Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 4, B11, D5, F8, L11

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 3, C12, E8, F5, G10

With much fewer pieces and smaller blocks, some of these Dear Jane blocks can be completed in just an evening.  I think I averaged about four blocks a month with the Nearly Insane, but these are being completed much faster. But then again there are quite a few more.

The blocks for Draw 4 are :

B11 - Melissa's Cross
D5 - Cathedral Window
F8 - Church Window
L11 - Caitlin's Rose

Looking at my colour scheme this draw is orange AGAIN.  All this orange made me wonder how many of each colour I would actually be doing, so here is the data.

	Blocks	Triangle
Red	29 (17%)	8 (14%)
Purple	12 (7%)	8 (14%)
Blue	20 (12%)	8 (14%)
Green	28 (16%)	8 (14%)
Yellow	36 (21%)	12 (22%)
Orange	44 (26%)	12 (22%)

So, yes, there are twice as many orange blocks than some of the other colours which explains why they keep coming up in the draw.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G-10 Woven Meadow

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G-10 Woven Meadow

I think this quilt block pops up in all the various sampler quilts.  It is called G10 Woven Meadow in this quilt, but is also known as Chimney Sweep or Album block.  It was one of the early blocks I did for my Nearly Insane quilt, but even though it was a bigger block it had ten less pieces than this one which is just 4.5".

I am using an orange fabric from Kim Diehl's Hearthside Seasons range in this block.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 39

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F-5 Parcheesi



Dear Jane Quilt - Block F-5 Parcheesi

One of the reasons I enjoy English Paper Piecing is that I can take it anywhere and that I can stitch whilst we are in the car.  I am finding the applique blocks a bit more of a challenge when we are driving and had to wait until we were stationary to stitch this one. 
Because of the applique, this block took me ages.  For block F5 Parcheesi, I have sewn eight pieces of fabric onto another and it seemed to take all the mental energy of running a marathon.  However, I am more satisfied with the neatness with this one - I think we are moving forward.

BTW: Parcheesi is a board game
Next block, please ....

Techniques: Applique
Pieces: 9

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C-12 Family Reunion

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C-12 Family Reunion

I was back in my comfort zone with this one. Lots of little English Paper Piecing squares, again just half an inch square.  Block C12, Family Reunion is a mini Irish Chain block and whenever I do small squares like this it reminds me of my scrappy Irish Chain quilt and makes me think how great it would be to do one with just half inch squares...


Suzi the cat helps out with rotary cutting

You will see from the photo that Suzi the cat is pleased that I am on another marathon sewing project.  She has been helping out with the rotary cutting and with only a few blocks done so far she is able to get them all onto the floor with just one swipe of her tail.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 49

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E-8 Mama's Maze



Dear Jane Quilt - Block E-8 Mama's Maze

I am never happier than when I am doing English Paper Piecing.  I know what I am doing, I know what result I want and I can take it anywhere.  E8 Mama's Maze was a joy to do as it was lovely little squares and rectangles that all went neatly together.  The small squares are half an inch square.


Dear Jane Quilt - Block E-8 Mama's Maze

I completed this block whilst away over the wet August Bank Holiday weekend.  We were in our camper van and I had many happy hours sewing whilst I waited for the rain to stop.  It did eventually.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E-8 Mama's Maze

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces:33

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 3, C12, E8, F5, G10

Dear Jane Quilt blocks

Here is my collection of blocks so far. This is not bad for just over a fortnight into the Dear Jane quilt journey.  Draw 2 was a bit of an anti-climax with just the one block, but Draw 3 puts me back on track.
C12 - Family Reunion
E8 - Mama's Maze
F5 - Parcheesi
G10 - Woven Meadow

There is plenty of English Paper Piecing which I can do here, so expect good progress in the next few days.

It just so happens that this set of blocks will also be in orange. 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G-7 Indianapolis



Dear Jane Quilt - Block G-7 Indianapolis

I am very pleased with this block.  It is the first time I have used my red Kim Diehl fabric.  Also I am very pleased with my striped fabric which has been fussy cut.  I am also very  pleased with the neat circle.  English Paper Piecing - ROCKS.

This block is in the centre of the Dear Jane quilt, so it had to look good.

Living in the UK, I thought I ought to check where Indianapolis was in the USA.  It is in the state of Indiana, towards the East coast.  This is the state Brenda Papdakis was living when she wrote the Dear Jane quilt book.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 2, G7

Dear Jane Blocks, B7, D3, L9, M7

As you can see I have completed the first four Dear Jane blocks for my quilt. It has been a steep learning curve with regard to applique techniques and I still have a way to go.

So, moving onto  Draw 2

G7 - Indianapolis

Oh. For most of the draws there will be four blocks, but it just so happens that this one is the central block, G7 Indianapolis, so in my little system, this draw only has one block.

I have devised a colour scheme for the quilt so I know which colours I want for each block.  If my system is working, each of the blocks in a draw will be in the same colour.  For this draw the centre block will be in red.

Many of you who followed my Nearly Insane quilt journey have commented on your excitement of seeing my Dear Jane quilt started.  Many of you also mention that you have started a Dear Jane quilt, but the project has fallen by the wayside.  Please stitch along with me if your quilt needs resurrecting ....

PS: Pets on Quilts voting closes on Thursday 3rd September 2015 - Suzi the cat is counting on your vote!
 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M7 Junko's Rose Garden



Dear Jane Quilt - Block M7 Junko's Rose Garden

I am quickly learning that some Dear Jane blocks are harder than others.  This is M7 Junko's Rose Garden - perhaps not the best year for roses as far as this block is concerned.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M7 Junko's Rose Garden


I started off by using reverse applique to form the outer shape.  Blood - Sweat - Tears.  It took me AGES and I still think I need to stitch it again.  Then I stitched on eight melons.  I used three different techniques with different results.  In the end (at the recommendation of my sister) I used the tried and tested English Paper Piecing technique that I use for most of my sewing, remembering to remove the paper inside before you sew the final part. This gave the sharpest finish. 

I ironed on the freezer paper in the centre to help with placement but it soon fell off.  I think this might be because it is quite lightweight and I might need to upgrade to the normal freezer paper on the roll.  Otherwise, I am enjoying the invisible stitching effect of the silk thread I am using.

I am clearly lacking in the applique department, so a good dose of Dear Jane blocks should sort me out. 

Techniques: Reverse applique, Applique
Pieces: 10

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B7 World Series

Dear Jane Block - B7 World Series

With the Nearly Insane quilt top completed and ready for quilting, it means that there is nothing stopping me forging ahead with the Dear Jane blocks. Here is block B7 World Series.  Each draw usually means that I will be using the same colour. Draw 1 is orange, so all my orange Kim Diehl fabrics are being thrown into the mix.


Dear Jane Block - B7 World Series

As I said at the start, I will picking up new techniques as I go along and that learning is part of the fun for me.  The construction tips I found for this block involved applique, reverse applique and then some more applique.  Not the most efficient use of fabric, but I liked the idea of getting the melons looking round with the reverse applique technique.  Once I have built up some confidence with all these techniques, then I hope to use my informed judgement about choosing which method to use for each block that comes my way.

Techniques: Reverse applique, Applique
Pieces: 8