Thinking About DJ2 Again

I have come across a blog that has all the Dear Jane patterns available for free from Susan Gatewood.
I originally started this blog to provide instruction and encouragement to the class I planned to teach last fall  but everyone dropped out one by one and so I am just working on it whenever. I will not be doing exhaustive tutorials for all the blocks but will try to show the progression as I am working on each block.

I purchased the Dear Jane software when I started my first Dear Jane quilt 6 years ago. It took me about 3-4 years to figure out how to use the program. To be honest, I used to print the foundation patterns that spread the pattern across 2 sheets and then using scissors, I cut them out from the overflow on page 2 and taped them onto one sheet. Some of the pattern pieces were split over 2 pages. I now know how to use the "move" button at the top after I choose print, foundation pattern, preview. Not all the blocks show up and I have since learned to figure out how to do them on my own. And, I finally found where I can make up the layout and colour it in the way I want to. I am still not sure about doing the sashing in that black. I really like how crisp the bright colours look on the white.

I have been surfing the net to find more tutorials for various Jane blocks. Here are some from Granny Maud's Girl.

I recently joined the Singer Feather Weight Facebook group. I have been using my FW for the paper piecing for my Dear Jane and find it great for this. I also used the Featherweight to connect all the sashing strips.

I love how I can flip up the arm to get it out of the way then drop it back down again when I am ready to stitch. I do believe this was the very last block/corner kite to bring the total blocks to 225 using 225 different Civil war reproduction fabrics.

Blessings,
Chris

D-13 Field of Dreams

I have been trying to upload these photos all week and now here we are.
I figure if I am ever going to get any work done on this DJ@ then I should start with just 1 block.

This one is easily done by foundation piecing or just measure the finished pieces and add 1/4 inch all around.

So, I cut out the square and added  1/4 all the way around.

I ironed the triangles to the fabric and cut 1/4 inch all around.
Not too smart. I should have added extra around the outsides of the triangles. This is a good tip for all the foundation piecing that will be coming.
This way, when the block is all stitched together, there will be something to square it up in case you sewed it too small, which happens a lot with foundation piecing.

Next, I laid out all the pieces in the correct arrangement.

I had used freezer paper for this the first time around. Back then I did not have any idea what I was doing, so started photocopying all the patterns until I ran out of freezer paper. Dah!

Anyway, I still had the freezer paper templates so used them again. Much simpler than foundation piecing and then not having to tear out all the papers.

 Stitched on the opposites sides then pressing the top to set the seam before pressing to the blue.

After this, I stitched on the remaining 2 triangles and pressed.

It really was simple and fortunately,
It measure the exact 5 inches.
Whew!





Blessings,
Chris