I was intrigued when I saw a "Dear Jane" quilt at a quilt show last year, and have admired the photos of finished quilts I have seen on this site. I purchased a quilting magazine last month that had a very interesting article, which lead me to buying the book of patterns. I'm not giving myself a deadline for this one! I just plan to quilt a block or two as I find time, or need a break from other projects.

Did you find the easiest way to keep track was to do them in order, as presented, or begin with the simpler blocks and progress from there?

I had never been a huge fan of the muted 'Civil War' era fabrics - but it seems that this would be the most fitting for this project! And suddenly I find myself looking at those fabrics in a whole new light. :)

Oh, you need to see some of the other DJ's made in fabric other than Civil War!
You should do it in whatever fabrics/style you like. I've seen them in brights, monochromatic, Aunt Grace, batiks, scrappy, etc.

And the reason you should enjoy the color selection is because it's going to be with you for a very, very long time. :mrgreen:

That article you read was about the two teachers at the City QUilter, right? I started my DJ with them a decade ago (it's still not done). Fabulous teachers.

Scroll through some of these DJ versions (I wish I could filter out the real one). Also take notice of some of the different layouts:

http://www.google.com/search?q=dear+...ls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&s a=X&ei=TkptTqupKYKDgAemsLDkBQ&ved=0CE8QsAQ&biw=128 0&bih=670

There's a 400 page DJ thread on the board -
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-28063-1.htm

And the DJ mothership:
http://dearjane.com/
Which also has a gallery and is a great resource for tips on piecing certain "troublesome" blocks. ;-)

Enjoy your journey.

When I did DJ, I did them in the order in the book - unless I didn't like that block on that day, and then I did which ever I felt like.

Gorgeous! Now we're talking!!

When I did my Dear Jane, I did block of the week
finished the quilt, and made more blocks the same way -used them for table runner and placemats.

I am making my DJ in a classic older fabrics because I want to preserve the spirit of the quilt itself. I am going to go in order of the book using whatever colors I feel at the time fit the block. I was going to do it in blues and whites, then I liked it in the reds and played with the ideas of more traditional coloring and keep coming back to the original colors. That is just me, but I haven't run across a DJ quilt I didn't like or greatly admire.

I made a grid and would stab my pencil at the grid--that's the block I'd make. I still have about 15 to go :thumbup:

I just started a Farmers Wife (similar to DJ). I am doing in order, so the hard ones are in with the others. Otherwise I might never have done #7. It was hard!!!

i just started a dear jane recently and i am doing the blocks that catch my eye and that i think i will enjoy making that particular day. i think it helps to get a few blocks under your belt and see how pretty they shape up for you. i thought i would use alot of browns and reds and i thought i might use some christmas material in it. now that i have it underway, i find that i just play it block by block and decide what color to use. on some i use the same colors that is on the original and then others i pick another color just because a particular fabric seems to stand out for that block. it is like the quilt is speaking to me as to how it wants to be made. lol

How I would do a DJ - buy this fabric http://www.windhamfabrics.net/cgi-bi...98&Page=1&v=1. Stitch around the shapes to make it look like I didn't cheat. :D :D