I've Missed You, Jane

It's been way too long since I've worked on my Jane Stickle quilt, so I finally made myself finish the last triangle of the bottom row. I had been avoiding it for way too long, mostly because I was frustrated that the software (and the book) changed the pattern too much from the original for my taste. I was going nuts trying to figure out how to make mine look more like Jane's.

Jane's is in the photo on the right. As you can see, one of the dark diamonds extends into the lighter piece above it. And the two largest triangles are in dark fabric. The software and the book disregard both of those details. 

My triangle became a hybrid of both. It was giving me too much of a headache to figure out how to get the diamond to extend into the lighter fabric, so I just went with making it end at the seam line. However, I decided that it was simple enough to make the large triangles out of dark fabric like in the original and then to add just a bit of the light fabric on the outer edges (close to what Jane did).

This is "BR-12, Jessie's Stained Glass", an intermediate-level triangle that I mostly paper-pieced.

Oops...While writing this post and looking at the photos again, I just realized that I made the two dark triangles a bit too large and that the points of the diamonds don't meet them where they should. Oh well, too late. I'm not doing them over.

Because after all, this is my quilt, not Jane's.

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.

Outside The Norm

I hope my readers are interested in DJ blocks because that's almost all I've been blogging about for the last couple of weeks. I promise that once I get the center completed (only 3 more blocks to go!), you'll see other quilty things as well. I'll still work on the DJ, but not quite as obsessively as I have been since Thanksgiving.

Anyway, this is "D-11, Snow Crystal", an intermediate-level block that I rotary cut (the background) and then used the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch applique method for the dark red pieces.

This is one of only three blocks (that I know of) in the center of Jane Stickle's quilt in which she used more than two fabrics. Here's what hers looks like.

It's a very subtle difference, but if you look closely, the outside four small diamonds are cut from a different fabric than the large triangles and center square. I tried to make the look in my block subtle as well.

The other blocks with more than two fabrics can be found here (four fabrics) and here (three fabrics). I haven't even begun to look at the outer triangles, so I'm not sure if any of those use more than two. We shall see...

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...

This Is Getting Way Too Easy

In order to make this look more like Jane's block (see 2nd photo), I decided to piece the background fabric even though it's all the same. Then I used my handy-dandy raw edge machine buttonhole-stitch applique method for the rest. Less than an hour's work.

This is "L-13, Harvest Moon", an intermediate-level block.

Anything Is Possible

I had been dreading making this block for a long time now. Shortly into my DJ project, I printed out the block and kept it in my notebook to study once in a while. I knew that I would have to use some sort of applique method or curved piecing and I dreaded the day I'd attempt it. This week I finally did.

This is "H-6, Pie Sale", an intermediate-level block that I rotary cut and used the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch method for the 3/4 circles.

After looking closely at the block, I decided to break it down into a nine-patch and quarter circles. I cut out the quarter circles and placed them on top of the nine-patch pieces and then sewed all the seams. That left me with having to sew down the outer edges of the quarter circles. No big deal, I had done that before with the buttonhole stitch around the raw edge. But what color thread? Dark thread would disappear on the dark fabric but be very obvious on the yellow. Vice versa for yellow thread. I certainly didn't want to change thread, so I decided to use monofilament with the buttonhole stitch. Not my favorite look, but it worked. I have other blocks that I made fairly early on in the quilt in which I used monofilament thread, so this won't be the only one.

After making this block, I think the remaining ones will be a breeze...

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.

I've Been Neglectful

I haven't made a DJ block in almost a month...too busy making pillowcases and Christmas quilts that need to be finished by the time we leave on Nov 21st for our Thanksgiving trip to see family.

This is "I-10, Iris' Medallion", an advanced-level block that I chose to rotary cut and then used the raw-edge machine-buttonhole stitch to attach the triangles. Not perfect, but it will do. The photo makes the block look a bit wonky on the outer sides, but it's square in person.

Moving Right Along

I hope to get another section or two of my DJ quilt put together today at the monthly meeting of my guild's Laurel Janes group. That should be fun, as always.

This is "D-12, Crossed Swords", an intermediate-level block that I chose to rotary cut and then use the raw-edge machine-buttonhole stitch method for the four arrowhead pieces.

Who Said I Was A Quilter?

Before you look at today's block, step back from your computer about 10 feet, squint, and take a sip of wine...wait for the wine to kick in...


I wonder how many excuses I can come up with as to why this block is soooo bad...

1. My regular sewing machine is being serviced, so I had to make this on my travel machine.

2. The software has no instructions.

3. I have no quarter-inch foot on this machine.

4. I made it on a Monday morning.

5. My husband spiked my coffee.

6. I'm a sad excuse for a quilter.

This is the perfect example of how being off by even just 1/16th of an inch in every seam can add up to problems in blocks this small. Most of this block was made using rotary cutting...that was the biggest mistake.

At first glance, I thought I would need to sew some Y-seams, but after studying how my friend Tropical Screamer made her block, I realized that I could avoid them by cutting the pieces a bit differently and still get the same look. Yes, I managed to avoid the Y-seams, but I did a bad job with the piecing.

This is "A-11, Pebble's Protest", an intermediate-level block. I don't know who Pebble is, but I think I'll call it "Anya's Protest" because I protest the way this looks....but I'm moving on to the next block anyway...

P.S. I just thought up another excuse...it's really just my version of free piecing (a la Lazy Gal Quilting). Wonky is in.

Time For A Rest

I've been making a lot of blocks using the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch applique method lately because on Wednesday my faithful machine will be going in for some much-delayed servicing. There is nothing wrong with it (except for the broken needle threader), but I've put in a lot of sewing hours on it since the last checkup, so it's time. I do have another machine that I mainly use for sewing away from home, but it doesn't have as nice a buttonhole stitch as my Bernina. So I'll use it for other projects until the main machine is ready.

It will be a good excuse to go on a road trip with a few of my quilting friends to a couple of quilt shops and a farmers' market.

This is "A-10, Which Points West?", an intermediate-level appliqued and rotary-cut block. I saw no reason to sew the background using Y-seams as shown in the software; straight seams work well enough.

Practice Makes Closer to Perfect

This is "C-4, Tic Tac Toe", labeled by the software as an advanced-level block, and rightly so in my opinion. Probably both for the small size of some of the pieces (notice mine are of various sizes), but also for the Y-seams in the outside triangles. I chose to paper piece the center and then rotary cut the outside triangles.

I could have made things easier on myself and paper-pieced the outside triangles, but the seams would not have been in the corners. Anyway, this gave me a chance to practice Y-seams, which I don't mind anywhere near as much as I mind hand applique (apologies to my regular blog readers who are probably tired of hearing me whine about hand applique...).

For A Hot Day

It's been way too long since I blogged about a DJ block. Here is my latest.

This is "B-5, Hot Cross Buns", a beginner-level pieced and appliqued block. The points are far from perfect, but I'm certain that they would have looked worse if I had attempted to do hand applique rather than raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch.

I guess making a "hot" block is appropriate for today since the temperature is supposed to get up into the low 80s! Too warm too soon.

BTW...if you haven't already, check out yesterday's post on Selvage Blog. Scroll down below the German Patchwork item...My friend Susan and I have infected another guild member with selvagitis...there's no stopping the spread now...

Convenience, Not Cheating

If I had made this one the way that the software showed me, it would have required a lot of Y-seams. So I decided to "cheat" and put the seams in where I felt like putting them in.

This block, "B-9, Tinker Toy", was rotary cut for the most part and then I just used the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch for the center square.

Did you know that what most quilters know as "cheater panels" are now called "convenience cloths" by the manufacturers?...I guess that means that my methods are not "cheating", they are just "convenient". So there!

P.S. My blog friend Tropical Screamer had a good word for it, too -- "efficiency"! I like that.

Major Milestone

I spent yesterday at the monthly gathering of the DJ group from my guild and managed to finish my 100th block! As usual, a good (and productive) time was had by all.

This is "B-10, Jud's Trophy", an intermediate-level block that I paper-pieced and rotary cut.

According to the dearjane.com website, I'm at the "jubilee" level...

Silver--25

Gold--50

Diamond--75

Jubilee--100

Platinum --130

Wonder Workers --all 169 blocks completed

Miracle Workers --all block and all triangles completed

Goddess-- Dear Jane quilt finished.

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!

No Pain Diamonds

I had been avoiding making this block because I really don't want to sew set-in seams if I can help it.

At a Laurel Jane meeting earlier this summer, a fellow guild member told me that she had made this block using Nancy Johnson-Srebro's method from her book called "Stars By Magic". Boy, am I glad I listened to her. The technique explained in the book required no diamond shapes to be cut, only squares and rectangles. Yes, there are a few more seams than you would have if you were to sew this with the traditional set-in seams, but to me it is worth it.

The book has cutting instructions for blocks of all sizes, however I had to work a bit with the 4 and 5 inch block instructions in order to make it come out right for a 4 1/2-inch finished size. But it wasn't rocket science.

The name of the block is "G-8 Justin's Comet", an intermediate-level block. It was the first one for which I used just a rotary-cutting method, no paper piecing or applique involved.