Dear Jane Quilt - Block A1 Pinwheel Gone Awry

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A1 Pinwheel Gone Awry

I would guess that Dear Jane block A1, Pinwheel Gone Awry is the first block that most people make when starting there Dear Jane journey, which means that there are probably more of them in the world compared to M3 Lynette's Diamond, which is the last one.

I made this whilst watching Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace.  Since seeing the latest Star Wars film, we decided that we needed to watch the whole lot again.  It seems incredible how a single film has had such a global impact.  I often refer to the Dear Jane exhibition I saw in Nantes, France in 2013, as being one of the best exhibitions I ever saw.  Up there with it was the Star Wars exhibition from the archives of George Lucas, which I saw at the Barbican, London at about the time Episode 1 was released in 1999.  It had the original artwork and models (pre-CGI) used in the first films and a full size Chewbacca costume - who doesn't love a wookie?

I often use this Personality Test in my work and my personal profile is described as being similar to George Lucas with one of the strengths being 'ability to work on something for a long time'.  They obviously know I am working on my Dear Jane quilt!

Have a go and let me know what profile you are ...

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 28 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K10 Quandry

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K10 Quandry

This block has a case of the wobbles.  I'm not going to get myself into a Quandry about it.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 35 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L10 Nan's Naiad

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L10 Nan's Naiad


As requested, here is Nan's Naiad.  I would say that Block L10 Nan's Naiad is one of the more complex blocks. The shapes are straightforward, but you need to construct the block in a certain order to avoid silly y-seams and stuff.

There are 41 pieces in this block, which for Dear Jane is quite a lot.  I often merge blocks if they are the same colour and they are going to save a seam, which I did a few times with this block, so others may have more.  Don't forget that you need to keep track of the number as the 'original' quilt by Jane Stickle has the total number embroidered on one of the corner blocks.


Suzi the Cat on the Tumbler Quilt Cat Mat

I am trying to think of a reason why this block is pretty.  I don't think it is, so to fulfil a need for 'pretty' on this blog post, here is a picture of Suzi the cat on her new tumbler block cat mat.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 41 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L2 Stephanie's Snowflake

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L2 Stephanie's Snowflake

Do you see those little tiny triangles on Block L2, Stephaine's Snowflake?  This is about as small as I like to go.  I didn't put any paper in those triangles, I just manoeuvred the fabric where it needed to be.

I would like to report that we had a few flakes of snow here in Chepstow this week.  No need to get the snow chains out though.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 37 pieces


Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 22 - L2, A1, L10, K10

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 21 - H3, L7, I10, J7

My Dear Jane stitching has been a bit slow recently, partly due to the bad planning on my part, and also because it appears 2016 has been put on fast forward.  I don't think I have known time pass so quickly.

Here is the latest set of Dear Jane blocks, quite quick and simple to do and I managed to avoid any applique.  Moving onto the next Draw ...

Draw 22
A1 - Pinwheel Gone Awry
K10 - Quandry
L2 - Stephanie's Snowflakes
L10 - Nan's Naiad

This Draw is Yellow.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L7 Town Square

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L7 Town Square

I don't think the Town Planning department were very imaginative  when designing Dear Jane block L7, Town Square. However, it makes for a quick win on the Dear Jane journey.


Liberty Fabric - Pincushion

I was in London last week and happily made a detour to Liberty's of London.  Yes, this is the home of all those beautiful Tana Lawn cottons.  There is a whole floor of their prints and the choice is immense and you just want to take a part of it home with you.  This little Tana Lawn pincushion came home with me.  I don't think I will ever use it as a pincushion, but it makes me smile and it was a lot cheaper than the Liberty pyjamas I had my eye on.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 17 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J7 Chicken Tracks

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J7 Chicken Tracks

Here is block J7, Chicken Tracks.  I really enjoy doing a simple little square using English paper piecing, there are no surprises and I just love the potential of using tiny scrappy bits of fabrics.

Patchwork fabric scraps

I love scrap quilts.  I was visiting my sister last week and whilst 'hanging out' in her sewing room noticed that there was some fabric in her dustbin.  By the end of my scavenging I left (she let me leave) with over 800g of fabric scraps.  I can't express my delight - was very pleased as I have a few scrap projects that are moving to the forefront of my mind

BTW - my sister has started to hand quilt her Dear Jane quilt.  She used metallics and now the dimension of the quilting is starting to show, it looks really good.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 41 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H3 Berry's Baskets

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H3 Berry's Baskets

Here is Dear Jane block H3, Berry Baskets.  There appear to be discrepancies between the original Jane Stickle quilt, the diagrams in the Dear Jane book and the Electric Quilt Dear Jane software for several of the Dear Jane blocks and triangle borders.  Add to that my 'interpretation' of the block and Chinese whispers have taken grip of the project.  In general I work from the EQ software.  I am not really bothered, but I just wanted to highlight that 'interpretation' is a key description of my Dear Jane journey.  Moving onto other fabric news ...

Kim Diehl Fabrics - Sunday Best

As you can see from this pretty selection, I relented on the new Kim Diehl fabric range 'Sunday Best'.  When fabrics are released in the USA it usually takes several months and sometimes even longer for a range to get to the UK.  I don't know any shops which carry Kim Diehl fabrics regularly, but I have seen a few oddments at Doughtys.  I think I have plenty now for this Dear Jane project and several other King size quilts!

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 22 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block I10 Iris' Medallion

Dear Jane Quilt - Block I10 Iris' Medallion

Here is a pleasing little Dear Jane block, Iris' Medallion.  I guess the squares could have been appliqued, but I decided not to make my life difficult.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 26 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 21 - H3, L7, I10, J7

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

Another set of border triangles down. 

I was away on a sewing retreat last week and I only managed to do one Dear Jane block because I didn't have time cut any beforehand.  I was gutted.  This has been put right now and I have plenty of supplies for the next few weeks.  So onto the next Draw.

Draw 21
H3 - Berry's Baskets
L7 - Town Square
I10 - Iris' Medallion
J7 - Chicken Treats

This Draw is Orange.  Yes, Orange again, but going back to the 6 Month report you will see that there are many more orange blocks than any other in my design.