Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 21 - H3, L7, I10, J7

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 20 TR1, TR13, BR1, BR13 Triangles

Another set of border triangles down. 

I was away on a sewing retreat last week and I only managed to do one Dear Jane block because I didn't have time cut any beforehand.  I was gutted.  This has been put right now and I have plenty of supplies for the next few weeks.  So onto the next Draw.

Draw 21
H3 - Berry's Baskets
L7 - Town Square
I10 - Iris' Medallion
J7 - Chicken Treats

This Draw is Orange.  Yes, Orange again, but going back to the 6 Month report you will see that there are many more orange blocks than any other in my design.

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR13 Eiffel Tower

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR13 Eiffel Tower

I have done a slight adaptation on this Dear Jane triangle border block, TR13 Eiffel Tower.  I will leave the Dear Jane Quilt Police to work it out.  There appear to be as many pieces as the original, so I don't consider it to be too much of a cheat.

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 17 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR1 Spanish Moss

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  TR1 Spanish Moss

This is triangle block TR1, Spanish Moss. Lots of thin bits on this one, which is a bit wayward now, but should be pulled in once part of the border.


Spanish Moss

Spanish Moss is not a plant that is common in the UK, so I did a bit of research and found out that it native to north and south America and is not a 'moss' or a 'lichen' but an 'air plant', living off nutrients in the air and from rainfall.  As you can see, it hangs from trees, so maybe I should have turned mine 180 degrees.

Techniques : English Paper Piecing
No of pieces: 23

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR1 Rosemary's Rainbow

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  BR1 Rosemary's Rainbow

In my head there is still the myth that the Dear Jane triangles are hard.  This one only had eleven pieces in it.

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 11 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR13 Argyle

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR13 Argyle

Moving onto some of the border triangles of the Dear Jane quilt.  This is aptly called Argyle, like the sweaters, no doubt from the Scottish region.  They need sweaters up there, they seem to get the worst of the weather.

A few diamonds in this one, but I coped.

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 26 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - 6 month Progress Report

Dear Jane Quilt - 6 month Progress Report, Electric Quilt

As promised here is an update on my Dear Jane journey.  I am six months into it and as you can see from the Electric Quilt interpretation, the holes are steadily being filled up. 

Dear Jane Quilt - Fabadashery 6 month Progress Report

Here are all the actual Dear Jane quilt blocks which are completed, still with all the papers in them.  No purple yet. None are sewn together yet, as I don't have a full row complete, but come back in the next six months and see whether I have managed to get any of it together.

 

	Blocks	Triangle
Red	5/29	0/8
Purple	0/12	0/8
Blue	8/20	4/8
Green	8/28	4/8
Yellow	8/36	0/12
Orange	28/44	8/12
TOTAL	57/169 (33%)	16/56 (28%)

 

Here are the statistics.  The numbers show that I am only about a third of the way through ... so still a way to go.   If you have been a dedicated Follower, it might feel like this has been going on a bit longer, thanks for sticking with it.  An average of about 12 blocks a month, which now puts back the completion to this time next year (February 2017).  I think I could do with a Dear Jane retreat.


Dear Jane Quilt - Fabadashery 6 month Progress Report

It is fun to pull out all the blocks and remember where and when you were stitching them, which is perhaps something special about hand piecing quilts.  I usually prepare the blocks for sewing in batches and it is time I spent some time at the cutting board, especially since I have a few trips coming up in the next few weeks. 


Dear Jane Quilt Exhibition, Nantes, France 2013

And finally, here is a bit of Dear Jane inspiration.  This is another photo from the Dear Jane Quilt Exhibition held in Nantes, France in April 2013.  I can't believe it is nearly three years ago that it was on display.  What a show! It is a reminder that everyone interprets the quilt in their own way - on this note, check out the Dear Jane cutie Susan has made. Over at That Quilt, a new Dear Jane quiltalong is starting - just if you are interested.

Joining up with Design Wall Monday
 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G11 Decisions, Decisions

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G11 Decisions, Decisions

Whoops! I forgot to show you  Block G11, Decisions, Decisions.

There haven't been many pieces in each block with this Draw, but just four applique pieces can slow me down.

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 13 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 20 TR1, TR13, BR1, BR13 Triangles

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 19, F6, G11, C3, G13
 

This last draw of Dear Jane blocks was  quite a nice selection.  Maybe a bit browner than yellow, but hoping it will all come together in the final piece.

Draw 20 is another set of triangles.  Although they are bigger than the normal Dear Jane blocks they are often not many more pieces, so they have become less of a daunting prospect than on previous draws.  This is the fourth set so heading towards sixteen border triangles being completed.  You might be able to feel a sense of satisfaction that I am enjoying - the fact that the border is being done as I go along.  However, I still haven't managed to get to the point where I remove my papers before construction.  It took me seven whole days to remove them from the Nearly Insane quilt.

TR1 - Spanish Moss
TR13 - Eiffel Tower
BR1 - Rosemary's Rainbow
BR13 - Argyle

This Draw is my old friend Orange.

 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F6 - Deanie's Daisies

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F6 - Deanie's Daisies

This is Block F6, Deanie's Daisies.  Mainly English Paper Piecing besides the four little melon shapes in the centre which form the daisy.  I didn't struggle too badly with these four.


Suzi the cat

The weather has been quite erratic here in the UK, but today we have some lovely February sunshine which Suzi the cat is enjoying.  I am coming up to my six month anniversary since I started my Dear Jane blocks, so in the next few days I will treat you all with a review of my progress.

Joining up with Feline Friday

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 29 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C3 Rayelle's Fence

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C3 Rayelle's Fence

Presenting Block C3 Rayelle's Fence of the Dear Jane quilt.  Just squares and rectangles - so simple with the English Paper Piecing method.  As for Rayelle's Fence, I have no idea what it is about.

I think this print from the 'Heritage Hollow' range by Kim Diehl is one of my favourites.  It comes in this colour (which I describe as cow dung), blue and red.  The new 'Sunday Best' range has been out for several weeks in the USA and so far I have resisted sending an order to Kimberley Jolly ....

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G13 Molly's Muffins

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G13 Molly's Muffins

I will try anything using EPP and even though working those curved shapes on Block G13 Molly's Muffins, was tricky, I think I have got away with it.

Talking of Molly, there is a delightful kitten called Molly learning the joys of a sewing room over at The Objecst of Design blog if you care to take a look.

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 13 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 19, F6, G11, C3, G13

Dear Jane Quilt Blocks - Draw 18, F10, E2, F7, J9

Here are the latest Dear Jane blocks I have done in green. I am still not sure about that Potholder block and it might be a re-do down the line.

I usually meet up at a sewing group on Monday evening for stitching, but tonight the weather is wet and VERY windy here in the UK, so I think I will stay in and stitch some Dear Jane blocks at home. 

Onto the next Draw 

C3 - Rayelle's Fence
F6 - Deanie's Daisies
G11 - Decisions, Decisions
G13 - Molly's Muffins

This Draw is Yellow.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F10 Potholder

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F10 Potholder

This is the Dear Jane block F10 Potholder.  It went through several design drafts and still I don't think I quite got the diamonds in the corners quite right. Apparently, diamonds are a girls best friend, but to be honest whenever they have cropped up in my sewing they have been anything but a 'best friend', always causing trouble and never quite playing along with everyone else. 

I have learnt from The Constant Quilter blog that there is a whole genre known as 'Potholder Quilts' and if you look around her blog you will see she has even completed a whole Dear Jane using the technique.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J9 Maury High School

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J9 Maury High School

J9 Maury High School looks like an innocent little block, but those four tiny, tiny melon shapes were a bit of a trial to say the least.

Maury High School is a REAL school in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 26 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E2 Merry May

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E2 Merry May

This is Dear Jane block E2 Merry May.  I slightly redrafted this one.  The central shape on my Electric Quilt pattern was not symmetrical.  The original design has two appliqued overlapping melon shapes, but as you can see, I have divided the shape into 5 pieces, stitched them together and then appliqued them onto the centre square.  More chance for fussy cutting and more pleasing to the eye.


Kim Diehl - Green fabrics

I enjoy doing the green blocks as the patterns on this range of Kim Diehl fabrics are really attractive and lend themselves to fussy cutting. 

BTW, here is the progress on the spring bulbs - a weekend away and look what happened!

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 14 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F7 Star Struck

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F7 Star Struck

The last time my Dear Jane blocks got out and about was when I went over to Maastricht to the Quilt exhibition, so it is good to see them getting some fresh air on the Cornish coast.  This is Block F7 Star Struck.


Dear Jane Quilt - Block F7 Star Struck

So far there have not been many 'star' blocks in Dear Jane, certainly not in comparison to the Nearly Insane blocks, where every other block seemed to be a star variation.  Anyway, nice and simple, a few flying geese blocks, a border - DONE.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 20 pieces
 

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 18, F10, E2, F7, J9

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 17, LR5, LR9, RR5, RR9 Triangles


I have done 65 blocks of my Dear Jane quilt so far, which is about 28% of the quilt (average 13 a month).  My sister was right when she said I still had a way to go.  However, with a few of these Dear Jane triangle border blocks under my belt I am really pleased to see them getting done alongside the main body of the quilt.  Borders usually suffer from being last in the queue when a quilt is being made and never get the same enthusiasm as the those first few blocks at the start of a project.


Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangles

I have cut out the majority of the alternating blocks for the border which will be in my neutral tan fabric.  By keeping them plain I hope it will offer an opportunity to add some interest with the quilting. 

Moving onto the next set, Draw 18

Draw 18
F10 - Potholder
E2 - Merry May
F7 - Star Struck
J9 - Maury High School

This Draw will also be in Green.

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR9 Danish Delight

Cowslip Workshop, Launceston

I have been out and about this weekend visiting family in Cornwall and helping the local quilt shops maintain economic sustainability.  On the way back I managed to persuade my husband that Cowslip Workshop near Launceston would be a good place to stop for lunch - which it was.  You will see the daffodils are out.  In some places they are past their best and it is only the start of February!

Cowslip Workshop, Launceston

As always a lovely selection of fabrics.  BTW Cowslip Workshop are having a sale this week starting today, Tuesday 2nd February 2016 until Thursday with 10% all fabric and  40% off Christmas fabric.  I picked up a few plain fabrics from the French General collections - I never seem to have a problem using these.


Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  RR9 Danish Delight

Onto the latest Dear Jane block, RR9 Danish Delight. I am getting quite used to these triangle blocks and this is the last one of the latest Draw.  Some of the triangle shapes in this one look exactly the same, BUT they are not, so do take care to get the right one in the right place if you are attempting this one.

Also a bit of a public service announcement.  I had noticed recently that I was losing Followers at a fairly alarming rate and I was feeling a bit of a social pariah.  Thankfully it is not me but Google who have changed their policies about what ID you use to Follow.  See the details here  http://buzz.blogger.com/2015/12/an-update-on-google-friend-connect.html

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 23 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR5 Geisha Girl

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  RR5 Geisha Girl

There were a few nervous moments with this block.  I lost the very top tiny triangle, but knew there were only two places it could be and it eventually turned up stuck to another piece of the block.  I constructed the Dear Jane border triangle RR5 Geisha Girl using my usual English Paper Piecing technique, except for the melon in the centre which I appliqued. 

Last Monday I shared my current 'Springwatch' activity, seeing the development of my hyacinth.  It is certainly starting to shoot up and I expect the flowers to be peeping out within the next few days.  Can you guess what colour it will be?

Techniques: Appliqué and English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 26 pieces

Colourwave Quilt

Colourwave Quilt

Back in October last year I shared with you my progress on a workshop with Jan Hassard held at Busy Bees Patchwork, to make this Colourwave quilt. As you can see it is complete and it has been for some time, I just haven't had time to share it with you.  Jan specialises in colour and geometric designs and her workshops come highly recommended.  If you step back from you screen you will see the illusional effect of this quilt pattern even more.

Colourwave Quilt - fabric selection

On my return from the workshop I had a bit of a re-jig of my colours and worked out a colour scheme which I was much happier with.  To get this colour effect you need at least 36 different fabrics which is quite a tall order if you don't collect batiks in your stash, but the more you have the better the effect.

Suzi the Cat helps with the Colourwave Quilt

Suzi the cat was keen to join in this project. She is very pleased I don't have a design wall and that I have to use the floor ...

Superior Threads Rainbow 821 Carnival variegated thread


Not only is the quilt top done, but it is quilted.  I used a variegated Superior Threads Rainbow (821 Carnival) thread which blended well with all the different colours of the quilt and really popped when it reached the black fabric.  I use 80/20 cotton/polyester for the wadding.

Kiss by Melonie J Caldwell and Patricia Ritter


In fact I loved the effect of the variegated thread on black so much that I used a black fabric for the backing.  Using my long arm quilting machine I stitched out a digital pantograph, Kiss by Melonie J Caldwell and Patricia Ritter.  There were so many different patterns I could have chosen for this quilt, each giving a different look.


Colourwave Quilt

It was lovely to work with such bright and colourful fabrics for a change and also to work on a smaller sized quilt than normal.  Thanks Jan!  Joining up with Whoop Whoop Friday! and Crazy Mom Quilts!

Colourwave Quilt - Borders