Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR8 Thunderhead



Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR8 Thunderhead

This is THUNDERHEAD (BR8).  It sounds like a heavy metal band, but I am sure Jane Stickle was not aware of such a phenomenon in 1863. I had to slice up some of the pieces to get the centre shape, but if you use a busy fabric it is hard to see - which is the intention!


Dear Jane blocks - photo shoot

Today I thought I would show you a 'behind the scenes' photo of where I take my Dear Jane photos for my blog.  As you can see it is a professional set up, it is my kitchen table which has a skylight overhead.  I place the block on a piece of Kim Diehl fabric, take the photo with my iPad and then transfer it into Adobe Photoshop for a bit of cropping and enhancing, add a Fabadashery label and then post it online.

Here I the UK it is our May Bank Holiday.  At the moment it is raining, so maybe a day of stitching for me.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing Pieces: 32 pieces

Humble Quilts Mini Doll Quilt Swap 2016

Doll Quilt (13.5" x 15.5") made by Debbie Dodge

What a great way to start your day - a delivery from the postman with this delightful little doll quilt.  It has been sent to me here in the UK all the way from Delavan, Wisconsin, USA and has been made by the talented Debbie Dodge.

Doll Quilt made by Debbie Dodge

Debbie certainly nailed the brief on this one. I love the pink feature fabric and just look at that cute basket in the corner, it really makes the little quilt so special.  With the lovely quilt I got from Marcia last year, I am enjoying seeing my collection grow.

Doll Quilt made by Debbie Dodge

I posted details about the quilt I sent out to Heather in Florida on my blog last week and am pleased that everything has arrived safely.

Thanks to Lori at Humble Quilts for organising this international 2016 Doll Quilt Swap.  Giving and receiving these little quilts is such a pleasure and reminds me that I don't ALWAYS need to make big quilts!
 

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR8 Brigadoon

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  TR8 Brigadoon

I am at a stage with the Dear Jane quilt where I just have to press on.  This is the stage where the steady hard graft pays off and brings you close to the finishing line.  The excitement of starting is over, the fabrics are now familiar friends and I pretty much have the techniques sorted.

Border triangle block TR8 Brigadoon is another yellow border block which is joining the chorus line which in time will be part of a great show.

Techniques: Applique
Pieces: 6 pieces


Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR6 Carla's Candle Flame



Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  TR6 Carla's Candle Flame

Dear Jane Border triangle block TR6 Carla's Candle Flame is made up of 20 English paper piecing pieces and 2 applique pieces. 

These border triangles are really starting to build up which has made me think about the alternate triangle blocks and what progress I am making with those.  Well, frankly, I am not.  I need 56 and I have done 5.  It is the same with the sashing and the cornerstones.  I need 312 sashing pieces and I have done 17.

Get to it Frances! 

 Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 22 pieces


Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 29 - Border Triangles TR6, TR8, BR6, BR8

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 28 - E10, K5, L1, M5

The stitching on my car journey paid off and I have a further three Dear Jane blocks done, but before I show you  those, here is a round up of the pretty blue blocks of Draw 28.

TR6 - Carla's Candle Flame
TR8 - Brigadoon
BR6 - Frank's Ric Rac
BR8 - Thunderhead

This draw will be in YELLOW.

Malvern Tickets 2016 Giveaway Winner!

Malvern Tickets 2016 Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered my Malvern Quilt Show ticket giveaway and visited my Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting webpage and Facebook page.  This competition is now closed.

The winner is Frances Darvill.  Congratulations!

 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E10 Five and Dime

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E10 Five and Dime

This Dear Jane block E10 Five and Dime is a simple orange peek block.  An orange peel quilt has always appealed to me and I often admire the 'Baby Adelia' quilt which sits on the sidebar of Susan's Thimble Stitch blog.  These orange peel shapes would be a great way to use up scraps and after pulling out JUST the blue fabric that I have remaining from this Dear Jane quilt yesterday, I think I should have plenty spare for such a project!

Today is Sunday, so do go and visit Kathy at Slow Stitching Sunday.  I have a long car journey today, so I am just off to pack up my Dear Jane blocks for some slow stitching as we zoom up the motorway.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces:  6 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L1 Widow's Pane

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L1 Widow's Pane

This round of Dear Jane quilt blocks are largely squares in squares. Nice and straightforward to do and so the hardest part is choosing which fabrics to use out of my Kim Diehl BLUE fabrics.


Kim Diehl Fabrics - Blue Selection

Doing a sampler quilt like Dear Jane really helps you to learn about the different values of fabric, how small and large prints play their part and the interest you can get from using stripes and uniform patterns for fussy cutting.  Sometimes the fabric you want to use is not appropriate for the size of pieces you need to cut so it is back to the drawing board.  I think I have managed to use all these fabrics except the royal blue one on the far left, which doesn't seem to go with any of the others.
Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces:  22 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K5 Passing Through

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K5 Passing Through

I mentioned that the halfway point is coming soon.  There are 229 pieced blocks in total, made up of 169 squares and 60 border triangles.  Dear Jane block K5 Passing Through is the 107th I have completed.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces:  12 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M5 Mother's Point

Celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday

Today there has been an excuse to put up the Union Jack bunting as it is the Queen's 90th birthday. It is a bit more low key than the Golden and Diamond Jubilee celebrations of recent years, but a significant milestone in itself.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M5 Mother's Point

Having milestones is my favourite way of maintaining interest in a long term project such as the Dear Jane quilt.  As you know, I recently reached the 100th block milestone and in the not too distant future there will be the halfway milestone to look forward to.

This is the Dear Jane block M5 Mother's Point. I like how the colours have turned out with this.  A nice simple block.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces:  18 pieces