Dear Jane Quilt - Block C13 Lakota Sioux




Happy Easter - Hot Cross Buns

Happy Easter!  It is a beautiful day here today and I was up early stitching Dear Jane blocks to make the most of the extra hours, before we lose one on Sunday.  I am definitely an early person and was surprised how much I got done in the early hours.  I have been out for a walk and enjoyed a Hot Cross Bun already, as the weather doesn't look so promising tomorrow.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C13 Lakota Sioux

I don't know how big your screen is, but the little cornerstones on Dear Jane block C13 Lakota Sioux were small.

I am enjoying the Dear Jane journey, partly because of the names.  The terminology makes it very 'American', and it serves to revive my knowledge of American history.  I know a little bit about Sioux Indians from studying Custer's Last Stand in school, so this block prompted me to go and refresh my memory.

Enjoy the Easter holidays!

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 25 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A12 Framed Fancy

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A12 Framed Fancy

Here's a pretty block.  It has 37 pieces which is quite a lot for Dear Jane.  It is one of the few blocks which have Flying Geese in them, whereas I seem to remember the Nearly Insane quilt had quite a few.  I had a go a fussy cutting, but it is not shown off to its best on this block.

I am currently working on my Dear Jane blocks at my workstation in front of the TV.  On the side of the armchair is a growing pile of trimmings which accumulate during the process.  Suzi the cat has managed to jump up many times without it toppling over onto the carpet.  It shouldn't be long now.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 37 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D11 Snow Crystal

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D11 Snow Crystal

This is block D11 Snow Crystal.  I think the red looks lovely and I am pretty pleased with the appliqued diamonds, as it is ages since a Dear Jane block has demanded that I do some applique on it.

This is the bag I carry my Dear Jane blocks around in.  No I didn't make it.  No it isn't pretty.  BUT it is waterproof and has a zip to shut it firmly. All I know is, pretty stuff comes out of it.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 17 pieces
 

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 24 - A12, C13, D11, E6

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 23 - D1, I3, J2, L4

As I said before, this Draw has been quite RED heavy, but they will be evenly distributed throughout the quilt, so I don't believe they will look out of place.



Doll Quilt Swap 2015 - Mini Irish Chain quilt

Whilst Dear Jane is moving steadily along I  have signed up to Lori's Doll Quilt Swap over at Humble Quilts.  This is the little Irish Chain quilt I made for Wendy last year and I am at the stage of designing my quilt for my swap partner for 2016.  Thanks to Marcia and Wendy my Civil War era fabric stash is looking more healthy this year.

Anyway, moving onto Draw 24

A12 - Framed Fancy
C13 - Lakota Star
D11 - Snow Crystal
E6 - Michelle's Medley

These Dear Jane blocks will also be in Red.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D1 Alison's Guiding Light

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D1 Alison's Guiding Light

I love it when these Dear Jane blocks quietly come together whilst you are stitching, but doing something else at the same time.  I think it is called multi-tasking.  The Formula 1 motor racing season has started and often involves sitting down to watch for a couple of hours during a weekend.  This is ideal stitching time and a good reason to follow the sport.

This is Block D1 Alison's Guiding Light and is the last of the current red fabric draw.  It was stitched whilst watching the Australian GP and the next blocks was started too.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 23 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block I3 Family Album

Dear Jane Quilt - Block I3 Family Album

Here is Dear Jane Block I3 Family Album.

These last few blocks have been very similar, but that is part of the plan.  BTW THE PLAN started this time last year.  I was still finishing off the Nearly Insane border and removing the papers, but in the background I was devising the design and gathering the fabrics for the current Dear Jane quilt journey.  I am now starting to think about what the next hand piecing project will be.  Any suggestions?

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21 pieces

International Quilting Weekend 2016

Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting

Happy International Quilting Weekend!

Are you quilting today?  I am busy stitching some customer quilts on my long arm machine whilst watching the episodes of The Quilt Show which are FREE as part of the celebrations.  I have watched nearly six episodes so far and have plenty more to revisit.

Later tonight we are moving onto the next Star Wars film, so plenty of hand stitching to look forward to and the completion of another Dear Jane block.

Have a great day. 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J2 Picture Perfect

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J2 Picture Perfect

Hello friends. Another day, another Dear Jane block, J2 Picture Perfect.

I have spent some looking back at my Nearly Insane quilt journey and how much I enjoyed it. It was all piecing, no applique, with one 6" block having over 240 pieces.  The Dear Jane blocks have fewer pieces, but offers more of a challenge with new techniques.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 15 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L4 St George's Cross

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L4 St George's Cross

This is L4 St George's Cross of the Dear Jane quilt and I have made use of the red stripe in my Kim Diehl stash to fussy cut some of the pieces.  There was a time when I would avoid striped fabrics, but I have seen the light and this particular fabric has already delivered in many ways. 

We are on a red round of blocks at the moment and they are pretty RED heavy.

St George is the patron saint of England and this is officially celebrated on 23rd April each year, which also happens to be the birthday of Shakespeare.  Sadly we don't get a day off to stitch Dear Jane blocks.


Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21 pieces


Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 23 - D1, I3, J2, L4

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

Another set of Dear Jane blocks completed and we are moving onto Draw 23.  Like my Nearly Insane quilt, the Draw system which I use breaks the Dear Jane journey down into achievable steps.  It works for me on one level but means that I don't have all the pieces to start stitching the whole quilt together until the end.  And that I will have all the papers to take out at the end ...  Will I ever learn?

Draw 23
D1 - Alison's Guiding Light
I3 - Family Album
J2 - Picture Perfect
L4 - St Georges Cross

This Draw is in Red