Dear Jane Quilt - Block A4 Courtney's Stethoscope

I am slowly making my way around the binding on the Nearly Insane quilt.  Each side is 227cm, which means I have over 9 metres to sew.

Do you like my nail varnish?  It is called Cerulean Sea and is a CND Shellac - this stuff is bullet proof and how ever many times I stab it with a needle it still looks as good as new.  I can highly recommend it. The last colour I had was on for six weeks, let's see how this one lasts. It doesn't quite match the Nearly Insane quilt binding, but it does match the final Dear Jane block in this draw, A4 Courtney's Stethoscope.



Dear Jane Quilt - Block A4 Courtney's Stethoscope

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 23 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J6 Granny Weaver

You will be pleased to know that I have finally had some time to prepare some Dear Jane blocks.  Suzi the cat has been helping as you can see here, as she shows her love for orange Kim Diehl fabric.   It has been warm and sultry here in the UK, so she was more content watching than getting actively involved.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J6 Granny Weaver


Today's Dear Jane block is J6 Granny Weaver.  Again, a chance to do some fussy cut stars in the centre and another easy to piece block.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D6 Challenge

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D6 Challenge

You may have noticed that this round of blocks is quite simple.  Dear Jane block D6 Challenge, clearly was no challenge at all.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 9 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F3 Snowball visits Mont Ventoux, France

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F3 Snowball

In less than a months time the cycling starts up again and the 2016 Tour de France will be on its way.  Here is Dear Jane block F3, Snowball lingering between the vines with Mont Ventoux, France in the far distance, which is where all the action will be on Bastille Day.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F3 Snowball

 Making a quilt on the move really does add additional personal meaning to your stitching and to the quilt you are making, through the memories it holds.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 13 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 33 - A4, D6, F3, J6

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 32 - Blocks D8, G8, K11, K13


The warm summer weather has finally arrived here in the UK.  I managed to baste a few sashing sections this morning, but the general panic of Dear Jane grinding to a halt is plaguing me at the moment.
No fear - I hope to sort that out by the end of the week. Moving onto Draw 33 ...

Draw 33
A4 - Courtney's Stethoscope
D6 - Challenge
F3 - Snowball
J6 - Granny Weaver

This draw will be in BLUE.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D8 Dee Dee's Delight

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D8 Dee Dee's Delight

This Dear Jane block, D8 Dee Dee's Delight is entirely applique, but still has a star effect like the other blocks in this draw.

I feel as if I have been 'missing in action' as my time has been entirely committed to quilting the Nearly Insane quilt over the past ten days.  This quilt is destined for the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham in August 2016, which is where is will have its big reveal, which is why you have not seen many pictures.  It has been quilted and this morning I prepared the binding, so the end really is in sight.

Techniques: Applique
Pieces: 9 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G8 Justin's Comet

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G8 Justin's Comet

I think May 2016 was a record month for my Dear Jane blocks.  I think I managed one almost every day and you have yet to see most of them as I drip feed them to you.  June is a different story.  It has taken me most of this week just to get one block done and I have reached the crisis point of not having any blocks prepared and cut out.  This sort of thing can keep you awake at night.

Here is Dear Jane block G8 Justin's Comet.  Take note of the fussy cutting.  As you may know, I am always a bit wary of diamonds and this one required special numbering of the paper pieces to avoid a muddle.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 16 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K13 Brandon's Star

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K13 Brandon's Star

I can't believe it is the 1st June already. Here is Dear Jane block K13 Brandon's Star. 
The Dear Jane quilt journey continues ...

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K11 Columbine

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K11 Columbine

Here is Dear Jane block K11 Columbine enjoying the Rhone wine region in France on our recent holiday.  As I said before plenty of stitching got done on our trip and now I am back am struggling to find time to get down to as much Dear Jane sewing.


Dear Jane Quilt - Block K11 Columbine

 Draw 32 is a series of Dear Jane star blocks, though this one not so pointy.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 32 - D8, G8, K11, K13 - featuring the Butterfly Quilt



Wash Day - Butterfly Quilt

Despite the predicted rain, this Bank Holiday weekend has turned out quite pleasant.  An ideal day to get a large quilt washed and dried.  This is my Butterfly Quilt.  This is the first epic quilt I ever hand stitched and hand quilted and is the quilt which is on the bed for most of the winter.  The details can be found in one of my early posts.

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

It is Slow Stitching Sunday over at Kathy's Quilts.  I am still working on the Nearly Insane quilt on my long arm machine.  If 'slow' means not going fast enough, then yes, I am doing slow stitching. Like Kathy I have a chart marking off my progress and I am enjoying crossing each square off.

So this post is a bit of past, present and future.  An old quit, one approaching a finish once quilted and the ongoing development of the Dear Jane blocks which will one day be a completed quilt.  Draw 32 is back to square Dear Jane blocks, but we are sticking with Yellow.

Draw 32
D8 - Dee Dee's Delight
G8 - Justin's Comet
K11 - Columbine
K13 - Brandon's Star

This draw will be in Yellow