Saturday, 13 February 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 20 TR1, TR13, BR1, BR13 Triangles

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 19, F6, G11, C3, G13
Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 19, F6, G11, C3, G13
 
This last draw of Dear Jane blocks was  quite a nice selection.  Maybe a bit browner than yellow, but hoping it will all come together in the final piece.

Draw 20 is another set of triangles.  Although they are bigger than the normal Dear Jane blocks they are often not many more pieces, so they have become less of a daunting prospect than on previous draws.  This is the fourth set so heading towards sixteen border triangles being completed.  You might be able to feel a sense of satisfaction that I am enjoying - the fact that the border is being done as I go along.  However, I still haven't managed to get to the point where I remove my papers before construction.  It took me seven whole days to remove them from the Nearly Insane quilt.

TR1 - Spanish Moss
TR13 - Eiffel Tower
BR1 - Rosemary's Rainbow
BR13 - Argyle

This Draw is my old friend Orange.

 

Thursday, 11 February 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F6 - Deanie's Daisies

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F6 - Deanie's Daisies
Dear Jane Quilt - Block F6 - Deanie's Daisies
This is Block F6, Deanie's Daisies.  Mainly English Paper Piecing besides the four little melon shapes in the centre which form the daisy.  I didn't struggle too badly with these four.

suzi the cat quilting
Suzi the cat
The weather has been quite erratic here in the UK, but today we have some lovely February sunshine which Suzi the cat is enjoying.  I am coming up to my six month anniversary since I started my Dear Jane blocks, so in the next few days I will treat you all with a review of my progress.

Joining up with Feline Friday

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 29 pieces

Wednesday, 10 February 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C3 Rayelle's Fence


Dear Jane Quilt - Block C3 Rayelle's Fence
Dear Jane Quilt - Block C3 Rayelle's Fence
Presenting Block C3 Rayelle's Fence of the Dear Jane quilt.  Just squares and rectangles - so simple with the English Paper Piecing method.  As for Rayelle's Fence, I have no idea what it is about.

I think this print from the 'Heritage Hollow' range by Kim Diehl is one of my favourites.  It comes in this colour (which I describe as cow dung), blue and red.  The new 'Sunday Best' range has been out for several weeks in the USA and so far I have resisted sending an order to Kimberley Jolly ....

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25 pieces

Tuesday, 9 February 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G13 Molly's Muffins

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G13 Molly's Muffins
Dear Jane Quilt - Block G13 Molly's Muffins
I will try anything using EPP and even though working those curved shapes on Block G13 Molly's Muffins, was tricky, I think I have got away with it.

Talking of Molly, there is a delightful kitten called Molly learning the joys of a sewing room over at The Objecst of Design blog if you care to take a look.

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 13 pieces

Monday, 8 February 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 19, F6, G11, C3, G13

Dear Jane Quilt Blocks - Draw 18, F10, E2, F7, J9
Dear Jane Quilt Blocks - Draw 18, F10, E2, F7, J9

Here are the latest Dear Jane blocks I have done in green. I am still not sure about that Potholder block and it might be a re-do down the line.

I usually meet up at a sewing group on Monday evening for stitching, but tonight the weather is wet and VERY windy here in the UK, so I think I will stay in and stitch some Dear Jane blocks at home. 

Onto the next Draw 

C3 - Rayelle's Fence
F6 - Deanie's Daisies
G11 - Decisions, Decisions
G13 - Molly's Muffins

This Draw is Yellow.

Sunday, 7 February 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F10 Potholder

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F10 Potholder
Dear Jane Quilt - Block F10 Potholder
This is the Dear Jane block F10 Potholder.  It went through several design drafts and still I don't think I quite got the diamonds in the corners quite right. Apparently, diamonds are a girls best friend, but to be honest whenever they have cropped up in my sewing they have been anything but a 'best friend', always causing trouble and never quite playing along with everyone else. 

I have learnt from The Constant Quilter blog that there is a whole genre known as 'Potholder Quilts' and if you look around her blog you will see she has even completed a whole Dear Jane using the technique.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21 pieces

Saturday, 6 February 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J9 Maury High School

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J9 Maury High School
Dear Jane Quilt - Block J9 Maury High School
J9 Maury High School looks like an innocent little block, but those four tiny, tiny melon shapes were a bit of a trial to say the least.

Maury High School is a REAL school in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 26 pieces

Friday, 5 February 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E2 Merry May


Dear Jane Quilt - Block E2 Merry May
Dear Jane Quilt - Block E2 Merry May
This is Dear Jane block E2 Merry May.  I slightly redrafted this one.  The central shape on my Electric Quilt pattern was not symmetrical.  The original design has two appliqued overlapping melon shapes, but as you can see, I have divided the shape into 5 pieces, stitched them together and then appliqued them onto the centre square.  More chance for fussy cutting and more pleasing to the eye.

Kim Diehl - Green fabrics
Kim Diehl - Green fabrics
I enjoy doing the green blocks as the patterns on this range of Kim Diehl fabrics are really attractive and lend themselves to fussy cutting. 

BTW, here is the progress on the spring bulbs - a weekend away and look what happened!

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 14 pieces

Thursday, 4 February 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F7 Star Struck


Dear Jane Quilt - Block F7 Star Struck
Dear Jane Quilt - Block F7 Star Struck
The last time my Dear Jane blocks got out and about was when I went over to Maastricht to the Quilt exhibition, so it is good to see them getting some fresh air on the Cornish coast.  This is Block F7 Star Struck.


Dear Jane Quilt - Block F7 Star Struck
Dear Jane Quilt - Block F7 Star Struck
So far there have not been many 'star' blocks in Dear Jane, certainly not in comparison to the Nearly Insane blocks, where every other block seemed to be a star variation.  Anyway, nice and simple, a few flying geese blocks, a border - DONE.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 20 pieces
 

Wednesday, 3 February 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 18, F10, E2, F7, J9


Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 17, LR5, LR9, RR5, RR9 Triangles
Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 17, LR5, LR9, RR5, RR9 Triangles

I have done 65 blocks of my Dear Jane quilt so far, which is about 28% of the quilt (average 13 a month).  My sister was right when she said I still had a way to go.  However, with a few of these Dear Jane triangle border blocks under my belt I am really pleased to see them getting done alongside the main body of the quilt.  Borders usually suffer from being last in the queue when a quilt is being made and never get the same enthusiasm as the those first few blocks at the start of a project.

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangles
Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangles
I have cut out the majority of the alternating blocks for the border which will be in my neutral tan fabric.  By keeping them plain I hope it will offer an opportunity to add some interest with the quilting. 

Moving onto the next set, Draw 18

Draw 18
F10 - Potholder
E2 - Merry May
F7 - Star Struck
J9 - Maury High School

This Draw will also be in Green.