Dear Jane Start-up Jan 2008

[Jules M.]

I made A-1 today with scrap fabrics not the kit fabrics. :lol:

I preshrunk a couple yards of freezer paper and have cut it to 8 1/2" x 11". I printed A1 foundations from the CD and noticed they don't automatically reverse it when printing for foundations. hmpf!

I found where to mirror the design and printed it again.

So I used my backwards one for my practice block. I made notes about what size to cut my fabrics.

It took an hour! :lol:

I trimmed all the seams to near 1/8". I pressed the last 3 section seams open.

My block is 1/16" shy of 5". I think the seams that join the sections need to be one hair narrower. :roll:

I'm quite pleased with the whole paper piecing on freezer paper concept! Love it!

I am thinking of using the backgrounds in order, 1 - 5, then repeat the background selection for the remaining blocks and triangles. Argh... they didn't TELL me! :wink:

How are you doing sashing? Mix it up random? Put sashing on one side as you go?

Onward & upward to the real deal!

Joyce

[Jules M.]

I just saw on the software CD that if you plan to use a variety of piecing techniques (little bit of everything) you need 15 yds of background.

I thought I had read on the yahoo group you needed to buy a ton of background!

For as much pp as possible they suggest 20 yds. Yikes!

Joyce

[Jules M.]

Hi all,
I just ordered a Moda mini bolt (10 yards) from Hancocks of Paduach. Actually I ordered two, one white muslin and one natural muslin. I will probably order another once I decide which I like. White might be to bright but could be calmed down with a rince. I do want my background to be all the same fabric. As far as sashing, a friend ued the 'quilt as you go' method doing a row at a time. Maybe more info will arrive with the next kit as we should get the fabrics for the rest of row A. I can look up book titles containing that method if anyone is interested. I also think it was in a magazine sometime in 2007, but I don't remember which magazine or exactly which month. Maybe someone else can remember. Working on Guild Show quilts until my background arrives... See you all, have a good week.

[Judy M.]

There was an online correction from Brenda Papadakis about yardage amounts for background fabric: 8 yards, if hand piecing--15 yards, if machine piecing--20 yards, if paper piecing.

[Judy M.]

Thank you for the tip on mirroring when printing the DJ blocks. So far so smooth with the CD. I don't know how they could possible make it easier for a new Janiac.

[Jules M.]

I have blocks A1 & A2 finished.

I emailed Sarah about sashings... is it the background fabs we already have or more later or ?

I found the journal on the CD and will print out some pages. As long as I put the instructions each month (with my added notes) in a binder, I might as well put the journal there too. I already keep a journal in my sewing room so this won't be a new problem.

Love that we have this thread, too!

Joyce

[Jules M.]

I took out my DJ yesterday. I have the first 8 blocks (A-1to 8) done, and 1 Triangle. #A9 is half done and all cut out and ready to finish.

Margarita in Auburn, CA

[Jules M.]

Glad there are veteran DJ'ers joining in!

Can anyone help me rearrange T1 from the CD? I am going to use Sarah's instructions.

I have gone in and done the regroup, etc. It immediately goes back to the original and won't let me print my changes.

Other blocks and other triangles I can rearrange.

Does T1 rearrange for you?

Joyce
A1, A2, A4 done

[Jules M.]

Oh my goodness! I just figured out how to put MY blocks in the program on the My Blocks Chart. So excited! It is so worth the many steps to get them in there. It looks so cute to see my quilt grow.

Ok.... I know it is tiny and I have 4/240 ths done!

Joyce

[Jules M.]

Oh my goodness! I just figured out how to put MY blocks in the program on the My Blocks Chart. So excited! It is so worth the many steps to get them in there. It looks so cute to see my quilt grow.

Ok.... I know it is tiny and I have 4/240 ths done!

Joyce

Congratulations!! I haven't worked out the details of how to set my quilt blocks in. I know you are supposed to be able to actually scan them and place them in the grid for your own quilt. The CD is so well worth the expense, no doubt.

[Jules M.]

Hi all,
I got block A-1 done tonight. I did take Brenda's tip and sewed 4 - 4 patchs then joined them together. It did work out nicely.
A picture of this block is posted at my profile.
Block 2 looks a little more difficult, I think I will wait until tomorrow night to start it.
DogQuilter - I love your Convergance quilt and it does look like fall.
You all need to check out MargaritaW's quilts.... each is very lovely, but my favorite is the Hawaiian.

[Lynn K.]

I have a neat little spreadsheet designed by a Dear Janer in Switzerland. It helps you to count and it totals the block pieces as you go along so you can do the 'status' signature with # of blocks, # of pieces, etc. I have the spreadsheet and will share it if you wish to email me.

[Lynn K.]

Hi all,
I got block A-1 done tonight. I did take Brenda's tip and sewed 4 - 4 patchs then joined them together. It did work out nicely.
A picture of this block is posted at my profile.
Block 2 looks a little more difficult, I think I will wait until tomorrow night to start it.
DogQuilter - I love your Convergance quilt and it does look like fall.
You all need to check out MargaritaW's quilts.... each is very lovely, but my favorite is the Hawaiian.

Thank you Fluff. you have done a great job on your DJ blocks. You are moving along very quickly. I only have two blocks done.

[Lynn K.]

Hi all,
Well, I only have one done from the BOM kits. The other blocks shown are my test blocks (made in November because I just couldn't wait for January). I was going to set them into a small quilt, but will only add to those blocks as I need to make a test block to figure out the best way for me to make the kit block. I may or may not have enought to make a small quilt.
I am working on block 2. I was going to share the techniques I used for this block, but it got very long... you can e-mail me if you want the description. Put Dear Jane in the subject line.
Has anyone else posted a picture of their block(s)? I just used the scaner to make the .JPG file.
Well off to do some quilting on my quilt for our guilds show. If you are near Charleston, SC March 1-2 there will be a quilt show for you to attend.

[Jules M.]

I posted 4 of my blocks on my blog:

http://jmquilts.blogspot.com/2008/01...eginnings.html

I have all but #7 finished and finished the 2 triangles for the month!

Doing the happy dance here!

Joyce