Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 37, A11, G4, J10, M9

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 36 - Border Triangles TR5, TR9, BR5, BR9

When I see another set of border triangles done I am always quite relieved to know I don't have to do them at the end.  They are no more difficult than the blocks and sometimes a lot easier than the blocks, but come with their own 'mental block'.  The green blocks have been some of my favourites in this project.

Draw 37
A11 - Pebble's Protest
G4 - Shutter Bug
J10 - Cheiko's Calia Lily
M9 - Fan Dance

This Draw is in RED.

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR9 Sue's Garden

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR9 Sue's Garden

I guess there are a few different ways to approach Dear Jane border block, BR9 Sue's Garden.  I made up the fans individually and then appliqued them onto the background.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 17 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR5 Gay's Glory

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR5 Gay's Glory

Zoom in and you will see that the diamonds in this Dear Jane block, BR5 Gay's Glory, are not symmetrical and so misplacement might lead to a weird looking triangle that plagues you for the rest of the construction. Important numbering of each piece was required and lots of concentration. 

Sometimes I wonder how serious I am getting over this quilt.

The fabric placement I used aimed to emphasise the neutral zig zag pattern, but looking at it again on the screen, a switch in the fabrics would make the block look a bit like the famous 'Gherkin' building in the City of London.  

Dear Jane Quilt - Electric Quilt design wall, June 2016

I don't see any Dear Jane milestones coming up in the near future to justify a progress report, so I thought I would just show my updated electronic Dear Jane Design Wall.

Joining up with Design Wall Monday.
Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 39  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR5 Michigan Dunes

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR5 Michigan Dunes

Have you ever called someone by another name for a long time only to realise they aren't actually called that name?  How embarrassing. I admit that I am guilty of that and the worst is that I often still can't remember their real name because you have associated the wrong name to them for so long.

I am guilty of the same with Dear Jane Border Triangle, TR5 Michigan Dunes, which I have persistently confused with block RR1 Tennessee Valley which I showed you a few days ago.  I am sure geographically the mix up would cause a detour of several hours on a US road trip.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR9 Needlepoint

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR9 Needlepoint

Only nine pieces in this border block, TR9 Needlepoint.  I tried to make it more interesting by fussy cutting the fabric, but it isn't making much impact.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 9 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 36 - Border Triangles TR5, TR9, BR5, BR9

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 35 - LR1, LR13, RR1, RR13

There are going to be about 56 draws for this Dear Jane quilt and Draw 36 represents about 62% of the way through.  With Draw 35 complete I have done 137 blocks, with progress recorded as a visual update on the sidebar and a building collection of these sets of four on my Dear Jane Pinterest page.

Today the UK is voting to decide whether we remain or leave Europe.  Either way I expect the Dear Jane quilt project to continue.

Draw 36 Border Triangles
TR5 - Michigan Dunes
TR9 - Needlepoint
BR5 - Gay's Glory
BR9 - Sue's Garden

This Draw will be in GREEN.

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR13 Watermelon

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR13 Watermelon

I think all these border triangles will look fine once they are in place on the quilt, but individually I think some them look a bit weird.  This is LR13 Watermelon with a combination of English Paper Piecing and Applique.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 22 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR1 Tennessee Valley

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR1 Tennessee Valley

This was the easiest Dear Jane Triangle border block from this round, RR1 Tennessee Valley and I thank it for that.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR1 Nancee's Fantasy

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR1 Nancee's Fantasy

This one is quite complicated to construct.  I added another seam and you definitely need to plan ahead before you stitch it together.

I have been doing some other sewing today - mending trouser pockets for my husband.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 30  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR13 Marlene's Pirouette

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR13 Marlene's Pirouette

More border triangles to move this project along.  I appliqued the tiny triangles at the bottom, that is once they had been on a trip through the vacuum cleaner.

Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting

Since returning from holiday I have been very busy quilting customer quilts which has meant plenty of variety alongside my Dear Jane project, but little time for other sewing projects.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 20 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 35 - LR1, LR13, RR1, RR13

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 34 - B5, B6, H5, L12


It has been fun to work with some new fabrics and colours at last on my Dear Jane quilt.  I think one of the reasons I tend to do sampler quilts is because I find doing the same block in the same fabric over and over again, boring.  I like playing with the fabric, finding new combinations and trying something different.

Draw 35 is another set of border triangles - I am SO glad I am doing these as I go along.

LR1 - Nancee's Fantasy
LR13 - Watermelon
RR1 - Tennessee Valley
RR13 - Marlene's Pirouette

This draw will be in Orange

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L12 Sally's Pride

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L12 Sally's Pride

Those little corner triangles are by no means perfect and the mental effort they consumed were really a step too far.   However, it has been a while since I actually completed this Dear Jane block, L12 Sally's Pride, so much of the pain has been forgotten.

Getting back to the Dear Jane cutting out I have been doing recently, I am starting to get a feel for the fabric requirements you actually need for the Dear Jane quilt.  I save all my scraps in a basket as I cut out and with so many itsy bitsy pieces in this quilt, the scraps have come in useful.  English Paper Piecing seems to be a fairly efficient way of constructing this quilt in terms of fabric requirements.  I bought 'extra' fabric when I started out on this project and it looks like there are going to be many Kim Diehl quilt projects in the future.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 27 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H5 Michael's Motorcycle

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H5 Michael's Motorcycle

Presenting Dear Jane block H5 Michael's Motorcycle.

Suzi the Cat helps with Dear Jane cutting out.

You may be pleased to know that at the weekend I managed to bring the Dear Jane quilt under control and I now have plenty of blocks cut out to keep me quiet over the next few weeks.  Suzi the cat was keen to help as she knew how desperate I was becoming.  A visitor popped in the other day and asked if she was a kitten - not bad for 10 years!

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 20 pieces

Joining Feline Friday

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B5 Hot Cross Buns

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B5 Hot Cross Buns

If life had been sweet I would have been doing Dear Jane block B5 Hot Cross Buns back in March, when I was actually eating Hot Cross Buns.  I am always looking to see how the names of the blocks actually relate to the pattern I am sewing.  This one does actually look like a Hot Cross Bun and the background fabric I am using even looks like it has currants in it.
Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 15 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B6 Wild Goose Chase

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B6 Wild Goose Chase

At last a different colour.  This draw has a set of purple blocks in it and I have enjoyed picking the pieces for each block.  You will see from the photo below that it was a bit of a squeeze putting the small pieces together which has resulted in a bit of a warped block.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B6 Wild Goose Chase

Over at That Quilt, Anina has just completed Dear Jane block B6 Wild Goose Chase and used foundation piecing - the neat result is spectacular. Sometimes English Paper Piecing is perhaps not the most suitable construction method, especially when you have thin strips.  However, it is easier to sew EPP to EPP, so I soldier on with it knowing I can give is a good press and when the time comes I can 'quilt it out'.

Joining up with Slow Stitching Sunday.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 43 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 34 - B5, B6, H5, L12

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 33 - A4, D6, F3, J6

I think Granny Weaver was my favourite block from Draw 33.  

Roses in June 2016


We are enjoying the June weather with warm air and all the trees and flowers putting on their best.  The Queen celebrated her OFFICIAL birthday today with the regular Trooping of the Colour and more celebrations to come tomorrow.


Moving onto Draw 34
B5 - Hot Cross Buns
B6 - Wild Goose Chase
H5 - Michael's Motorcycle
L12 - Sally's Pride

OK, so let's not get too excited. This draw will be the first set of Purple blocks!

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A4 Courtney's Stethoscope

I am slowly making my way around the binding on the Nearly Insane quilt.  Each side is 227cm, which means I have over 9 metres to sew.

Do you like my nail varnish?  It is called Cerulean Sea and is a CND Shellac - this stuff is bullet proof and how ever many times I stab it with a needle it still looks as good as new.  I can highly recommend it. The last colour I had was on for six weeks, let's see how this one lasts. It doesn't quite match the Nearly Insane quilt binding, but it does match the final Dear Jane block in this draw, A4 Courtney's Stethoscope.



Dear Jane Quilt - Block A4 Courtney's Stethoscope

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 23 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J6 Granny Weaver

You will be pleased to know that I have finally had some time to prepare some Dear Jane blocks.  Suzi the cat has been helping as you can see here, as she shows her love for orange Kim Diehl fabric.   It has been warm and sultry here in the UK, so she was more content watching than getting actively involved.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J6 Granny Weaver


Today's Dear Jane block is J6 Granny Weaver.  Again, a chance to do some fussy cut stars in the centre and another easy to piece block.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D6 Challenge

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D6 Challenge

You may have noticed that this round of blocks is quite simple.  Dear Jane block D6 Challenge, clearly was no challenge at all.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 9 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F3 Snowball visits Mont Ventoux, France

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F3 Snowball

In less than a months time the cycling starts up again and the 2016 Tour de France will be on its way.  Here is Dear Jane block F3, Snowball lingering between the vines with Mont Ventoux, France in the far distance, which is where all the action will be on Bastille Day.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F3 Snowball

 Making a quilt on the move really does add additional personal meaning to your stitching and to the quilt you are making, through the memories it holds.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 13 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 33 - A4, D6, F3, J6

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 32 - Blocks D8, G8, K11, K13


The warm summer weather has finally arrived here in the UK.  I managed to baste a few sashing sections this morning, but the general panic of Dear Jane grinding to a halt is plaguing me at the moment.
No fear - I hope to sort that out by the end of the week. Moving onto Draw 33 ...

Draw 33
A4 - Courtney's Stethoscope
D6 - Challenge
F3 - Snowball
J6 - Granny Weaver

This draw will be in BLUE.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D8 Dee Dee's Delight

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D8 Dee Dee's Delight

This Dear Jane block, D8 Dee Dee's Delight is entirely applique, but still has a star effect like the other blocks in this draw.

I feel as if I have been 'missing in action' as my time has been entirely committed to quilting the Nearly Insane quilt over the past ten days.  This quilt is destined for the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham in August 2016, which is where is will have its big reveal, which is why you have not seen many pictures.  It has been quilted and this morning I prepared the binding, so the end really is in sight.

Techniques: Applique
Pieces: 9 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G8 Justin's Comet

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G8 Justin's Comet

I think May 2016 was a record month for my Dear Jane blocks.  I think I managed one almost every day and you have yet to see most of them as I drip feed them to you.  June is a different story.  It has taken me most of this week just to get one block done and I have reached the crisis point of not having any blocks prepared and cut out.  This sort of thing can keep you awake at night.

Here is Dear Jane block G8 Justin's Comet.  Take note of the fussy cutting.  As you may know, I am always a bit wary of diamonds and this one required special numbering of the paper pieces to avoid a muddle.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 16 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K13 Brandon's Star

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K13 Brandon's Star

I can't believe it is the 1st June already. Here is Dear Jane block K13 Brandon's Star. 
The Dear Jane quilt journey continues ...

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25 pieces