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

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 Piecing
Pieces: 15

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F13 Tour de France

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F13 Tour de France

It was back to applique for this block.  Like block A7 Dad's Plaids (which seems to be a favourite with a few of my Followers), I gathered the fabric around a cardboard form, gave them a blast of spray starch and then pressed them into submission with a good steam press.  This seems to work well with the larger applique shapes.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F13 Tour de France


I have actually done the  F13 Tour de France Dear Jane block before.  It was the block they chose in our Dear Jane workshop at the Nantes (France) Dear Jane exhibition in 2013.  I have had it pinned to my noticeboard since then along with other Dear Jane memorabilia from the day, which has served as motivation over the past few years whilst I finished my Nearly Insane quilt.


Tour de France 2015, Brittany

Also, I don't think I mentioned that I actually went over to see the 2015 Tour this year when it was in Britanny, France.  It was brilliant, a great atmosphere.  That was back in the summer.  Here in the UK, Autumn is almost in full flow and some of my long arm quilting customers are getting ready for Christmas ...

Techniques: Applique
Pieces: 5

 

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, Applique
Pieces: 8
 

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 6, A7, E4, F13, I1

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

Here are the most recent completed Dear Jane blocks, which makes it time for the next draw.

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 6

A7 - Dad's Plaids
E4 - Buffalo Tree Hopper
F13 - Tour de France
I1 - 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!

Joining up with Crazy Mom Quilts!

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, Applique
Pieces: 9

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A2 One, Two Buckle My Shoe

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A2 One, Two Buckle My Shoe


One, Two, Buckle Your Shoe, Block A2, is made up of squares, rectangles and triangles.  Simple to put together with EPP.

Way back when I started this blog in 2012 I was considering doing the Farmers Wife Sampler Quilt.  I got the book and everything, but in the end I chose to do the Nearly Insane quilt.  You may have seen on Facebook or at Gnome Angel that there is a Farmers Wife Quilt Along.  Looking at the book again, most of the Farmer Wife blocks are made up from squares and triangles, just like this block.  Some naughty people are encouraging me to join in with the quilt along - will I resist ... 

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 40

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H 9 Snowflake Melt

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H 9 Snowflake Melt

I took this block away with me over the weekend, only to realise that I had forgotten to pack my fine silk thread for applique.  I used the time to English Paper Piece the background and then added the four diamonds on top as applique pieces once I returned home.  They were quite small (less than an inch) and I found them quite fiddly to attach, but again I got there in the end.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing, Applique
Pieces: 20

Miniature Block of the Month September 2015 - The Quilt Room

Miniature Block of the Month September 2015 - The Quilt Room

I had been hoping to get this BOM done earlier this month, but it was only released earlier this week.  It is nearly six weeks ago that I did the last one and the foundation piecing never seems to get easier.  It goes in a pattern of stitch a row, unpick it, stitch it again, move on.  With the magic of editing software I have digitally trimmed it so you can't see the errors!


Miniature Block of the Month September 2015 - The Quilt Room

There are only three left to go and then I will have to think about how I will set them as a quilt.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M3 Fireweed Flower

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M3 Fireweed Flower

This is Fireweed Flower, Block M3.  I think I have mixed up the colour / neutral positions of the fabric on this compared to the original.  I suggest you don't compare my Dear Jane quilt to the original as it is already doing a lot of things to suit itself.

Again, this was a block that I was bit nervous about.  I did it English Paper Piecing (what else?), but lots of the pieces were not symmetrical, as you can see from these little beasties which are just 1/4" wide with random pointy bits on them.  If you are doing this block yourself, I suggest you refer to the diagram A LOT, to ensure you are getting everything in the right place at the right time.  Just two unpicks for me on this one. 

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 5, A2, H9, I11, M3

Dear Jane Quilt - Blocks B11, D5, F8 L11

Here is a pleasing set of blocks from my Dear Jane Quilt, Draw 4.  They are going to be placed in the same position, but mirrored in four different corners of the quilt, so I hope that in the overall scheme of things they will balance nicely.  You can get the idea of how my quilt is coming along by the image on the sidebar.
 
The next Draw has taken place

A2 - One Two Buckle My Shoe
H9 - Snowflake Melt
I11 - Coyote Chase
M3 - Fireweed Flower

Yes, believe it or not it is ORANGE AGAIN!  If only I had a consistent run on the lottery ....