your pattern so we can purchase it! I will be making these for gifts as well. They are adorable, and the fabric…perfect! Thank you for sharing your talents with us.
Cleaver, cleaver, cute!!! You are so cleaver to use such cute fabrics! Thanks for sharing how you used the colorful Farm Girls Unite fabrics.
And Yes! Please share your binder covers pattern. I actually have never thought about making those but now “want to”!
Sooo cute, clever, unique and special! Love the fabric and how you used it. Your friends are truely blessed to have a friend like you.
Your binder covers are fabulous. Definitely make and post a pattern PLEASE. I have “sew” many ideas for making them. Thank you. Thank you.
Farmgirl in Idaho, jean
Hello Dori.
I love, love, love these binder covers!!!
I would love the pattern and was hoping
that they would be in this article.
The fabric is also sweet!!
Thanks for sharing.
Lotus
Love your sewing projects! I can’t wait until fall when I can get back to sewing projects….I keep a running list of projects I want to make to share with others…always fun! Now you gave me some more ideas…thanks for sharing!!! Until next time.
Yes, please post a tutorial! I just saw this fabric line on my Fort Worth fabric email and immediately ordered the farmgirls unite panel. Your notebook covers and pencil cases are charming.
So cute. Love this fabric line. So well suited for Farmgirls. Thanks for sharing!
The fabric is lovely. Enjoy.
Marilyn
Whoot Whoot, I just learned that one of our local quilt shops,, “The Quilting Bee” in Spokane Valley, WA.. just started caring this sweet fabric… (by Poppy)
I do enjoy each of your articles. They inspire me to try my hand at your projects. Thanks
Yes! I would be so interested in an updated binder cover tutorial. I sewed one with handles long ago for my eldest daughter. It worked but needed some improvements. My ideal cover would incorporate a zipper, so if it were dropped, things wouldn’t fly everywhere. 🙂
Love your work you always make such beautiful pieces.
Enjoy your post
Kahy
Hi Dori. Im in the market for a new seeing machine Im checking out the one pictured in the Stitching with Dori -making an ironing board cover. What brand is this one pictured. And do you like it. Please email me. Thank you so very much . Sincerely Kathy
I would like to see a pattern. I know I could figure it out myself but I tend to be lazy. I will probably make one for the Recycled Denim Swap. I will cut the front and back pieces from ripped denim and patch the holes with sashiko or standard embroidered patches.
Hi Dori, I loved what you made.Its so nice to see that people do love crafts.It looks easy to do..I am going to try this. I will let you know..
Hi Dori- I feel like I know you already! I am reaching out to you for help. I have a perfect venue in a little tourist ghost town called Oatman Arizona. I have started an annual quilt show that has had trouble taking off due to Covid and it’s rural location.
I need help getting the word out and having quilters be involved (it does not take much work) to hang their quilts for a day & stay & tell stories of their inspiration & spread good will while they sell their wares if they want to. Basically I need people & quilts for a weekend In March!! I have a 6 spot campground & it’s on Route 66!!!!!
Please contact me!
Hi Dori- I feel like I know you already! I am reaching out to you for help. I have a perfect venue in a little tourist ghost town called Oatman Arizona. I have started an annual quilt show that has had trouble taking off due to Covid and it’s rural location.
I need help getting the word out and having quilters be involved (it does not take much work) to hang their quilts for a day & stay & tell stories of their inspiration & spread good will while they sell their wares if they want to. Basically I need people & quilts for a weekend In March!! I have a 6 spot campground & it’s on Route 66!!!!!