Dear Jane Quilt - Sashing and Cornerstones

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"

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

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  1/2" x 1/2" - Dear Jane Quilt

 

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

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 Applique
Pieces: 14

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 Piecing
Pieces: 23

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 7, Edge Triangles TR7, LR7, RR7, BR7

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.

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 Piecing
Pieces: 20

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