Dear Jane Blocks - would English paper piecing work?

[Jules M.]

I have been reading about all the people busy making Dear Jane blocks, and wondered whether it is possible to use the English paper piecing method to put these blocks together? Has anybody tried this method? :roll:

[Sharon E.]

Hi -- I do a lot of paper piecing but don't what English is? I have also done the kind where you use freezer paper and sew with no thread with the design on top and the seweing perferates the freezer paper -- then it is iron on each piece and sew next to the perferated line. I'm not sure if I am explaining this, but there is no picking out of paper and very easy.

To answer your question, some of the patterns are definitely easier with paper pieced, some are appliqued and some are just regular piecing, depends on the block. I have over 100 of the little buggers finished, but no boarders yet.

Hope that helps, or probably maybe. LOL

Sharon in Colorado

[Sharon E.]

English paper piecing is where you cut the shape you require in paper, then tack the fabric over the paper shape and then oversew the pieces together (typically it was used for hexagons). I wondered if anybody had tried it for tiny blocks? I guess it would be worth experimenting!

[Lynn K.]

Hmm.... that is an interesting concept. I know I've seen it done with the hexagons but never thought about doing it for some of the DJ blocks or even bigger ones with lots of shapes.

Keep us informed.

[Judy M.]

With English paper piecing don't the shapes need to be the same that you are piecing together? For instance, hexagons pieced to hexagons or squares to squares? I enjoy hand piecing and hand applique, so that's the way I'm doing my DJ blocks. Let us know if it works. That's the great thing about quilting--there's more than one way to do just about all of it!

[Judy M.]

Judy - I'm not sure - I have done the 'hexagon' thing - I'll give it a try - will let you know - I think it should work, if not I'll do the hand piecing the usual way!

[Kari L.]

I teach Dear Jane and have one student who is doing all her blocks via paper piecing. The EQ software for Dear Jane will print out the templates or patterns for you.

I've never known anyone to try with English paper piecing though - that would be a real challenge! Did it work?

[Lynn K.]

I don't think you can do "English" PP with anything but all same size, shape, etc. but someone else might know more than me! In fact, I'm SURE of that! ha

[fiona j.]

Not a problem! I'm currently hand piecing "The Farmer's Wife Sampler", which is 140 6" blocks. There is a cd to download the templates but it got broken so now I am drafting each pattern onto freezer paper. Then I cut out each piece and iron it onto the back of my fabric. Cut out with seam allowances (doesn't have to be exact!) and baste the allowance to the back. Whipstitch the basted pieces together.
I must be mad...figured on doing 2 blocks a week on average but am already behind as was ill over christmas - should take about 3 years, including quilting time.

[fiona j.]

I just finished my next row on my Dear Jane quilt. Row "D" is added to rows "A, B, and C". Now to get for "E" blocks ready so I have some hand work ready to go.

Margarita who is hand piecing her "DJ" in Auburn, CA

[Eileen K.]

I've had to put my DJ aside for a while. I've gotten a little overwhelmed. I'm determined to make this quilt so I'll be back to it in a couple of months.
eileenkny

[Eileen K.]

EPP is just like putting a jigsaw puzzle together so the shapes do not have to be all the same. I will be starting a DJ soon and will EPP.

Pat--"Keep Calm and Carry On"

[Eileen K.]

Since this quilt http://www.quiltmuseum.org.uk/blog/q...les/01265.html was all English Paper Pieced, I don't see why not for the Dear Jane.

As an aside, I made this using EPP the other year as a sample for a book I am working on for my EG branch.