Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR6 Suzie Q

Suzi the cat

Today is the start of a Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK. Rain is predicted.  Suzi the cat is pleased as it is an opportunity for her to look adorable and for me to be around to give her more attention.  I have a long weekend on my long arm quilting machine ahead of me and regular followers will be interested to know that I have finally started quilting my Nearly Insane quilt. 

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR6 Suzie Q

As for Dear Jane - I had such a good run stitching blocks on holiday that I have tried to keep up the pace on my return.  So far, so good, but I can see that same old chestnut arising - not enough time in the day.  So here is the Dear Jane block LR6 Suzie Q.  Lots of triangles and an appliqued melon.

Have a great weekend!

Techniques: Applique and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR8 Northern Lights

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR8 Northern Lights

This is the Dear Jane block LR8 Northern Lights, otherwise known as Frances' Folly.  

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR8 Northern Lights

 When I was cutting it out I spent a bit of time trying to work out how I was going to construct it.  The picture above shows the English paper piecing I did and then the remainder of the block was done using applique, including the 'neutral' triangle.  After waxing lyrical about my sudden love of applique, I realised after battling with those itty bitty triangles that there is an minimum size which is suitable for applique.  I think they took as long to do as the rest of the block!  When you struggle like this you start to wonder if the block actually needs the triangles and it is at this point that you ask yourself - why am I slavishly following the pattern, especially when the final result is not the most attractive of blocks?

Techniques: Applique and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 17 pieces

 

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR8 Love Forever

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR8 Love Forever

There are several hearts within the Dear Jane quilt and this is the border triangle block, RR8 Love Forever.  I stitched this one on the journey to a wedding, so quite appropriate.  I will say that I am very pleased how my appliqued hearts turned out.

Techniques: Applique
Pieces: 6 pieces


Holiday time, French Quilting and Malvern Quilt Show 2016

I have been away on holiday in France for the past few weeks enjoying the simple pleasures of life, which they do so well over there.  We went off in our campervan and managed to travel from Brittany down to the South of France and back again.  Plenty of time for Dear Jane stitching which I will update you on in due course.

French patisserie in Puy en Velay

We take in the sites and enjoy driving on the quiet French roads.  The most challenging part of each day is choosing which cake to have for tea.  You will find the delights of French patisserie in every town and village, which in the UK you would be hard pushed to find in all but the top London restaurants.  So I made the most of it. 
 

Fabric purchases - May 2016

On the other hand quilt shops in France are less prolific. On this trip I found two really good ones.  'Martine Tissus' in Issoire - this little shop in the middle of France has probably been going many years as it had a really good selection of old and new prints.  If you were looking for something special, it would be there somewhere.  The other was Tissus Amethyste in Valance.  This is a huge shop selling all type of fabrics, but at the back there was a very large and pleasing selection of patchwork fabric.  How do I find these shops?  I have downloaded the Satnav app from the Cosman website which will 'take me to the nearest quilt shop!'

Tips for patchwork fabric shopping in France. 
- Check the shop exists, they tend to come and go a bit in France
- Check the opening times before you make a special trip
- Many shops do not accept credit cards, so have plenty of Euros in your purse.


Magic Patch Quilts Japan

I also take time to seek out French quilt magazines.  My favourite is 'Magic Patch Quilts Japan', which I have never seen sold anywhere besides France.  Each time the magazine focusses on one type of quilt, this time it was Drunkard's Path (le chemin de l'ivrogne') and usually the quality of the work and the projects are better than any I see in any other magazine.  Truly inspirational.



'Dear Jenny' by Jenny Williams, Pembrokeshire

So after a pleasant trip across the channel, I got home just in time to visit the Quilts UK Malvern 2016 show where I managed to seek out a few Dear Jane quilt variations. Firstly this red, black and white quilt made by Jenny Williams which is a combination of 'Dear Jane' and personal blocks set in an Irish Chain design.  Jenny had quilted it beautifully on her domestic machine and deservedly won a few rosettes.

'Nearly But Not Quite' by Patricia Storey, Shropshire

The next one is 'Nearly But Not Quite' by Patricia Storey.  Patricia managed 100 blocks to make her Dear Jane wall hanging in blues, purples, reds and greens.  Once you are on the Dear Jane journey it is lovely to see other quilts and spot the blocks you have done.

I also found out that if you are interested in starting the Dear Jane quilt as part of a group in the UK, The Patchwork Basket in Newent has just started their second Dear Jane Club on Saturdays twice a month.

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 31 - Border Triangles LR6, LR8, RR6, RR8

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 30 - A10, J1, J5, J11

These blue Dear Jane blocks from Draw 30 seem to go together nicely.  I am starting to long to put these quilt blocks together, but I just don't have enough yet to get that moving.  Considering that the next draw is more triangles, I suspect the borders will be going together sooner rather than later.

Draw 31
LR6 - Suzie Q
LR8 - Northern Lights
RR6 - Tumbling Blocks
RR8 - Love Forever

These border triangles will be in YELLOW.
 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A10 Which Points West

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A10 Which Points West

Do you recognise this block? This is A10 Which Points West and is remarkable similar to J5 John Jacob's Windmill which I showed you in my last post, but with an extra appliqued melon in the middle.  I guess Jane Stickle liked this one a lot.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 14 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J5 John Jacob's Windmill

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J5 John Jacob's Windmill

Presenting Dear Jane block J5 John Jacob's Windmill.  I am enjoying working with the Kim Diehl blue fabrics.

When I post these blocks on my blog I think nothing of the fact that the photo shows the tacking stitches are still in place holding the papers behind.  It might be months before they are removed.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces:  13 pieces

 

French Boutis

Boutis Manon panel 17" x 17"

My Doll swap partner, Heather has a blog where she shares her interest in the French quilting technique, boutis.  It reminded me of a boutis project I did several years ago which I have resurrected to show you here.

Boutis Manon panel  - detail

I bought it as a kit from a French stand at the Festival of Quilts, Birmingham and they had all the boutis bits and pieces including this pre-printed panel.  I haven't seen them at the show lately but you can still get hold of the kits in France at www.boutis.com . I have just been over there and started drooling over the other kits they have - they are SO beautiful.

 

To get the effect of boutis you stitch just two pieces of fine white batiste cotton together with no wadding or stuffing in it.  With the kit I was able to follow the lines on the pre-printed panel and after a lot of hand stitching you end up with a piece of fabric with a lot of stitching on it.  But then the magic happens.  Using a stiletto or cocktail stick and the special soft white boutis cotton, you start stuffing the pockets of stitching and suddenly the work you have done comes alive.  Once stuffed you give it a wash and the pure whiteness of it really looks beautiful


Boutis panel  - detail

In the photo above I am holding the piece up to the window where you can see the pattern, but it really shows that the quilt is stuffed rather than quilted as three layers.  It is a beautiful effect, but for practical use maybe a bit lumpy and a bit heavy.  Saying that it is one of the pieces I have made which I seem to constantly have out around the home.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J11 Twin Sister

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J11 Twin Sister

This Dear Jane block, J11 Twin Sister, is totally applilque.  I think I am starting to like applique.  Obviously the size and shape of the piece will influence your feelings about it and these were just about right.

Techniques: Applique
Pieces: 6 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J1 Joseph's Jonquil

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J1 Joseph's Jonquil

This is Dear Jane block Josepha's Jonquil, J1.  Jonquil is a word I am familiar with but not one which I really knew what it meant.  A quick check on Wikipedia says JONQUIL is a shade of yellow, the shade of yellow which you will find on the Jonquil flower, which is very similar to a Daffodil.  So looking at the shape of this block that all makes sense. 

It is just that I did mine in blue.


Dear Jane Quilt - Block J1 Joseph's Jonquil

I did this appliqued Dear Jane quilt block whilst travelling on a car journey.  Here you see me with a teatowel on my lap holding all the bits and pieces.  Yes, I am still able to thread silk thread through a needle whilst we move along and I am enjoying this whilst this is still the case.  Early on in the project the applique was proving so mind-blowing that I needed to be stationary and be giving it 101% concentration.  So from this I am pleased to say that my applique skills and applique confidence are improving thanks to the Dear Jane quilt.

Techniques: Applique
Pieces:  6 pieces