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

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F1 Big Top

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F1 Big Top

This is Dear Jane Block F1, Big Top. A pretty little block with some English paper piecing and applique, applique which was just about the right size to enjoy, especially with its fussy cut stripes. Seeing some finished Dear Jane's at the Festival of Quilts last week has certainly reinvigorated me to push on with my own Dear Jane blocks and after a week of not doing any Dear Jane, today I hope to fit in some time to actually finish one.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 24  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - every show should have one

'A Sparkling Dear Jane' by Catherine Carlyon

After two exhausting days at the 2016 Festival of Quilts it is time to get back to normality and that means back to focussing on Dear Jane. You can pretty much guarantee that any quilt show you attend there will be some Dear Jane love and this show was no different.

This first Dear Jane quilt is by my sister which she made using just four metallic Hoffman fabrics - all English paper pieced and hand quilted. You can see here that it attracted quite a bit of attention and rightly so. 

'Not a Patch on Jane' by Valerie Eames

In the same Traditional category was this Civil War fabric Dear Jane by Valerie Eames, machine pieced and hand quilted.  It was great to have two near each other to see how each had approached each block, there are so many approaches you can make.

So two more Dear Jane quilts have been born - keep up the good work if you are still working on yours.

2016 Festival of Quilts - Nearly Insane Quilt by Frances Meredith

Nearly Insane Quilt, Frances Meredith 2016

It is almost a year since I showed you my completed Nearly Insane quilt top, so I thought it was time for an update.  You may be able to see from the photo that it is now quilted, bound and ready for a trip out.

If you are heading to the 2016 Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, UK, 11th-14th August, my Nearly Insane Quilt will be hanging amongst the Traditional Quilts, No: 564. 

Enjoy!

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C5 Eye of the Cyclone

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C5 Eye of the Cyclone

Here is another circle Dear Jane block, C5 Eye of the Cyclone. 
I become so familiar with those brown tacking stitches that I forget that my photos may not have the finesse of some of the top Instagram craft bloggers.  I like to keep them in for as long as possible as I never know how long a project is going to last.  Visitors often ask to see how I am getting along and it means pulling them out and putting them away again several times, which would take its toll on a poor little Dear Jane block without the paper still in it.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 24  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B2 Sweet Tater Pie

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B2 Sweet Tater Pie

If the arc of a circle is not too sharp, EPP is a great technique to get a good circle.  Dear Jane block B2 Sweet Tater Pie worked out fine - good enough to eat.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 16  pieces

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

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 40 - A8, D13, G5, J12

I am approaching my 1 year anniversary with my Dear Jane quilt and am pleased with my progress so far.  Draw 40 was quite an easy round with some lovely green fabrics.

Draw 41
B2 - Sweet Tater Pie
C5 - Eye of the Cyclone
F1 - Big Top
F2 - Kaleidoscope

This Draw will also be in Green

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G5 Poof

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G5 Poof

This latest Draw has been an odd little set.  This is Dear Jane block G5 Poof, which I completed by English Paper Piecing the background square and then adding the applique shape on the top. I clearly fussy cut the centre piece, but the message didn't quite get through to the appliquer. Nevertheless, I quite like the jaunty position.

Suzi the Cat

As I thought,  the controversy of the Dear Jane J12 Basket block provided some insightful comments and was an opportunity for you to share your love of Basket blocks.  I don't think a Basket block quilt is one which will ever reach the top of my To-Do list.

Also this week you may have seen over at The Objects of Design there has been a MASSIVE fabric giveaway - not without its own controversy.  Suzi hopes this photo puts things straight.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces:  9 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J12 Rebecca's Basket

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J12 Rebecca's Basket

It seems that all sampler quilts have an obligatory basket block in them.  I did baskets in my Nearly Insane quilt.  This is Dear Jane block J12 Rebecca's Basket.  I think there is some dispute throughout the Dear Jane world about the orientation of this block in the final quilt.  In the original it is on its side, but I think it will be hard for me to  follow that particular convention.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and applique
Pieces: 9  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D13 Field of Dreams

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D13 Field of Dreams

And you thought Dear Jane block A8 Florence Nightingale was easy, look at D13 Field of Dreams, just 5 pieces.  I think this block has to be the one with the least pieces in it.
On the original quilt the final step is to embroider your name and the number of pieces you have used, so keeping track of this is important.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 5  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A8 Florence Nightingale

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A8 Florence Nightingale

I am having a bit of a run on easy Dear Jane blocks.  This is Dear Jane block A8, Florence Nightingale, with just 11 pieces.  Back onto the greens, which always seems to please me.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 11  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 40 - A8, D13, G5, J12

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 39 - D7, J4, K6, K8

I clearly had a plan when I started this Dear Jane project.  These crosses will be placed strategically throughout the final quilt.  I am not sure where yet and I haven't started to put the blocks together yet.  It will have to wait until all 225 are done.  There are 56 Draws altogether, so Draw 40 indicates that I am 70 % of the way through.

Moving onwards,
Draw 40
A8 - Florence Nightingale
D13 - Field of Dreams
G5 - Poof
J12 - Rebecca's Basket

This Draw will be in Green

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K6 Ann's Folly

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K6 Ann's Folly

Another day, another Dear Jane block.  Here is K6 Ann's Folly which is the last in this set.
I am steadfastly using my English Paper piecing method, but over at The Objects of Design you can see a masterclass in doing these little 4.5" blocks by machine.
 
Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K8 Springbrook Park

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K8 Springbrook Park

Dear Jane block, K8 Springbrook Park has a few more pieces than the previous two cross type blocks from the Dear Jane quilt.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 23 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J4 Adelaine's Apron Strings

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J4 Adelaine's Apron Strings

Last week I had a busy week finishing off projects or at least moving them onto the next stage.  Thank goodness this draw is offering up some easy blocks - just 7 pieces in this one J4 Adelaine's Apron Strings.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 7 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D7 Meeting Place

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D7 Meeting Place

You may notice that the next few blocks are a variation on a theme, namely crosses.  This Dear Jane block D7 Meeting Place was exceptionally simple to do and quickly ticked off the list.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 9 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 39 - D7, J4, K6, K8

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 38 - Border Triangles TR3, TR11, BR3, BR11

I have been busy trying to finish some outstanding UFO's in my project cupboard, the ones that really only need half a day on them to actually be finished and have been added to my To DO list daily for the past year.  Meanwhile I will tyr in fit in these Dear Jane blocks - I definitely do not want that to become a UFO.

Draw 39
D7 - Meeting Palce
J4 - Adelaine's Apron Strings
K6 - Ann's Folly
K8 - Springbrook Park

This Draw will be in YELLOW

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR11 Phoenix

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR11 Phoenix

Here is the final purple Dear Jane border triangle for this Draw, TR11 Phoenix.  I have enjoyed working with the purples

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 24 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR11 Tartan

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR11 Tartan

Summer has arrived in the UK.  It is always a surprise when it does.  We spend the year (or more) longing for it and then when it comes we are wholly unprepared and cease to function properly.  Not to worry, it should be over by the weekend.

This is Dear Jane border triangle BR11 Tartan.  I have always liked a purple tartan, so this worked out well.

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR11 Tartan

A day of Dear Jane block prepping is due.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel on this project and am in the mood to cut all the remaining blocks if the heat lets me. 

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 32 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR3 Checkerboard

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR3 Checkerboard

Here is Dear Jane border triangle, TR3 Checkerboard in purple fabrics.

I have been doing my Dear Jane blocks for 11 months now and good progress has been made by steadily working through each block and not taking my eye off the ball.  There are plenty of sewing distractions and other projects I am very tempted by, but Dear Jane is always at the forefront.  I have an afternoon of hand sewing (slow Stitching) planned watching the Tour de France cyclists sweat it out in the French countryside.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 26 pieces

Joining up with Slow Stitching Sunday

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR3 Attic Window

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR3 Attic Window

Back onto the purple border blocks.  The purples are pretty and this little border block shows them off to their best.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 17 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 38 - Border Triangles TR3, TR11, BR3, BR11

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 37, A11, G4, J10, M9

Dear Jane block J10 Chieko's Calia Lily proved very popular from this draw, with all those appliqued melons.

The next Draw brings on more Dear Jane border triangles - bring them on!

Draw 38
TR3 - Checkerboard
TR11 - Phoenix
BR3 - Attic Window
BR11 - Tartan

This draw will be in PURPLE.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M9 Fan Dance

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M9 Fan Dance

I tried to use my striped fabric in this Dear Jane block, M9 Fan Dance for effect, but without enough contrast, I don't think I quite pulled it off.
Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 28 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J10 Chieko's Calla Lily

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J10 Chieko's Calla Lily

I completed this little 4.5" Dear Jane block, J10 Cheiko's Calla Lily, over a few days.  My love for applique waxes and wanes depending on the size of the pieces and these were on the edge of being tiresome.  Notch them up an inch and I think I might have enjoyed them a bit more.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 21 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G4 Shutter Bug

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G4 Shutter Bug

My hands have been busy over the past few weeks on these Dear Jane quilt blocks.  I am getting to the point where I recognise most blocks when I see a Dear Jane quilt photo in a book or in a show, so there can't be many more to go.

This is Dear Jane block G4 Shutter Bug, a square within a square, within a square, within a square, within a square ....

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 29 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A11 Pebble's Protest

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A11 Pebble's Protest

Dear Jane block A11 Pebble's Protest was completed as I watched the results of the EU Referendum vote come in on the telly.  Perhaps not the best choice as there are 37 pieces, which is a lot for a 4.5" square block and it was one of the more complicated ones to put together, especially at 3am in the morning. 
Despite all that, A11 Pebble's Protest is a block you can be a bit more creative with regarding your fabric choice and placement. I rather like it.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 37 pieces