Miniature Block of the Month September 2015 - The Quilt Room

Miniature Block of the Month September 2015 - The Quilt Room

I had been hoping to get this BOM done earlier this month, but it was only released earlier this week.  It is nearly six weeks ago that I did the last one and the foundation piecing never seems to get easier.  It goes in a pattern of stitch a row, unpick it, stitch it again, move on.  With the magic of editing software I have digitally trimmed it so you can't see the errors!


Miniature Block of the Month September 2015 - The Quilt Room

There are only three left to go and then I will have to think about how I will set them as a quilt.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M3 Fireweed Flower

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M3 Fireweed Flower

This is Fireweed Flower, Block M3.  I think I have mixed up the colour / neutral positions of the fabric on this compared to the original.  I suggest you don't compare my Dear Jane quilt to the original as it is already doing a lot of things to suit itself.

Again, this was a block that I was bit nervous about.  I did it English Paper Piecing (what else?), but lots of the pieces were not symmetrical, as you can see from these little beasties which are just 1/4" wide with random pointy bits on them.  If you are doing this block yourself, I suggest you refer to the diagram A LOT, to ensure you are getting everything in the right place at the right time.  Just two unpicks for me on this one. 

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 5, A2, H9, I11, M3

Dear Jane Quilt - Blocks B11, D5, F8 L11

Here is a pleasing set of blocks from my Dear Jane Quilt, Draw 4.  They are going to be placed in the same position, but mirrored in four different corners of the quilt, so I hope that in the overall scheme of things they will balance nicely.  You can get the idea of how my quilt is coming along by the image on the sidebar.
 
The next Draw has taken place

A2 - One Two Buckle My Shoe
H9 - Snowflake Melt
I11 - Coyote Chase
M3 - Fireweed Flower

Yes, believe it or not it is ORANGE AGAIN!  If only I had a consistent run on the lottery ....
 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B11 Melissa's Cross

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B11 Melissa's Cross

Before I started this Dear Jane block, I could see that there were a number of different ways to approach it.  For the majority of it English Paper Piecing would do a sound job, but those curved corner bits which end up as nothing were going to be a bit tricky.  I did it EPP, but you can see that the edges are a bit shabby.  I intend to hide all this once it is constructed and the sashing goes on.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L11 Caitlin's Rose

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L11 Caitlin's Rose

I have a had a busy few days working on my Dear Jane blocks.  I am still working in orange and I am still using English Paper Piecing, which seems to be working out very satisfactorily for this project.
Although this looks like a simple Dear Jane block, I was a little scared of it because of the diamond shapes.  I got caught out on diamond shapes on some of my Nearly Insane blocks, so I was sure to mark which were long edges and which were short edges before I started to construct it.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21

Linking Up with Design Wall Monday

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F8 Church Window

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F8 Church Window

Having just done a Cathedral window  for the Dear Jane quilt, I have now done a Church Window (Block F8).  Again, another easy one as far as I am concerned.
Whenever I do a block from the 'F' row it reminds me of the function keys on a computer and how in the pre-Windows era that was how we did fancy stuff on a computer.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 37

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D5 Cathedral Window

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D5 Cathedral Window

This was a lovely simple Dear Jane block called Cathedral Window (D5).  Easy to cut out, easy to sew together. Still no papers have been taken out so far.  You would think I would learn from the Nearly Insane quilt.  I just need to sort out my sashings, which is a project in the pipeline.

BTW I am amazed by all the encouraging comments you are sending.  I would love to reply, but it appears that many of you are No Reply Bloggers.  I know when I started blogging I didn't realise I was a No Reply Blogger.  Here at Happy Hour Projects there is post on how to check your status.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 4, B11, D5, F8, L11

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 3, C12, E8, F5, G10

With much fewer pieces and smaller blocks, some of these Dear Jane blocks can be completed in just an evening.  I think I averaged about four blocks a month with the Nearly Insane, but these are being completed much faster. But then again there are quite a few more.

The blocks for Draw 4 are :

B11 - Melissa's Cross
D5 - Cathedral Window
F8 - Church Window
L11 - Caitlin's Rose

Looking at my colour scheme this draw is orange AGAIN.  All this orange made me wonder how many of each colour I would actually be doing, so here is the data.

	Blocks	Triangle
Red	29 (17%)	8 (14%)
Purple	12 (7%)	8 (14%)
Blue	20 (12%)	8 (14%)
Green	28 (16%)	8 (14%)
Yellow	36 (21%)	12 (22%)
Orange	44 (26%)	12 (22%)

So, yes, there are twice as many orange blocks than some of the other colours which explains why they keep coming up in the draw.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G-10 Woven Meadow

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G-10 Woven Meadow

I think this quilt block pops up in all the various sampler quilts.  It is called G10 Woven Meadow in this quilt, but is also known as Chimney Sweep or Album block.  It was one of the early blocks I did for my Nearly Insane quilt, but even though it was a bigger block it had ten less pieces than this one which is just 4.5".

I am using an orange fabric from Kim Diehl's Hearthside Seasons range in this block.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 39

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F-5 Parcheesi



Dear Jane Quilt - Block F-5 Parcheesi

One of the reasons I enjoy English Paper Piecing is that I can take it anywhere and that I can stitch whilst we are in the car.  I am finding the applique blocks a bit more of a challenge when we are driving and had to wait until we were stationary to stitch this one. 
Because of the applique, this block took me ages.  For block F5 Parcheesi, I have sewn eight pieces of fabric onto another and it seemed to take all the mental energy of running a marathon.  However, I am more satisfied with the neatness with this one - I think we are moving forward.

BTW: Parcheesi is a board game
Next block, please ....

Techniques: Applique
Pieces: 9

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C-12 Family Reunion

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C-12 Family Reunion

I was back in my comfort zone with this one. Lots of little English Paper Piecing squares, again just half an inch square.  Block C12, Family Reunion is a mini Irish Chain block and whenever I do small squares like this it reminds me of my scrappy Irish Chain quilt and makes me think how great it would be to do one with just half inch squares...


Suzi the cat helps out with rotary cutting

You will see from the photo that Suzi the cat is pleased that I am on another marathon sewing project.  She has been helping out with the rotary cutting and with only a few blocks done so far she is able to get them all onto the floor with just one swipe of her tail.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 49

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E-8 Mama's Maze



Dear Jane Quilt - Block E-8 Mama's Maze

I am never happier than when I am doing English Paper Piecing.  I know what I am doing, I know what result I want and I can take it anywhere.  E8 Mama's Maze was a joy to do as it was lovely little squares and rectangles that all went neatly together.  The small squares are half an inch square.


Dear Jane Quilt - Block E-8 Mama's Maze

I completed this block whilst away over the wet August Bank Holiday weekend.  We were in our camper van and I had many happy hours sewing whilst I waited for the rain to stop.  It did eventually.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E-8 Mama's Maze

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces:33

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 3, C12, E8, F5, G10

Dear Jane Quilt blocks

Here is my collection of blocks so far. This is not bad for just over a fortnight into the Dear Jane quilt journey.  Draw 2 was a bit of an anti-climax with just the one block, but Draw 3 puts me back on track.
C12 - Family Reunion
E8 - Mama's Maze
F5 - Parcheesi
G10 - Woven Meadow

There is plenty of English Paper Piecing which I can do here, so expect good progress in the next few days.

It just so happens that this set of blocks will also be in orange. 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G-7 Indianapolis



Dear Jane Quilt - Block G-7 Indianapolis

I am very pleased with this block.  It is the first time I have used my red Kim Diehl fabric.  Also I am very pleased with my striped fabric which has been fussy cut.  I am also very  pleased with the neat circle.  English Paper Piecing - ROCKS.

This block is in the centre of the Dear Jane quilt, so it had to look good.

Living in the UK, I thought I ought to check where Indianapolis was in the USA.  It is in the state of Indiana, towards the East coast.  This is the state Brenda Papdakis was living when she wrote the Dear Jane quilt book.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 2, G7

Dear Jane Blocks, B7, D3, L9, M7

As you can see I have completed the first four Dear Jane blocks for my quilt. It has been a steep learning curve with regard to applique techniques and I still have a way to go.

So, moving onto  Draw 2

G7 - Indianapolis

Oh. For most of the draws there will be four blocks, but it just so happens that this one is the central block, G7 Indianapolis, so in my little system, this draw only has one block.

I have devised a colour scheme for the quilt so I know which colours I want for each block.  If my system is working, each of the blocks in a draw will be in the same colour.  For this draw the centre block will be in red.

Many of you who followed my Nearly Insane quilt journey have commented on your excitement of seeing my Dear Jane quilt started.  Many of you also mention that you have started a Dear Jane quilt, but the project has fallen by the wayside.  Please stitch along with me if your quilt needs resurrecting ....

PS: Pets on Quilts voting closes on Thursday 3rd September 2015 - Suzi the cat is counting on your vote!
 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M7 Junko's Rose Garden



Dear Jane Quilt - Block M7 Junko's Rose Garden

I am quickly learning that some Dear Jane blocks are harder than others.  This is M7 Junko's Rose Garden - perhaps not the best year for roses as far as this block is concerned.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M7 Junko's Rose Garden


I started off by using reverse applique to form the outer shape.  Blood - Sweat - Tears.  It took me AGES and I still think I need to stitch it again.  Then I stitched on eight melons.  I used three different techniques with different results.  In the end (at the recommendation of my sister) I used the tried and tested English Paper Piecing technique that I use for most of my sewing, remembering to remove the paper inside before you sew the final part. This gave the sharpest finish. 

I ironed on the freezer paper in the centre to help with placement but it soon fell off.  I think this might be because it is quite lightweight and I might need to upgrade to the normal freezer paper on the roll.  Otherwise, I am enjoying the invisible stitching effect of the silk thread I am using.

I am clearly lacking in the applique department, so a good dose of Dear Jane blocks should sort me out. 

Techniques: Reverse applique, Applique
Pieces: 10

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B7 World Series

Dear Jane Block - B7 World Series

With the Nearly Insane quilt top completed and ready for quilting, it means that there is nothing stopping me forging ahead with the Dear Jane blocks. Here is block B7 World Series.  Each draw usually means that I will be using the same colour. Draw 1 is orange, so all my orange Kim Diehl fabrics are being thrown into the mix.


Dear Jane Block - B7 World Series

As I said at the start, I will picking up new techniques as I go along and that learning is part of the fun for me.  The construction tips I found for this block involved applique, reverse applique and then some more applique.  Not the most efficient use of fabric, but I liked the idea of getting the melons looking round with the reverse applique technique.  Once I have built up some confidence with all these techniques, then I hope to use my informed judgement about choosing which method to use for each block that comes my way.

Techniques: Reverse applique, Applique
Pieces: 8

Nearly Insane Quilt (Salinda Rupp Quilt) - August 2015 Update

'Nearly Insane' Quilt - August 2015

Well here it is.  The Nearly Insane Quilt in all its glory.  Once I started those Dear Jane blocks I knew they would be difficult to put down, so I put them aside and made sure that this weekend was a Nearly Insane Quilt finishing weekend.  I actually finished all the blocks, sashing and cornerstones last August (2014) and got them all together last November.  

Tour de France - July 2015

The last stretch was the hardest.  The border really tested my resilience, but I set myself a target and it was finally completed and stitched onto the quilt on 26th July 2015 - the final day of the Tour de France as the cyclists were cycling up the Champs-Élysées in Paris.  The removal of the papers took longer than anticipated (doesn't everything ...) and I estimate that it took me about 7 WHOLE days. The final pieces were taken out yesterday.

'Nearly Insane' Quilt - Detail

Now it is done, I am delighted with it.  It looks really lovely now all the tacking thread has been removed.  Without the paper it is also much lighter!  Would I use English Paper Piecing again? Yes, I think this quilt done on a machine would have really driven me insane, some of the pieces are really tiny.  Perhaps I would have removed the papers as I went along ... 


'Nearly Insane' Quilt - reverse

I have recently purchased a photographers studio stand to display quilts from, which you can see in the top photo. I took this photo from behind the quilt with the light flooding through which makes it look like stained glass. The real joy of this quilt is that I am looking at the blocks and remembering all the different places around the world where I stitched my portable sewing project (France, Switzerland, USA, Buckingham Palace!), so it has a lot of good memories. If you are just visiting my blog for the first time you can go back to February 2013, where my journey started. I cover every block, using Electric Quilt software and you will see what a great contribution Suzi the cat made along the way.

I guess the next question is 'How am I going to quilt it?'  If you pop over here, you might just get a clue.

Joining up with Connie at Freemotion by the River. and Crazy Mom Quilts.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D3 Jason's Jacks

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D3 Jason's Jacks

This is my first ever attempt at reverse applique.  I don't intend to give instructions on these blocks as I go along as there are so many useful sites to refer to already which I have been using myself!  One tip I picked up was to cut the size of the block slightly bigger that the 5" square (4.5" plus 1/4" seam allowance), and to cut it to size once the reverse applique has been completed.


Dear Jane Quilt - Reverse Applique

I cut out a template from freezer paper, then cut the fabric with a seam allowance, snipping around the shape to get smooth edges / sharp points.  I starched the edges which made them firmer, but still have a few areas where the raw edges have poked through to the front.  Any tips how to stop this?


Dear Jane Quilt - Reverse Applique

The next two blocks are also reverse applique, so I hope to get my technique up to scratch.   Two blocks already and I can't wait to do the next one. Those Nearly Insane quilt papers are STILL calling me ...

Techniques: Reverse applique
Pieces: 2

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L-9 Walter's Place

Dear Jane Quilt  Block - L9 Walter's Place

I thought I would start off on an easy block taken fro Draw 1.  Walter's Place (L9) was easy to do in English Paper Piecing - my preferred method of construction.  At the moment the papers are still in, but I do intend to remove these as I go along this time.  You may be able to see from the centre block that I have already started to do' fussy cutting'.  Once you start there is no going back.

Dear Jane Quilt  Block - L9 Walter's Place

As these blocks are only 4.5" they are much quicker than the Nearly Insane blocks - 29 pieces were done in no time at all.

Techniques: English paper Peicing
Pieces: 29

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 1, B7, D3, L9, M7

Dear Jane Quilt - Random Draws

Just as I did with the Nearly Insane quilt, I am using a regular draw to choose which blocks to do.  I will be using new sewing skills in this quilt, mainly with applique techniques, and rather than have my early blocks all together, a draw will mix up the 'quality' a bit.  This time it is a bit more scientific as I will be drawing blocks from just one quarter of the quilt and then doing the blocks that mirror it in the rest of the quilt.  I think this will be the best way to ensure that the colours and the blocks designs remain visually balanced, something I have been working on in my overall design.
So for Draw 1

• B-7 World Series
• D-3 Jason's Jacks
• L-9 Walter's Place
• M-7 Junko's Rose Garden

By golly, three of these are applique!  I think I will start with L-9 Walter's Place, a nice bit of paper piecing ....
 

The Dear Jane Quilt Journey begins ....

Apparently, Sunday (16th August) was Bennington Battle Day, a holiday observed in the state of Vermont in the USA.  This is also the week when I have decided to launch my DEAR JANE JOURNEY.  The coincidence will not be lost on the Janiacs out there - Bennington Museum is the home of the Stickle Quilt (1863), yes, the DEAR JANE quilt, made famous by Brenda Papadakis - the Mother Quilt.


'Dear Jane' Exhibition , April 2013, Nantes, France

This quilt has been in my mind since I saw the Dear Jane quilt exhibition in Nantes, France in April 2013.  It was the BEST display of quilts I have ever seen.  As my followers will know, I have been slavishly completing my Nearly Insane quilt before I would allow myself to get started on my Dear Jane quilt.  The Nearly Insane quilt top is complete, but those papers are still being extracted.  I promise a photo soon.  Meanwhile, I need a portable hand sewing project and with a bit of time available at the end of the August holidays I felt it was a good time to get myself organised.

Kim Diehl fabrics for Dear Jane Quilt

I have been collecting the fabric together quietly over the past 12 months and with the help of my main suppliers, the Fat Quarter Shop and Doughty's, I have accumulated enough fabrics to get this project going.  I will be using Kim Diehl fabrics for the Dear Jane quilt in a wide range of colours.  

Holly Wishes by Kansas Trouble Quilters (#9444)

For the background I will be using the same fabric throughout, Holly Wishes by Kansas Trouble Quilters (#9444).  The amount of fabric quoted for the background in the book and on various online resources varies between 5yds and 15yds, depending on how you construct the quilt.  I have opted for the larger amount as I don't want to be caught out at the end. I would like to think I would be able to report back on how much I actually use at the end, but suspect that might be a statistic too far for me.

Scanning fabrics into Electric Quilt software

I will also be using my Electric Quilt software again.  I used this for the Nearly Insane project and it was brilliant.  I received the Dear Jane software for my birthday a few years ago and over the past few months it has been put to good use as I have been working out how I want my quilt to look.  I have scanned all the fabrics into the Electric Quilt software and have been re-jigging the placement of some of the blocks.  Yes, I know, I am already messing with the original, but like the quilts in that exhibition, everyone brought something new to the party.  You can follow my progress with the Dear Jane outline on the sidebar.

Kimono Silk thread

At the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham last year (2014) I purchased a few reels of Kimono silk for the hand applique blocks.

Sewline Fabric Glue and Apliquick Tool

At the Festival of Quilts this year (2015) I bought some tools to help me along the way, an Apliquick tool and some Sewline fabric glue.

I think that is everything. Is there anything I have forgotten?

Pets on Quilts Show 2015 - Cat on Quilt

'Suzi the cat' - Pets on Quilts Show 2015

Adorable, I know.  This is Suzi the cat's entry for the category of 'Cat on Quilt' in the annual Pets on Quilts Show 2015 held at Lily Pad Quilting.  Once you have stopped 'oohing' and 'aahing' over her cuteness, pinned her on your Pinterest page etc, please head over to Lily Pad Quilting and take time to look at other cute cats (Be warned: there are dogs there as well ...). Then from the 27th August 2015 you can vote for your favourite.

In this prize-winning photo Suzi is resting on my red and white Nearly Insane quilt whilst I am removing papers.  I used the English Paper Piecing (EPP) method which was a great way to get the quilt done, but is time consuming when it gets to this stage.  I spent a whole day removing papers yesterday and even with the bits I had done before I am only half way through.


Suzi the cat helps with the Nearly Insane Quilt

Suzi did suggest an alternative way of removing the papers at one stage.  It involved a lot of frantic activity on her part  (usually when I was not in the room) - in this shot I have caught her in the act!


Suzi the Cat on Nearly Insane Quilt

I will let the pictures do the talking - enjoy!

Storm at Sea Quilt - Black, Grey and Cream

'Storm at Sea' Quilt

I am between big projects.  The 'Nearly Insane' quilt top is complete, but I am still taking the paper out.  It sounds like I have been doing this for a long time, but I just haven't been prioritising it, so I haven't actually been removing ANY paper lately.  No photo yet as it looks weird with paper half in and half out.  The next big project is the Dear Jane quilt.  As a result, I have had a period without any 'portable' hand stitching and it is starting to be a problem. However, during the gap I have been catching up on a few UFO's whilst I have a bit of time to spend on my sewing machine.  I started this 'Storm at Sea' quilt on a workshop at the beginning of the year.  It is not as black as it looks in the picture, more a soft dark grey - a bit like a man's business suit.

'Storm at Sea' Quilt 39" x 39"

I have kept this one small, just 39" x 39".  It is only recently that I have realised that I have a habit of making very large quilts. 

'Storm at Sea' Quilt blocks

Just as with other quilt blocks, it is amazing to see the visual effects the combination of just three different blocks and a range of fabrics have.  I had so many choices and wish I could have tried all of them.  Do you ever have that problem? I think I prefer this pattern on point - if you tilt your head you may see what I mean. 

Newsprint Fabric - Quilters Basic Perfect, MCS 13-45 , by STOF

The black and white check is a bit more of my 'Mama Said Sew' by Sweetwater stash.  I really am running this collection dry. Also one of the tones I have been using is a newsprint fabric by the German fabric company, STOF.  It is written in French and so I have been brushing up on my language skills as I go along!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts!