"Railroads and telegraph and kerosene and coal stoves-- they're good things to have, but the trouble is , folks get to depend on em." - Pa , The Long Winter
Hello, Sweet Friends. Do come in and join me on this lovely Thursday morning. Eeeh I am so excited! Today Melva at Melva Loves Scraps is posting Block 5 in the Little House on the Prairie Sew Along. Last night, I finished Block 4 Rails just in the nick of time to start Block 5. This block was such a pleasure to piece.
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| I arranged my rails with a pinwheel in the center. |
By the Shores of Silver Creek was the book from the Little House on the Prairie series that inspired Melva to create the "Rails" block. As I pieced this delightful block using thrifted fabrics that I have collected over the years, I thought about some of my own family "Rails" stories.
Do you have any railroad stories handed down from your family?
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| The rail block is framed into a log cabin block. |
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| Most of my fabrics were thrifted. |
Like there was Great Grandpa David who as a child joined the Union Army during the Civil War. He not only worked long and hard on the railroad trestle bridge under the leadership of his uncle who was the Captain of a unit, but he became a spy as well. Great Grandpa David lived a long and wonderful life not far from where he worked on the rails as a child.
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| The dark blue fabric is from a cotton sheet. |
Then there was my Uncle Billy and Uncle Al. Their "rails" story was not a happy one. As children Billy and Al, had grand ideas of riding a train and seeing beyond the small rural town that they were growing up in . They had heard grandiose tales of the hobo life .
After much thought, one day, Uncle Billy and Uncle Al who were youngins' at the time, decided to hop on the train as it rolled through the countryside. As the train clanked and rattled by , they each reached and dove towards the train in hopes of a grand adventure. Uncle Al made the jump successfully, but alas Uncle Billy did not. He was pulled onto the tracks and was tragically killed at the tender age of 13. Such a sad story, and I am sure the fate of many who dared to ride the rails during the "hobo days." But Billy was well loved and is still remembered to this very day. ❤🤗
Now back to more quilty stuff.
As I pieced "Rails", I was able to finish 4 more Four Patch Fun blocks which is my Leader/ Ender project.
This was a block introduced by Bonnie Hunter in 2025. I will share my progress on these blocks in the coming days.
Gosh, I have chatted your ears off again. Please, do forgive me.
If you have the chance , drop over and visit Melva. There is still time to join in on the Sew Along . It is free until the end of the event. Plus Melva is hosting a Little House on the Prairie Sew Along Link Party. There you can see others who are participating . Your eyes will be delighted by the beautiful blocks shared in different color ways.
Melva's Little House on the Prairie Sew Along Posts:
INTRODUCTION of the Little House on the Prairie Stitching Along - January 29, 2026
Block 1 Maple Leaf- February 5, 2026
Block 2 Native Star- February 19, 2026
Block 3 Harvest Basket- March 5, 2026
Block 4 Shoo Fly- March 19, 2026
Block 5 Rails- April 2, 2026
Block 6 Snowflake- April 16, 2026
Thank you for spending time with me today. My morning will be filled with stitching time. Later this evening , Mr. Pinker and I will be heading back to the ballfields. Those grandbabies are keeping us busy! But what a joy!
As Always...
Happy Stitching and Quilting,
y'all
Melisa
"I've heard of the call of the wild, the call of the law, the call of the church. There is also the call of the railroad. " - Gary Krist
Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤
Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo.
🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!
🌞Time to Dye- 2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October 4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.  |
I purchased these yummy fabrics at a yard sale in AZ
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I am joining these lovely ladies' link parties. I hope you check them out; they always have so many wonderful projects going on and provide the opportunity for other needleworkers to meet.
Melva at Melva Loves Scraps for Little House on the Prairie Sew Along
Nina at Creations, Quilts, Art , Whatever by Nina for Off the Wall Friday
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| More Easter stitches. They will be hopping away soon. |
Tomorrow I will be sharing the "changing of the quilts" .So drop by if you have the chance. I always love company.
I am scooping up all of the bunnies and Easter decor and changing things out. Hippety Hop! Hippety Hop! Off to the totes the bunnies go! 
As Always...
