2018 Festival of Quilts - Judges Choice for Dear Jane Quilt

'Dear Jane' quilt by Frances Meredith
Festival of Quilts, NEC, 2018

A busy few days up at the 2018 Festival of Quilts, NEC Birmingham, with the added bonus of a Judge's Choice for my Dear Jane quilt.  They don't hand out many accolades at this show (let alone any rosettes!), so I was very surprised to receive anything.  However, this photograph is the only evidence, as when my quilt was returned to me at the end of the show the little plaque was not included.
For the record it said "A lovely,warm quilt displaying accurate piecing and applique techniques with careful  colour placement and some intricate quilting" Judge: Vera Walker . Thanks Vera.
I also had the pleasure of quilting five of the quilts in the Two Person Category, which you can see over on my Fabadashery Longarm Quilting blog.

21/08/2018
Good News! the little plaque has arrived in the post today.

Dear Jane Quilt - Festival of Quilt, NEC Birmingham, August 2018

'Dear Jane' quilt by Frances Meredith, 2018

If you are heading off to the Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, UK, this week you will be able to see my completed Dear Jane quilt on display, No FO48 in the Traditional Quilts section.  It is a few months since she was completed and there have been a few requests for a bit more information about how I reached the finishing post!  
I guess you need to start at the beginning, with the trip to Nantes, France in April 2013, where there was a spectacular 150th Anniversary display of Dear Jane quilts, which was the inspiration to start on my Dear Jane quilt.  Then in August 2015, once my Nearly Insane quilt was completed I was able to start my Dear Jane journey.  Wow, three years ago.  As you all probably know, my Dear Jane quilt was completed by hand, using English Paper Piecing in conjunction with the Electric Quilt Dear Jane software.  Steadily each block and side triangle was completed during trips away and in travelling time.

'Dear Jane' quilt by Frances Meredith, 2018

About a year ago in the spring of 2017 I managed to get the top completed and together, which was followed by the mammoth task of removing the papers.  There are 5163 pieces in the quilt. I think this took about 5 days this time and is not something I rush to do straight away.  Meanwhile, there were a few challenges that lay ahead - quilting the quilt and doing a scallop edge for the first time.  I will admit that I have a long pause between finishing a top and quilting my quilts, but a show deadline is usually a good prompt to get it done.

I am lucky enough to have a long arm quilting machine and having put so much time into each block of the quilt I wanted each one to shine.  Each block is stitched in the ditch and then I designed my own pattern for blank triangles and the sashing.  At the time of quilting the edge of the quilt was a straight border.

To tackle the scallop edge I would recommend making some practice quilts.  I made a few charity quilts for Project Linus which were lucky enough to have scallop edges.  By making these I ironed out the problems before I encountered them on my masterpiece.   I chose quite a narrow binding for the edge and applied it with the machine and then finished it by hand.  I only trimmed the scallop border once I had applied the binding on the machine.

'Dear Jane' quilt by Frances Meredith, 2018

Once I decided to make a Dear Jane quilt I knew I had to go the whole way - all the blocks, all the triangles, and the scalloped edge, just as Jane Stickle had done. Now this quilt is done, my next Dear Jane quilt can be done in any way I choose!  I will admit that while I was quilting each block I was reminded of what a fun quilt this was to make.  The variety of techniques that you can choose to make each block, makes it interesting. Fussy cutting each block makes it interesting.  Choosing colour combinations makes it interesting.  I wouldn't dismiss the idea of making another one.

How much fabric did I use to make my Dear Jane quilt? I don't know, but I know I have enough Kim Diehl fabric left to make probably three more of these!

As I write this I am reminded of the true beauty of English Paper Piecing.  When I was away in Nantes, I was most probably working on a few Nearly Insane blocks. Dear Jane has travelled with me for the past three years and my handmade quilts really do weave their way into my life.  They hold memories of where you were, trips you made and follow you when you are out and about living your life.  The quilts I make when I am sat down in the same room on a sewing machine, perhaps don't have that weight of value.  I am often asked 'How long did it take you?' Well, like friends, you don't measure the number of days you have been friends as a measure of special your friendships are, they are just friendships.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 33 Farmer's Puzzle

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 33 Farmer's Puzzle

This is one of the more recent blocks I have done for the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's),   Block 33 Farmer's Puzzle.  I haven't picked up one of these blocks for couple of weeks, so a good prompt for me to get some done.

I am heading off to the Festival of Quilts next week - I wonder if there will be any Farmer's Wife quilts on display?

Nearly Insane Quilt heading to the USA

'Nearly Insane' quilt 

A few months ago I entered my Nearly Insane quilt into the World Quilt Show and was pleased to hear that it had been accepted.  This means that it is heading over the Atlantic to visit all of its American friends that have followed its development over many years.

It is part of the World Quilt Show organised by Mancuso Show Management and it will be travelling across the USA to the following venues.  If you manage to see it I would love to see a photo of you by the quilt!

World Quilt Show New EnglandThursday
16th August - Saturday 18th August 2018 

Center of New Hampshire 700 Elm St., Manchester, NH 03101

Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza
Thursday 13th September  - Sunday 16th September 2018

Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, PA,100 Station Avenue, Oaks, PA 19456

Pacific International Quilt Festival XXVII
Thursday 11th October - Sunday 14th October 2018

5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95054

Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival
February 28th - March 3rd 2019 

Hampton Roads Convention Center

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 36 Flower Garden Path

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 36 Flower Garden Path

This is The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 36 Flower Garden Path.  A relatively complex pattern for this quilt with about 38 pieces.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 36 Flower Garden Path

I thought I would show you a picture of what it looked like when I had finished it.  It obviously took a bit of pushing and shoving to get it to line up and get those points just right.  So what did I do to get it flat?  I took the steam iron to it.  I love flat things and the steam iron is my best friend in helping me achieve this.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 36 Flower Garden Path
meets the steam iron.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 37 Flower Pot

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 37 Flower Pot

Don't be alarmed by Suzi's face.  I think she likes the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 37 Flower Pot, but she didn't like the noisy building work going on in the background.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 37 Flower Pot

It seems like I have done a lot of Flower basket blocks in the past and of all of them I think this is my favourite.  Yes, it has that pretty pink print in it and I have fussy cut the basket, which all helps.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 108 Windmill

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 108 Windmill

Here is The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 108 Windmill.  I have used a pretty pink on white print in this one which I picked up in my MODA scrap bag, I wish I had loads more of it as it is a rely useful print.  The other fabric is one of which I only had a single charm square, so don't expect to see that one again.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 39 Friendship

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 39 Friendship

Here's the Friendship block I mentioned in my previous post - The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 39 Friendship.  Not much different to no 40 - Friendship Block in name, but significantly different in style.
This was an easy block to do.  It is nice to have an easy block to do once in a while to help move a project forward,

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 40 Friendship Block

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 40 Friendship Block

With so much sunshine this summer it seems a shame not to take the photos outside.  This is The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 40 Friendship Block and I have slightly altered it by adding some cornerstones - it was an opportunity to add more colour. 

I am completing these blocks in a rough order, which means in the case of the Farmer's Wife quilt that they are in alphabetical order.  No 40 is Friendship Block, No 39 is Friendship - do you see the subtle difference in their name.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 22 Corn and Beans

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 22 Corn and Beans

This is one of the Farmers's Wife quilt blocks which has more piece than most - 44 pieces in all. It is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 22 Corn and Beans.

I have done 29 blocks in total so far, but as I said, I have had a few days prepping some blocks and this seems to have stimulated my interest in the project.  It is a busy sporting weekend on the telly and I always find that a great time to do my hand sewing.  However, I am waiting for an appropriate celebration or holiday to show you them altogether.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 32 Farmer's Daughter

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 32 Farmer's Daughter

I have had a few days to prep the next batch of Farmer's Wife blocks and am looking forward to seeing a bit of progress on this project over the next few weeks.  This little block is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 32 Farmer's Daughter and I managed to make use of a little charm square of fabric I had for the background - I wish I had a bit more of it.

Suzi the cat

Whilst I was out in the garden taking the photo, I was joined by my assistant, Suzi, who is enjoying being outside in this hot weather

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 25 Cups and Saucers

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 25 Cups and Saucers

We have had hot summer weather here in the UK which has probably used up our quota for 2018.  Still good weather to take photos of my Farmer's Wife blocks in the garden.  This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 25 Cups and Saucers which is looking fresh and lovely.

MODA Scrap Bag - Fig Tree Fabric

I have been out and about fabric shopping and was lucky enough to pick up a MODA Scrapbag with some Fig Tree scraps in it which are going to add a bit more variety to the blocks.  Another trip is planned soon, so I need to prep a load more blocks for our journey - it seems to be the only time I get stitching done these days.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 16 Calico Puzzle

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 16 Calico Puzzle

This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 16 Calico Puzzle. I turned around the corner pieces on this block whilst it was in production because I felt it looked better.
These are still photos of the blocks I did whilst away and the poor Farmer's Wife quilt blocks haven't been touched since I returned. It makes me think what am I doing with my time?

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 29 Economy

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 29 Economy 

This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 29 Economy.  The Economy block is one that pops up quite regularly and is probably a go to patchwork pattern which in general produces a quick, great looking quilt.  I have tried to fussy cut this one with a pretty rose in the centre.
Do you know where the name comes from?

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 15 Buzzard's Roost

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 15 Buzzard's Roost

When you are working through a book full of quilt blocks, there are some you love and some you love a bit less.  This Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 15 Buzzard's Roost comes into the second category, but on reflection I think I made a good colour choice.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 30 End of Day

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 30 End of Day

Another little block finished on our trip to Ireland. This is The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 30 End of Day.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 8 Bouquet

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 8 Bouquet

There are a lot of basket type blocks in the Farmer's Wife (20's) quilt and this is one of them,  the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 8 Bouquet.  I kept the florals in there and love the deeper red dotted amongst the blocks.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 11 Broken Dishes

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 11 Broken Dishes

Half square triangles - you have got to love them!  Here is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 11 Broken Dishes, showing them off to their best.  I love this pattern and keep being drawn back to it.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 11 Broken Dishes - English Paper Piecing

With my Dear Jane quilt recently on display I was reminded that not everyone realises that the quilt is hand pieced using English Paper piecing.  Here is a photo of the back of Farmer's Wife Block 11, Broken Dishes, with all the papers still in and the tacking stitches still in place.  I am using a light tan thread at the moment so they don't show so well.  I am sure I have said before that if I was required to complete these quilts using a machine, I truly would go insane.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 27 Darting Birds - visits South West Ireland

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 27 Darting Birds

I have been away on holiday in Ireland for the past week which has given me plenty of stitching time to work on my Farmer's Wife quilt blocks.  On my return the garden has burst into bloom so I decided to do an outdoor photoshoot for a change. Here is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 27 Darting Birds,  which is a very well travelled block as it accompanied me on a boat trip to Skellig Michael, a small island on the South West coast of Ireland.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 27 Darting Birds,
visits Skellig Michael, Ireland

Here it is surviving the large 'swells' of the Atlantic Ocean in front of Skellig Michael, recently made famous by being the reclusive home of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master, in the film Star Wars Episode VIII.  

Dear Jane Quilt Finished!

'Dear Jane' quilt made by Frances Meredith

Did I say I had finally finished my Dear Jane quilt?  There is nothing like a deadline to get things done and as a push I had entered my Dear Jane quilt into the 2018 Quilt UK Show at Malvern this weekend.  The good news is that it has won some prizes including, Best Piecing, Best Sampler Quilt and a first prize in the Bed Quilt category.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 21 Contrary Wife

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 
Block 21 Contrary Wife

This one is pretty, the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 21 Contrary Wife. I have not had much time for this little project lately as I have been very busy quilting quilts for the Malvern Show which is next week.  One of the quilts is my Dear Jane quilt, which I will reveal in due course!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 17 Cats and Mice

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 
Block 17 Cats and Mice

I can't believe we have reached May already.  The good news is that the Grand Prix Formula 1 has started and that provides a good 3 hours of stitching every fortnight whilst I watch events unfold.
This is the Farmer's wife Sampler Quilt Block 17, Cats and Mice, which is just one of the blocks I completed last weekend whilst watching the race a Baku in Azerbaijan. It's great to make the most of your time doing things you enjoy.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 20 Churn Dash

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 20 Churn Dash

I wonder how many Churn Dash quilt blocks are being made at any one moment in the world? 
This is my latest Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt block 20 Churn Dash, made up of just 17 pieces.  These little blocks turn out quite quickly and are much simpler than the Nearly Insane quilt or the Dear Jane quilt.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 31 Evening Star

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 
Block 31 Evening Star

The Moda Solids I bought a few weeks ago have really helped move this project along.  This is Farmers Wife Sampler Quilt Block 31 Evening Star, where the solids have allowed me to make use of this charm square of pretty Fig Tree fabric.

Suzi the Cat on the Butterfly Quilt

I thought it was time that we had a picture of Suzi.  The weather is on and off at the moment, but Suzi  is managing to follow the sun whilst remaining on the bed.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 9 Box

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 9 Box

I tried to do this one before, but it ended up as Block 41, the Friendship Star.  I welded some of the bits together to reduce the number of total pieces in this block.  It meant there were some Y-seams, but they are really no trouble when you are hand piecing.
I usually start a project knowing what I am going to do with it, but in this case I had the fabric and the Farmer's Wife book sitting there and thought I might as well start constructing the blocks and work out the layout as I went along.  Lots of ideas have passed through my mind, but I am thinking I might make up an applique border.  Any thoughts?