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

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR9 Kiwi

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR9 Kiwi

The Dear Jane triangle border block, LR9 Kiwi, is just seven pieces, most of which I have appliquéd.  All quite straight forward.  I am not sure if the name of this block refers to the Kiwi fruit or the New Zealand Kiwi bird.

Kiwi fruit

Growing up I don't think I ever saw a Kiwi fruit and was thinking about when the first time I would have ever seen or tasted one in the UK.  It was probably at a wedding or posh buffet in a fruit salad. Today, I am juicing them up into a fruit smoothie.

Techniques: Appliqué
Pieces: 7 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR5 Olympic Torch

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  LR5 Olympic Torch

It is less than 200 hundred days until the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro start on 5th August.  This is the Dear Jane version of the Olympic Torch (LR5) and you can see the official 2016 torch design on the Olympic website.  I imagine there were a lot of people involved in the design of the symbolic item and craftspeople using innovative techniques, so I thought I would share some of the processes I used for making my Olympic Torch.


Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  LR5 Olympic Torch

Here you can see a bit of the process I use to construct my blocks using the English Paper Piecing technique.  I usually cut out the blocks in batches, so when I finally pull out my bag of bits, I need to match up the paper shapes to the fabric shapes. 

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  LR5 Olympic Torch

 I usually tack the fabric on all the bits first and then lay them out in their correct positions to start constructing the block as you see it at the top of the page.  LR5 Olympic Torch had some thin, pointy bits to manage, but it always seems to work out alright at the end.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 24 pieces 

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

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 16, RR4, LR4, LR10, RR10 Triangles

Here is a group photo of the Dear Jane triangle border blocks I have just completed and guess what?  Draw 17 brings on another set

LR5 - Olympic Torch
LR9 - Kiwi
RR5 - Geisha Girl
RR9 - Danish Delight

This draw will be in my Green Kim Diehl fabrics.


Hyacinth bulbs, January 2016

We really are at the mucky end of January here in the UK.  No snow to delight us so far, just wet, mild weather.  The bulbs outside don't know whether to come out or not it is so warm. I will try and keep track of this pot of hyacinth bulbs in the lead up to the Spring. 

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR10 Megan's Cathedral

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  LR10 Megan's Cathedral

Here is the final triangle border block for Draw 16, LR10 Megan's Cathedral.  In terms of the fabric choice, it is a bit of a 'dog's dinner', but when mixed in with everything else I am hoping it will look fine.

Today I am having a Slow Stitching Sunday.  It is rare that I let myself sit down for a day and simply hand stitch, but the last few weekends have been busy and I thought I would grab a bit of 'me' time.  I am doing as Kathy recommends and not thinking about my To Do list or ruminating about my worries.  Just stitching.

Several of you shared your Quiltalongs with us.  I haven't started any yet and have still to make any decisions, but look forward to seeing your progress on your blogs.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 24

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR10 Grandma Nana's Bodice

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  RR10 Grandma Nana's Bodice

If you are stopping by today to see my latest Dear Jane block, please take note of the fussy cutting of the little white dots.  This is all English Paper Piecing, except for the tan triangle on the bottom which is appliqued.  The blue triangles throughout are all slightly different, so do mark them if you are attempting this block.

Back when I was stitching my Nearly Insane quilt blocks I used to complain if a block had less than 50 pieces in it.  This Dear Jane border triangle, RR10 Grandma Nana's Bodice, has just 17 pieces in it.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 17

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR4 Dutch Apron

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  RR4 Dutch Apron

After the tiny pieces Virginia's Kite, RR4 Dutch Apron was a quick and easy border triangle to complete.  I also really like the light blue Kim Diehl fabric on this one.

Twenty days into January and I finally think I have finally reached to point I had hoped to be when the year started. I am now thinking about what projects I could be working on besides my Dear Jane.  Having quilted a couple of Lori Holt quilts for my long arm customers I am tempted to do the Bloom Quiltalong which started on Monday.  There some other Quiltalongs starting in January - are you following any of them?

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 15

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR4 Virginia's Kite

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  LR4 Virginia's Kite

I haven't done any applique for Dear Jane for a while, so I wasn't really looking forward to starting these triangle border blocks with a load of applique as part of the package. As it happens it was the piecing that proved more challenging.


Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block  LR4 Virginia's Kite

This is a photo of one of the very little pieces which went into this block.  It is amazing how something so small can be so intimidating - a bit like a creepy crawly.  But, as I have said before, once it is sewn to another piece it is no longer small.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 19 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 16, RR4, LR4, LR10, RR10 Triangles

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 15, I2, K9, K12, M4

Finally catching up with some blogging.  Here are the Dear Jane blocks from Draw 15.  Quite a simple round with a couple of 9-patch blocks.

However, Draw 16 is a set of the border triangles

RR4 - Dutch Apron
LR4 Virginia's Kite
LR10 - Megan's Cathedral
R10 Grandma Nana's Bodice

This set will be in BLUE
 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block I2 Kaye's Courtyard

Dear Jane Quilt - Block I2 Kaye's Courtyard

If only they were all this easy - I12 Kaye's Courtyard is another easy peasy Dear Jane block.

I am pleased to see that another Dear Jane fan is starting their own journey. Pop over to UK City Crafter who has started a Dear Jane quilt for 2016 in some lovely blue fabrics.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 13

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K9 Scout's Honour

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K9 Scout's Honour

I did this one in no time at all - Scout's Honour!

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M4 Stepping Stones

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M4 Stepping Stones

Here is block M4 Stepping Stones for my Dear Jane quilt.  With all its papers in it looks like it is squeezed into its 4.5" square - obviously too much to eat over the holiday period.


Dear Jane Quilt - Block M4 Stepping Stones

Just as a reminder that this is mainly being done using the English Paper Piecing method, here is a picture of the back of the block.  Quite tiny pieces in this one, which was a bit of a shock to the system after such an easy run lately.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 49
 

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6, Border, Quilting and Finished!

Allietare Mystery Quilt 2015 - Fabadashery

It is finished!
In my last post I had the Allietare quilt top almost done, but I was pondering on the borders.  I devised something a bit different to the ones offered in Bonnie's original design which I am really pleased with.  Don't ask me for dimensions or instructions - I really don't know how I did it.  All I do know is that I had a lot of bias edges to deal with during the quilting process!


80's by 80's superfine cotton lawn - Great Flower Designs

Back in November when I had chosen my colour scheme for the Allietare Mystery quilt, I picked up a couple of metres of this fabric at the Knitting and Stitching Show with the intention of using as my backing.  It is superfine cotton lawn which is lightweight and soft - it feels lovely.

Allietare Mystery Quilt 2015 - Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting

Using my long arm quilting machine I have quilted an all over swirl and feather pantograph, Wave on Wave by Patricia Ritter.

Allietare Mystery Quilt 2015 - Fabadashery



So it is quilted, the binding is on and I have even made the label for it.  I hope to get it on the bed tonight. Thanks again to Bonnie Hunter for gifting this pleasure to us all.

Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K12 Doris's Dilemma

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K12 Doris's Dilemma

I am not sure what Doris's Dilemma was.  All I had to worry about was whether to have an orange square or a tan square.  When you have a Dear Jane block as simple as this you wonder why every quilter in the world hasn't completed a Dear Jane quilt.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 11

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 15, I2, K9, K12, M4

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 14, B9, C6, K4, L6


Well, it looks as if winter might have arrived here in the UK.  Yesterday we had our first frost and I had to scrape the ice off the car window.  It soon warmed up though.  Since 2016 kicked off I have been on sewing overdrive and I have lots of projects to share with you once I stop sewing and have some time to do some blogging. 

Meanwhile, here is another set of Dear Jane blocks completed and the next selection of blocks that I will be working on.

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 15,

I2 - Kaye's Courtyard
K9 - Scout's Honour
K12 - Doris's Dilemma
M4 - Stepping Stones

The colour for this Draw will be my old favourite - ORANGE.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K4 Thea's Turn

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K4 Thea's Turn

Now the rush and excitement of the Allietare Mystery quilt is over it is time to get back to updating you on my progress with my Dear Jane blocks.

This is the last block of the latest draw, K4 Thea's Turn.  It looks really simple, which it is. However, if you pop over to The Objects of Design you can see her Thea's Turn and there is quite a striking difference to this one, just because of the clever fussy cutting and fabric choice.  You can really make a Dear Jane quilt your own.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 17

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

Over the past few years bringing in the New Year has meant just one thing - Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt!  Thank you, thank you, thank you Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville for all your work and generosity.  It has provided me with so much pleasure.  This year I have been working in softer colours than my usual choice and already it is looking like a quilt that is going to blend in to the household quite comfortably.

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

As suspected Bonnie released the BIG REVEAL for her Allietare Mystery Quilt for 2015 on New Years Day.  As we are at the end of the road for this quilt, the choice of colours I could use from my scraps for my cutting was limited, but it has just about worked out OK.


Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6 Block

We had two blocks to work on.  With all the work from the previous stages all the pieces were there ready to go.  What I really love about Bonnie's instructions are the details about pressing.  Just knowing which way to press your seam makes such a difference when trying to get accurate points on your seams and the overall look of your quilt.

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

For some reason the second block seemed easier to put together (probably because there were less of them!).


Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

As you can see I have all the blocks together.  With my fabric colour choice the quilt is looking remarkably like an Italian marble floor.  I had hoped to have the borders on for the Monday Link Up, but after several auditions the combinations were not really working.  The Italian floor idea has stuck and after a good night's sleep, my design juices have been flowing and I think I have come up with a solution which I am off to work on now.  Watch this space!

I know how hard I have been working on this quilt over the past few days, so congratulations to everyone who has made it to the Monday Link Up!

To see my journey, see the links below or visit my Pinterest page

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5
Part 6 - Quilting
Part 6 - Finished

 

Dear Jane Quilt Update - 2015 New Year's Eve Edition

Dear Jane Quilt Update - 2015 New Year's Eve Edition

Happy New Year to everyone.  I thought I would take this opportunity to do a progress report on my Dear Jane Quilt.  Progress has been a bit slow over the past few weeks, so this is also a little motivational post for myself.

Dear Jane Quilt Update - December 2015, EQS

Here is the layout of the quilt with the completed blocks in their assigned placing using my Electric Quilt Dear Jane software.  The scheduled plan is to get all those white spaces filled up by next December, so I think today I will have a 'Dear Jane' block cutting day.

Dear Jane Quilt Update - December 2015

The Kim Diehl fabrics are really starting to come together now that there are more colours than just orange.  A new Kim Diehl range has just been launched, 'Sunday Best' ,and I am very tempted to get them to add to my collection. They are really hard to get hold of in the UK, but you will see that I have managed quite well so far.

Dear Jane Quilt Update - December 2015

You can see that I have done loads more orange blocks than any other colour and I still have 'purple' to do.  The triangles have not come up in my regular draws, so I expect there will be a glut of them at some stage in the near future.


Dear Jane Quilt Update - December 2015

Suzi has enjoyed me being home over the holidays and has got her sewing mojo back. She is a bit more interested in the Allietare Mystery Quilt than Dear Jane and is currently waiting for the next stage to be posted.

I have started posting some of the blocks up on a Pinterest page where it is much easier to look at them together, but I will keep posting my progress here.


Dear Jane Quilt - Block L6 Maze of Madness

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L6 Maze of Madness

As I learnt from doing my Nearly Insane quilt blocks, some blocks are reminders of special days or trips.  L6 Maze of Madness was the block I completed over the course of Christmas Day 2016.  There are lots of tiny pieces in this one, including eight 1/4 inch squares.  My main worry is not how small they are to sew, but losing them as I travel about!

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 47