September 29, 2015, 8:54 am
![Dear Jane Quilt - Block I11 Coyote Chase]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Block I11 Coyote Chase") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Block I11 Coyote Chase |
Only 9 pieces in this block. If I had chosen to keep the backing as one piece it would have only been 6. I thought by piecing the backing, I would have the seams as guidelines for placing the centre square - which it did. In order to place the diamond shapes I folded the fabric (with the paper in the back) on the diagonal. It all seemed to work out fine.I have had some queries about English Paper Piecing. I haven't ever used a book for this as it is something I 'just know' - does anyone else have any good books they use for the technique? When I remember I will break down the process and do a little tutorial. Watch this space ...
Techniques: English Paper Piecing, AppliquePieces: 9
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September 30, 2015, 4:00 am
![Dear Jane Quilt - September 2015 Progress]( "Dear Jane Quilt - September 2015 Progress") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - September 2015 Progress |
We have reached October and I have been doing my Dear Jane quilt for nearly 6 weeks. This photo shows most of the blocks so far, along with the image on the sidebar. That lone red block stands out amongst the sea of orange blocks.
![Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 5, A2, H9, I11, M3]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 5, A2, H9, I11, M3") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 5, A2, H9, I11, M3 |
Here are the most recent completed Dear Jane blocks, which makes it time for the next draw. Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 6A7 - Dad's PlaidsE4 - Buffalo Tree HopperF13 - Tour de FranceI1 - Ralph and Nelda's Wedding ORANGE AGAIN! Once these are done I will have done 20 of the 44 orange blocks that I need to do, so not even half way yet!
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![Dear Jane Quilt - Block A7 Dad's Plaids]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Block A7 Dad's Plaids") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Block A7 Dad's Plaids |
I think this is the first bit of applique that I have enjoyed. Each of the melons are about 2" long and I was stitching them onto fabric that was still backed with its paper template which made it behave whist I stitched. I had to remember to slip the paper out just in time ... To get the shape of the melons I gathered the fabric around a paper form / template, gave it a blast of spray starch and then gave it a good press. The points aren't REALLY pointy, but I think I have got away with it.Techniques: English Paper Piecing, AppliquePieces: 8
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![Dear Jane Quilt - Block E4 Buffalo Tree Hopper]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Block E4 Buffalo Tree Hopper") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Block E4 Buffalo Tree Hopper |
I was watching Mastermind on the television the other night and decided that the 'Dear Jane' quilt would be a good specialist subject to choose with all the block names and numbers. This little block was easy to do and I am enjoying how quickly some of these blocks are getting done.
![Buffalo Treehopper]( "Buffalo Treehopper") |
| Buffalo Treehopper |
BTW, here is a photo of a Buffalo Treehopper, a bug native to North America. Check out his markings - do you think it looks like the block?Techniques: English Paper PiecingPieces: 15
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![Dear Jane Quilt - Block I1 Ralph and Nelda's Wedding]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Block I1 Ralph and Nelda's Wedding") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Block I1 Ralph and Nelda's Wedding |
I did this block - start to finish - whilst waiting for an appointment. Is that good or does it just indicate how long I had to wait?Lovely little 1/2 inch squares - I love'em!Techniques: English Paper PiecingPieces: 20
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![Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 6, A7, E4, F13, I1]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 6, A7, E4, F13, I1") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 6, A7, E4, F13, I1 |
Here are the latest blocks. I quite enjoyed this round of applique and overall these blocks were straightforward.Anyway onto Draw 7. Great excitement! I have drawn my first border triangles. With such a dramatic change in the development of the Dear Jane quilt it is reassuring to know that this will also be in ORANGE.
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October 8, 2015, 10:50 am
![Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR7 Cheryl's Clown]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR7 Cheryl's Clown") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR7 Cheryl's Clown |
I was nervous about starting these edge triangles for the Dear Jane quilt. I thought they would be difficult. But just like the square blocks a triangle comes together quite easily. Just 23 pieces meant it got done whilst watching the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.![]() |
| Autumn 2015 - Horse Chestnut Conkers |
I could quite happily sit all day sewing or working quilting on my long arm machine, but these days my body is less forgiving. To counter this desire to sit all day and sew I try to take an early walk each day in my local countryside. It is a great way to watch the seasons change and this morning I couldn't resist picking up these beautiful conkers from the horse chestnut trees that were lying on the ground. A true sign of autumn here in the UK ...Techniques: English Paper PiecingPieces: 23
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![Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR7 Sallys' Steeple]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR7 Sallys' Steeple") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR7 Sallys' Steeple |
I would say this Dear Jane border triangle, Sally's Steeple, is a pretty typical Dear Jane block, with a bit of piecing and a bit of applique. I appliqued the shapes in the centre, as well as the very top triangle, rather than have to deal with thin edge bits at the point. I am pleased to be doing some of these triangles as I don't want the border to be left until the end.
![Suzi the cat quilting]( "Suzi the cat quilting") |
| Suzi the cat |
I am pleased to say that my Dear Jane efforts have encouraged some of you to resurrect your Dear Jane projects - most notably Sally over at Objects of Design. You will see her doing the same blocks as me but it in Kaffe Fassett fabrics. This is one of my favourite blogs as you can see not only lots of patchwork and quilting activity, but the internet being used in its purest form - to show pictures of cats and kittens. I will admit, Suzi the cat has not been as enthusiastic about the Dear Jane quilt as she was about the Nearly Insane quilt. Snoozing in the autumn sun is her current preferred activity.Techniques: English Paper Piecing and AppliquePieces: 14
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October 10, 2015, 7:00 am
![Dear Jane quilt (G7 - Indianapolis)]( "Dear Jane quilt (G7 - Indianapolis)") |
| Dear Jane quilt (G7 - Indianapolis) |
You have seen this Dear Jane quilt block before (G7 - Indianapolis), but today it is proudly wearing its new cornerstones and sashings. The original quilt doesn't have actual cornerstones, but I had a bit of fun with the cornerstones on my Nearly Insane quilt and I think a little extra thought on this area can take a quilt to the next level.
Firstly, the sashing. If I require lots of the same squares or rectangle shapes for my English paper piecing I usually use the Table function in Microsoft Word. You can set the size of the table cells in the software and then print out a blank table on regular printer paper ready for cutting up in the shapes that you need. The sashing will be the same as my background fabric.
![Dear Jane Quilt Sashing 0.5" x 4.5"]( "Dear Jane Quilt Sashing 0.5\" x 4.5\"") |
| Dear Jane Quilt Sashing 0.5" x 4.5" |
You can see I managed to get about 30 sashing strips on one sheet, each one being 1/2" x 4.5" and here are some of them prepared with their tacking stitches ready for when I need them.
!['Hearthside Seasons' by Kim Diehl]( "'Hearthside Seasons' by Kim Diehl") |
| 'Hearthside Seasons' by Kim Diehl |
For the cornerstones I am using one of the 'Hearthside Seasons' fabrics by Kim Diehl. I thought I could fussy cut the stars for the middle. The cornerstone squares below are English paper pieced and are just 1/2" x 1/2 Inch.![Cornerstones - Dear Jane Quilt]( "Cornerstones - Dear Jane Quilt") |
| Cornerstones 1/2" x 1/2" - Dear Jane Quilt |
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October 11, 2015, 5:49 am
![Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR7 Fedelia's Hearts]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR7 Fedelia's Hearts") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR7 Fedelia's Hearts |
This border triangle block, Fedelia's Hearts has always been one which stood out for me whenever I saw a Dear Jane quilt in an exhibition. Again, I was a bit worried about it, but the appliqued hearts went on quite easily and with only 13 pieces it was quick. I seem to be saying that about all the blocks. I am certainly preferring the speed that the blocks get completed versus the Nearly Insane quilt, but I guess overall it will probably take the same time to get together.Techniques: English Paper PiecingPieces: 13Joining Slow Stitching Sunday
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October 12, 2015, 1:00 am
![Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR7 Norways Fjord]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR7 Norways Fjord") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR7 Norway's Fjord |
Another triangle block done. I made an alteration to this block. The original has long slivers up each side, but I have just extended the adjacent blocks to eliminate any unnecessary aggravation during construction.
![Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR7 Norways Fjord]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR7 Norways Fjord") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR7 Norway's Fjord |
Here is a picture of the reverse as a reminder that I am doing this all by hand using English Paper Piecing.Techniques: English Paper PiecingPieces: 23
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October 13, 2015, 10:30 am
![Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 7, Edge Triangles TR7, LR7, RR7, BR7]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 7, Edge Triangles TR7, LR7, RR7, BR7") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 7, Edge Triangles TR7, LR7, RR7, BR7 |
So here are the first triangle border blocks for the Dear Jane quilts. I am pleased to have these under my belt as I don't want to have the border to do at the end. I have seen many Dear Jane quilts where the maker decided against the border, probably weary of the process, but I definitely want a border.Onto Draw 8. These blocks look super simple.A6 - Uncle HomerD9 - Uncle RichardM10 - Simple SimonM12 - HopscotchThis round will be in YELLOW. Hurrah - a different colour. The yellow fabrics are quite murky, neither green or orange, so designated as yellow for the convenience of this project.
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October 14, 2015, 12:00 am
![Dear Jane Quilt Update - October 2015]( "Dear Jane Quilt Update - October 2015") |
| Dear Jane Quilt Update - October 2015 |
It is my birthday this week, so keeping up with tradition, I am doing an review of my progress on my Dear Jane quilt so far. As you can see it is a sea of orange, with one lone red block. In the past two months I have completed21 blocks 21/169 (12%)
4 Border Triangles 4/56 (7%)
This works out about 10 blocks a month, so an estimated finish date would be about December 2016, unless I win the lottery and my revised schedule allows me to sew all day long...
![Dear Jane block preparation]( "Dear Jane block preparation") |
| Dear Jane block preparation |
With so many little blocks, a lot of time is taken in preparing them in packs ready for sewing. I think the cutting out for some blocks has taken longer than actually sewing them together.![Dear Jane Electric Quilt software]( "Dear Jane Electric Quilt software") |
| Dear Jane Electric Quilt software - October 2015 |
To monitor my overall progress here is the image of the progress so far taken in my Dear Jane Electric Quilt software. I am enjoying using Electric Quilt for this project as I did with the last sampler quilt. This image is updated an on the sidebar regularly.
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October 15, 2015, 6:38 am
![Dear Jane Quilt - Block M10 Simple Simon]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Block M10 Simple Simon") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Block M10 Simple Simon |
Dear Jane quilt block M10 Simple Simon is, as it says on the tin - simple. A simple nine-patch block. The progress of these blocks are much quicker than the Nearly Insane blocks, so it is easy to get a quick fix and get quick results.
BTW I haven't started the Farmers Wife Sew Along. It is a quilt that I hope to do in the future, but DJ is my top priority at the moment.Techniques: English Paper PiecingPieces: 9
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October 16, 2015, 9:12 am
![Dear Jane Quilt - Block A6 Uncle Homer]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Block A6 Uncle Homer") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Block A6 Uncle Homer |
You will see I am continuing on the 'yellow' blocks. The fabric colour is not green and it is not orange - it is not really yellow, but it seems to fall between the other two. This particular fabric is from Kim Diehl's 'Heritage Hollow' range and I think it is really pretty.Another variation of a nine-patch block. Uncle Homer must have been a straightforward chap.Techniques: English Paper PiecingPieces: 9
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October 17, 2015, 4:00 am
![Dear Jane Quilt - Block D9 Uncle Richard]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Block D9 Uncle Richard") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Block D9 Uncle Richard |
This block looks quite simple, but if you start adding up all those little triangles around the edge of the block you will see that there are more pieces involved than originally meets the eye. There are 36 in total, which for this Dear Jane quilt is quite a lot. A bit more fussy cutting too.
![Dear Jane Quilt - Block D9 Uncle Richard]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Block D9 Uncle Richard") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Block D9 Uncle Richard |
Part of this block has a plain border around the edge. This was useful in reigning in the block to its 4.5" size. You will see that once I had finished the hand stitching on the block it had a bowl shape to it, but nothing a hot steam iron couldn't sort out.Techniques: English Paper PiecingPieces: 36
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October 18, 2015, 7:00 am
![Dear Jane Quilt - Block M12 Hopscotch]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Block M12 Hopscotch") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Block M12 Hopscotch |
Do you notice how all those dots on the fabric line up? During the Nearly Insane quilt journey I became a ' ussying cutting' addict and now if I can fussy cut, I will. Again, a simple block.I noticed over at that Temecula Quilt Co blog that they have recently revealed their Dear Jane quilt completion, if you want to pop over and take a look.Techniques: English Paper PiecingPieces: 19
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October 18, 2015, 11:08 pm
![Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 8, A6, D9, M10, M12]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 8, A6, D9, M10, M12") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 8, A6, D9, M10, M12 |
Draw 8 was perhaps one of the easiest sets of blocks I have done in a long time and it was a nice change to be using some different fabrics. Thank you to the Followers of my blog who regularly post a comment, it certainly keeps up the motivation.The next Draw has been doneC2 - Streak of LighteningH2 - Jacob AnthonyH8 - Eaton's CrossroadsM2 - Duff's BluffThe colour for this Draw is Orange - back to the same old routine ....
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October 20, 2015, 8:20 am
![Dear Jane Quilt - Block H2 Jacob Anthony]( "Dear Jane Quilt - Block H2 Jacob Anthony") |
| Dear Jane Quilt - Block H2 Jacob Anthony |
The base of this block is all English Paper pieced, but the two triangles on the corners are appliqued. It took me 1.5 hours to sew those two on last night. It didn't help that I forgot to take the paper out the first time around. It appears that the applique shapes which are small and angular are most troublesome to me, but I can see the attraction of appliqueing larger, smoother shaped pieces.Still orange.Techniques: English Paper Piecing and AppliquePieces: 17
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