Dear Jane Quilt - Block E1 Aunt Exie's Phlox

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E1 Aunt Exie's Phlox

I know there will lots of fans for Dear Jane block E1 Aunt Exie's Plox which is all applique and in that lovely traditional melon shape.  These were a nice size, so no drama there.

Suzi has been helping with the photography today.  Clearly there is something far more interesting going on in the garden.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 5 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F4 Old Windmill

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F4 Old Windmill

Here is my favourite Kim Diehl red stripe put to good use on Dear Jane block F4 Old Windmill. Looks easy, but don't forget those little triangles in the corner.

'Cat on Quilt' 2016

Fans of Suzi the Cat may have noticed her absence from the 2016 Pets on Quilts competition this year.  Let's just say this photo shows how far we got getting a good shot of a 'Cat on Quilt'. What would I do without her help?

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 13 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 43 - B12, E1, F4, H13

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 42 - B13, E3, E7, K1

So here is the latest purple draw.  A mixed bunch of Dear Jane blocks.  If you want to see more purple delights, pop over to the Rainbow Scrappy Challenge.

For me, I am moving onto RED in the next Draw - always a favourite.

Draw 43
B12 - Starflower
E1 - Aunt Exie's Phlox
F4 - Old Windmill
H13 - Farm Field's

This Draw will be in Red

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E7 Bread Basket

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E7 Bread Basket

Quite a lot of pieces in this Dear Jane block, E7 Bread Basket, 37 in total.
They look like Hot Cross buns to me, however the timing of this one is quite ironic as I have just started a gluten free diet.

Lots of thoughts came through about blogging after yesterdays post.  Helen S in Australia said she was just off to buy her fabric for her Dear Jane quilt!  How exciting.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 37  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E3 Paddle Wheels

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E3 Paddle Wheels

It is a lot quieter in blogland compared to a year ago.  It seems that a lot of bloggers have migrated to Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for their posts.  One of the reasons I blog is because I like to keep a record of my progress and I like to be able to find it, which Blogger does nicely. 

Zig Zag / Chevron Kaffe Fassett quilt

This time two years ago I was making this Kaffe Fassett chevron quilt.  It is quilted and it gets a lot of use when we are out and about in our campervan.

So thank you if you are still sticking with it and especially thank you if you take the time to write a kind note about my accumulating Dear Jane blocks. 

E3 Paddle Wheels is the next in line, another block for Pam who likes purple.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 20 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K1 Crooked Creek

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K1 Crooked Creek

Thank you for all your encouraging comments regarding the 1 year anniversary.  Last night I was working on a Dear Jane block which needed some 'reverse' stitching - 3 times!  It is at times like that when you need the support of your blog friends.
Dear Jane block K1 Crooked Creek was not as difficult thankfully.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces:  27 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B13 Four Corner Press

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B13 Four Corner Press

Let's start this Draw off with an easy win, Dear Jane block, B13 Four Corner Press.  If I didn't have the discipline of my regular Draws to chose which blocks to do, I would swoop in on these easy blocks, get them done and then pretend the more complex ones didn't exist.  Ironically, the first ever draw I made was probably the most complex with reverse applique, applique and piecing in just one block.  I think I thought they would all be the same, but truly, the first draw happened to be the hardest.  Even those pesky border triangles - almost all of them are way easier than that first set of blocks I had to deal with.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 9 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 42 - B13, E3, E7, K1

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 41 - B2, C5, F1, F2

This latest Draw really shows off some of the design themes running through Jane's blocks.  They were a fun set to do, we had some fun with stripes and all in my beloved greens.  With good progress made after the past year this is no time to rest on my laurels - on with the next Draw.

Draw 42
B13 - Four Corner Press
E3 - Paddle Wheels
E7 - Bread Basket
K1 - Crooked Creek

This Draw will be in Purple

Dear Jane Quilt - 1st Anniversary Edition, August 2016

Dear Jane Block storage

Welcome to the glamorous world of Dear Jane!
Yes, here you see my Dear Jane blocks carefully stacked on a random shelf sharing the space with wadding offcuts and an empty mug.  This is the real world.  I now have just over 200 of these and the thought of laying them out for an Anniversary special was too much.  I asked my new Windows 10 assistant, Cortana, if she wanted to do it, but she seemed to lack enthusiasm also.  However, Electric Quilt 5 - Dear Jane Edition was up for the challenge and has provided me with this update.

Electric Quilt - Dear Jane Edition - August 2016 Update

I think the situation is looking quite healthy for one year of Dear Jane quilt English paper piecing. Electric Quilt has also highlighted that although I thought I had cut all the remaining blocks, there is still one Orange set which I have overlooked. Great work Electric Quilt!

My blogging of my blocks is hopelessly lagging behind the actual completion of the blocks and the data in this table reflects this.

	Blocks	Triangle
Red	25/29	4/8
Purple	10/12	6/8
Blue	20/20	8/8
Green	25/28	8/8
Yellow	34/36	8/12
Orange	44/44	12/12
TOTAL	158/169 (93%)	46/56 (82%)
Sashing	37/312	(11%)
Cornerstones	28/144	(20%)
Triangles	18/56	(32%)

Also the Border triangle extras, sashing and cornerstones are no really going to get me far once I start trying to piece this beauty together.  I need some discipline on working on these.

So, overall, I am pleased with my progress and hope that within weeks (yes, weeks!) I hope to be able to layout all the blocks and triangles to start planning how I will put them together.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F2 Kaleidoscope

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F2 Kaleidoscope

Presenting Dear Jane block F2 Kaleidoscope.
It has come around to my year anniversary with this Dear Jane quilt and I am gathering strength to see if I can lay out all the blocks so far - there are quite a lot of them.  I haven't put any of these Dear Jane blocks together yet which is a task in itself.  And then there are the papers ...

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21  pieces