Several years ago, when I began quilting, I thought...once I am better at this, I will try that Dear Jane quilt! Well, I am better, although I wonder if I am really ready for this project!

Nonetheless, I went ahead and bought the software, and pre-ordered most of the soon-to-be-released Dear Jane II fabric line. I thought that line could guide my colour choices (for my first and possibly last DJ, I thought I would largely copy the original, just pushing the colour range away from the browns and rusts and into misty blues and purples.).

I browsed through some of the DJ threads already here and find I need more concentrated advice...forgive a noob!

Before I start, I thought I would ask around for advice from Dear Jane veterans on how to approach the project.

Which brings me to my first question:
1. What is a good way to approach the fabric acquisition?
(I read on this list that a good design approach to use is to work from the centre of the quilt out to keep the colours harmonized...makes good sense to me! I will start with H-7, Bennington Star, as I have been working hard on my HST skills lately!!...and I love yellow and white...)

2. What do you recommend as the sashing/background fabric?
I ordered Kona "Snow" but can change that if it does not work best with the DJ2 fabrics.

3. The software calls for 16 yards of the sashing/background...is that for the front only or is that for front AND backing??

4. I have seen white on white prints used as that background/sashing fabric...does that work better than a plain solid?

5. What was your very favourite fabric that you used in your DJ quilt?

Past those immediate questions, I would welcome any advice of the "wish
I had known THAT when I started/wish I had done THAT when I started"
variety!

Thanks so much for any help or advice.

Regards,
Janet

I will anxiously be awaiting responses to this post! I bought the book and templates, and just keep staring at them! Thank you for thinking of all these questions!

If you go to Block of the Month/Week Section there is lots of info about Dear Jane.

I got my backing, sashing and inbetween tris, plus scallops all from 15 yards. I used Kona Natural for all of that.
As for colour schemes, I deviated a lot, and did a trip round the world format using batiks, hence I called it Jane, Past and Present. I used a wide Kona for the backing (from Hancocks of Paducah)

However, I stuck to the schedule that the BOM thread here used, so I had a diagram in a folder, coloured in to represent my various fabrics, in order to keep track of which fabric was needed for each block in the schedule as we got to it. I made the whole thing in less than 7 months, including hand quilting it.

Leslie

The fact that you did DJ in so little time really astounds me. What a feat!

Re fabric acquisition

I colored in my quilt using the software and estimated a 6" square for each block. So for that has been good. I went overboard on ordering my background and will use the excess as backing. My color choice was centered round a Robyn Pandolph line - think spring country cottage.

Kinda sad to see the sewalong winding up. My quilt has been in time out for a few years due to life circumstances. I was thinking about pulling it out again. We could hold hands and get through this. I'm only twenty block in and am handpiecing.

Check out http://thatquilt.blogspot.com for a blog that specializes in this quilt. Her old posts show each pattern and give photos and hints on construction. Well worth the visit.

Plan on enjoying your journey. Do not get in a hurry. I did the one block and one triangle a week... this kept me going. I did this from the Dear Jane site.... It was fun. the bow and tow was posted Sunday night (as I remember) and you reported by Saturday if you completed them. With your software you can copy your completed blocks and triangles and keep them on your computer. I also counted the pieces I plan to include this on the corner block. You are lucky to have the new fabrics to start with. I did follow the color placement. Oh, now I must confess.... I and 225 blocks, 52 triangles and 4 corners neatly in containers with the name and piece count along with the copy of the block. I am now retired and plan to begin cutting the sashing, curved pieces for triangles and alternate triangles. I began my journey February 2, 2008 and finished piecing March 8, 2009. I plan to hand quilt when she is put together. Oh, I also used Kona natural for my background. Enjoy your journey :D
Judy in Phoenix, AZ

PS I forgot to say that I used a different fabric for every blocks, triangle and corner. I was in swaps for fat eights and that sure helped with aquiring lots of fabrics...these swaps were on the Dear Jane site.

I've made about 20 blocks, too. I'm using civil war fabrics and muslin, although I'm kind of regretting making that choice. So much of the civil war fabric is drab and a little depressing -- but I've started it and I'm plowing ahead! I really recommend getting the software as well as the book. The lessons gave me a lot of confidence. And I don't think I could do it without the "thatquilt" blog! But I'd love to join a group that's just starting and depend on the kindness of Lacelady, Klue, Sandpat, and the other active members of the Dear Jane thread when we need help!

I've not finished mine, but I had a ton of scraps and I'm going with a scrappy look. I'm not doing any particular color scheme. The only same fabric that I'm using is for the background fabric. Every block and triangle I've done so far has had a different fabric. For most of the blocks, I've found that a 6"-8" square of fabric is all I need.

I have a bunch of Kona "Snow", which is kind of between white and natural...I will see how it works with the DJ2 fabrics when they arrive and will change if I have to.

I considered a subtle white on white but most of those are either too light or too dark for what I want, and I was worried the design on the background would fight the fabrics and the quilting.

I loved the photos of a Kaffe Fasset fabric based DJ at Green Fairy Quilts:
http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com...dear-jane.html

Regards,
Janet
who is now learning to appliqué and foundation piece!!!