Getting Down To The Wire

This is "F-12, Starburst", an intermediate-level block that I rotary cut and used the raw-edge machine-buttonhole stitch applique method.

Oops, I just realized that I took the picture before I trimmed a couple of slivers off to make it 5" square.

Here I Go Again

Once more with my favorite applique method...raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch. The background was rotary cut and pieced. The outer dark purple melons were cut out all as one piece rather than twelve before I appliqued them on. The four center melons were done the same way.

This is "J-10, Chieko's Calla Lily", an advanced-level block. Number 165 for me...

Tricking the Eye

This is "K-5, Passing Through", an intermediate-level block that I rotary cut and used the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch applique method for the diamonds. The light-colored diamonds are not separate pieces of fabric. I just stitched the outline of the diamond on the larger piece of the light fabric. It fools the eye into thinking it's a separate piece.

It's Been Too Long

Today is the monthly gathering of the Laurel Janes (has a month gone by already?), so I had to make at least one block since we last met. This is "M-7, Junko's Rose Garden", an intermediate-level block for which I used the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch method. The dark purple fabric (and it's really much prettier in person) was cut out as just one piece and then sewn on the background fabric (also much prettier in person) with my machine. Only about an hour's worth of work.

If you'd like to see how I do this, you can check this post here.

I realize that this is not "real applique", but I don't really care. This is my quilt and this method works for me, so if the applique police come around they can go bother somebody else. All I know is that I am enjoying making this quilt using the methods that work best for me and I know that in the end I will have a quilt that I will love, even with its "imperfections".

I've Had It Too Easy Lately

OK, I guess I'm being punished a bit for having it so easy with my DJ blocks recently. This block required sewing Y-seams, which are a lot easier for me now than they were a year ago. That doesn't mean I'm an expert, though, as is obvious from this block. See the seams in the upper right and lower left corners? They don't quite make it to the exact corner of the block. Good enough for me, though.

At least the paper piecing on this one wasn't too hard. If you make this from the DJ software, just remember to select the "mirror" option when printing the pattern, otherwise you'll wind up with your block facing the opposite direction. I added the outer two triangles using the raw-edge machine-buttonhole stitch method.

This is "H-2, Jacob Anthony", an intermediate-level block.

In real life, the fabric is so much more purple than in the photo...

What Works for Me

I just realized that the last nine of my Dear Jane blocks have been made using the raw-edge machine-buttonhole stitch method on at least part of the block. If I had had to use a traditional applique method on them (and many other previous blocks), I would be sooooooo far behind...

This is "M-13, Lynette's Diamond", an intermediate-level block.

I Haven't Forgotten My DJ

Even though other projects and activities are calling my name, I want to keep going with my Dear Jane blocks.


This is "I-11, Coyote Chase", an intermediate-level block. I used the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch method.

Platinum Award

This is "D-4, Crystal Star", a beginner-level block. It is block #130 for me, which according to the Dear Jane website means that I've reached the platinum level.

Now that my Bernina is home, I was able to complete a block using the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch method that I like to use for applique whenever I can. All of the dark fabric that you see was cut out as one piece and sewn down as one piece.

I thought I'd show how I make blocks like this.
Hopefully, Blogger will put the photos in the right order...

First, print the block on freezer paper and cut out the shape leaving a bit extra around the edges. Then press the paper onto the fabric.

Next cut along the lines of the shape using very sharp scissors, being careful at the points where the melons meet the square so that they don't come off. Sorry that the photo is so blurry, but it's hard to take a good closeup shot with your left hand while trying to cut with your right.

Then slowly remove the freezer paper from the fabric. Place the fabric on the background square and sew the buttonhole stitch with the machine. Some people use lightweight fusible web and fuse the fabric shape to the background, but I haven't had any real trouble keeping the pieces where I want them to be. I don't like the feel of the fusible stuff in the completed block and I don't like risking gumming up my needle, so that's why I don't use it.

I used this technique for the block I made here, except that the four outside diamonds were sewed on separately. Now that I look at it, if I was very careful, I could probably have done it as all one piece just like today's block. This is another block where the melons were cut as one piece, not four. One more example here.

I Feel Like A Star

Now this is more like it...

I almost posted this as soon as I finished it mid-morning yesterday because I wanted to move that awful block further down in my blog, but I don't really want to get into posting more than once a day...I have too many other things to do in my life...

I was hesitant to work on this block after the disaster of the block that I showed yesterday, but this was so easy. I don't think I'll shy away from Y-seams again. Sections were paper-pieced and then the outside sections were sewn around the center using lots of Y-seams.

Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.

This is "A-13, Starlight-Starbright", an intermediate-level paper-pieced block.

Applique Can Be Fun

This block was a lot of fun to do. When I first looked at it months ago, I dreaded having to make it because of all the applique, but I have since discovered an applique technique that I enjoy doing.

This is "C-5, Eye of the Cyclone", an intermediate-level block. Again, I used the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch method.

Making Me Crazy

I spent a good part of the time at Monday's gathering of my guild's DJ group making this block, "L-6, Maze of Madness". It is an advanced-level block that I chose to paper piece. I suppose you could make it by rotary cutting, but you'd have to cut awfully small pieces. The little purple squares are 1/4-inch finished. It's enough to make a quilter go mad!

This is #120 for me...

Goose Poop

I think that's what I should call my version of this block instead of "B-6, Wild Goose Chase". It is labeled as an advanced-level block and rightly so. I did an amateurish job with keeping the narrow strips the proper width, but from a distance it will look fine, so on to the next one...

I guess it's appropriate that I made this block on the day that my husband had his colonoscopy...

Deja Vu

Just like yesterday, this block was made using the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch method. Didn't take long at all. I need to find more of these to do so that I can get my total number of blocks up higher.

This is "E-11, Wagon Wheel", an intermediate-level applique block.

Before I forget, I'd like to thank Karen Griska of Selvage Blog for featuring me on her blog again this past weekend. If you haven't visited her blog, you must! Even if you never plan on making anything with selvages, you'll find her blog so inspiring.

Cold Virus Strikes

I think it took me longer to get this photo from my camera into my blog than it did to make the block! I don't usually have any trouble getting the photos in quickly, but my computer was not cooperating today. Perhaps it has the same cold virus that I have!

This is "B-8, Water Lily", an intermediate-level applique block. I chose to use my current favorite applique method -- raw-edge machine-buttonhole stitch. I know that there is no way I could have made those points this sharp if I had attempted needle-turn on this one!

Purple Passion

I'm loving the machine-buttonhole stitch technique that I've used in this block and in previous posts here and here. These hearts were cut out as 1 piece rather than 4 and then I just outlined them with the buttonhole/blanket stitch. This would have taken me hours to do if I had tried needle-turn or reverse applique, but today it only took an hour out of my morning.

This is "H-12, Hannah Lou's Hearts", an intermediate-level block.

Version 2.0 Desperately Needed

Once again, after making this block, I am amazed at how much the software and the book for this quilt really need to be revised. If I didn't have my local support group, the Laurel Janes of my guild, and if I didn't have access to all the great bloggers who have been so willing to share their experiences with making the blocks in this quilt, I probably would have stopped a long time ago.

The book really has no instructions at all; the software is somewhat slightly better, but I worry about would-be quilters who look at the gorgeous blocks and say "I think I'll learn to quilt by making this quilt" without ever having made even a half-square triangle!

This is "M-1 Dogwood Days", labeled by the software as an intermediate-level block. I paper pieced the center 9-patch and the 4 triangles around it and then rotary cut the two outer borders.

The software printed out a foundation pattern that required quite a few Y seams (otherwise known as inset seams). For the life of me, I can't figure out why. I revised it so that the Y seams were eliminated. Yes, my 4 little triangles are not all perfectly matched up at the seams, but the Y seams would have been worse. It would have taken me longer and I'd be a lot more frustrated.

There are quite a number of other flaws that I've discovered in the software, so again I have to say that I am thankful for my fellow DJaniacs, both local and in cyberspace. And if anybody out there involved in making the book/software is listening....please, please, please, revise them!

Are You Tired of This Yet?

Yes, I'm afraid I'm going to bore you with yet another block I made using the raw-edge invisible machine-applique method (see the posts from the 2 previous days). This was soooo easy...it took me longer to thread my machine (remember, I used monofilament thread) than it did to sew the whole thing! Seriously. The needle threader on my machine has been broken for a couple of months...I suppose I should take the machine in for repair if I'm going to be making more blocks using this method...

This is "G-1, Hattie's Hen House", an intermediate-level block. It's really a lot more purple than the photo shows.

This is #93 for me.

Another Success!

Just like veggies, perhaps the "raw" stage is best.

I've discovered that invisible raw-edge applique is a great technique -- again I used monofilament thread in the top and bobbin and used a silk/lingerie needle with the blind-hem stitch. Easy-peasy.

I don't think I'd use the raw-edge technique for quilts that will be used and washed a lot, but there is no way that this DJ quilt of mine will be abused. At least, as long as it is owned by me! Maybe I should consider displaying it under glass...

I'm getting ahead of myself...there are still a lot more blocks to go before the quilt is to be considered finished and ready for display.

This is "G-13, Molly's Muffins", a beginner-level block. #91

P.S. This technique let me finish 2 (!) blocks today...but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see the second one...

Not Too Much of a Struggle

This is "D-10 Battlefield", an advanced-level paper-pieced block. There were several seams to match and really, really small triangles to deal with. I did manage to cut off a couple of points a bit, but I won't lose sleep over them... Oh, how I wish all the DJ blocks could be paper-pieced...

Honor... (Warning...Politics Involved)

I need to keep busy sewing in order to keep my mind off of the fact that our country still has people who see nothing wrong with saying things like the following -- (taken from a transcript of some comments made about Senator Obama by some of those attending a Governor Palin rally on Oct 12, 2008 in rural Ohio) :

"I'm afraid if he wins, the black [sic] will take over. He's not a Christian! This is a Christian nation! What is our country gonna end up like?"

"When you got a Negro running for president, you need a first stringer. He's definitely a second stringer."

"He seems like a sheep - or a wolf in sheep's clothing to be honest with you. And I believe Palin - she's filled with the Holy Spirit, and I believe she's gonna bring honesty and integrity to the White House."

"He's related to a known terrorist, for one."

"He is friends with a terrorist of this country!"

"He must support terrorists! You know, uh, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. And that to me is Obama."

"Just the whole, Muslim thing, and everything, and everybody's still kinda - a lot of people have forgotten about 9/11, but... I dunno, it's just kinda... a little unnerving."

"Obama and his wife, I'm concerned that they could be anti-white. That he might hide that."

I cannot believe that I am hearing this in 2008 in the USA at a sanctioned event of one of our VP candidates! It's not being said in the middle of the night in the deep South of the 1950s by some in white robes and masks while burning crosses, but by Americans attending an official political rally in the 21st century! And they don't mind being videotaped while they say it! And it angers me that the candidates don't come right out and explain to their supporters that these kinds of comments and beliefs do not do our country any good.

How the heck do I explain this to my 16-year-old son?

So, in order to remind myself that there are still some honorable people in this country, (on both sides of the political divide, I might add), I made "K-9 Scout's Honor", a beginner-level paper-pieced block.