There has been some interest in doing a Dear Jane Block Swap before the big Dear Jane Sew Along in Jan/2010.

so here's the guidelines for the Dear Jane Christmas Block Swap

the Theme is Christmas so the colors are RED, GREEN, GOLD, and OFF WHITE/CREAM (any neutral white except true bright white).

this can be solid, tone on tone, blenders, or pattern fabrics - just go for that christmas kinda feel.

if you do not have access to the book or software check with your library to see if they have a copy.

if not, please let me know which block you would like to do and i'll find you directions on how to make it (either from a website or i will prepare the directions for you).

Please post here which block you will be making so i can keep a running list for the group.

i've attached a word document of all the beginner and intermediate blocks in the Dear Jane Quilt - you can certainly choose an advance block if you wish but i wanted the more beginner and intermediate people on the forum to be able to be a part of this project.


the UNFINISHED size is 5.0 inches

You'll make 18 blocks, all alike and send them to me along with a self addressed, stamped envelope for return postage... what ever it cost to send it to me, it will cost to return your blocks to you...so be sure to put enough postage on your envelope. When you are ready to send them to me, please pm me and I'll give you my address.

I will send you back one of your blocks and one each of 17 different blocks.

Please mark EACH ONE of your blocks with a little slip of paper pinned to it or a sticky label with your message board id and if you want to, your real name. It is nice to know who made the blocks in your quilt.
If you want to make multiple sets, just make sure you have 18 blocks of each pattern. You will receive back as many as you send.

Mail your blocks to me by Novermber 6, 2009.

I will mail them back out by November 15, 2009 or as close to that as possible.


this is the link to the Original Dear Jane Quilt - so you can check it out


http://www.dearjane.com/

Is there a preferred method of assembly? That is, can they be machine pieced, hand-pieced, mixed technique?

Should the fabrics be washed before cutting?

Hi, KLue. I am totally insane. I am. Really. But you have my interest.

Can these be machine sewn? On the colors, we just choose which ones (or all) of the ones you mentioned?

Oy! :shock:

yes, please wash all fabric first.

this should be a mixed technique because some blocks have small set in seams and doing those few stitches by hand might work best.

so, the rule is all three methods can be used.

yes, you can sew your blocks by machine.

the colors can be up to you. the original jane blocks are 2 colors only but they work just as well using 3 colors.

the idea is to have fun with the swap and playing with jane so if 3 or 4 fabrics looks nice with your chosen block go for it.

Okay. As fun as this sounds, I simply cannot take on another project. I guess I will pass. But I will follow this closely!!!

You're not chicken are you ducky?!? ;-)

I love the sound of this.... and besides, who needs to sleep.... or eat, or shower, or clean the house. If I cut these things out, I'll have plenty of time to sew! *falls into heap on floor and twitches*

I'll join up. I can't help myself. But since things will be pretty busy for me, I picked a very simple block.

A6-Uncle Homer

I'll maybe do a 2nd. Not sure yet.

I'm in...I'll do H13 and K12

OMG, LOLOLOL! I really did laugh out loud with your last comment. I'm wiping away tears. See, it works, doesn't it?

Where can I find the Pattern?

you can see the quilt at http://www.dearjane.com/

they have some tips and guides on each block on this site. if you don't have the book or software see if you can check the book out from the library (they have line drawings in the book).

if none of this works for you, please let me know which block you would like to do and i can either find directions online for you or i will make up the directions for you.

Hmmm....thinking...thinking......can I? do I dare?.... :roll:

you dare, you dare. you'll be so upset when everyone starts posting their dear jane christmas table runners.


the blocks are small - its less work than the standard 12 block swaps we do.

so far, some of the blocks are pretty easy - don't even need a "store-bought" pattern for some of them

Ok, I've never done anything like this and would like to try. I will do I2, assuming I can find the pattern. It looks farely simple, a nine patch set on point. I think I can manage this by the end of October. :) :)

Ok kluedesigns I am so nervous but would really like to join this swap. :oops: I have been looking at these dear jane quilts ever since i came across the one I believe you posted with the more modern colors. I only hand quilt and am a beginner but would love to try with your help of course, if thats not too much to ask :wink: I am interested in making D6, it looks like a snowball type block to me. i would need any instructions you can give me.
Thanx
Star

I hate I'm going to pass on this one. I'm going to be gone for two weeks this month and once again I have a very ambitious list of Christmas gifts to get done and in the mail by Dec 1st. :? I will be watching this thread wishing I was in it. Wish me luck on getting the Christmas gifts finished. :wink:

which row 12 do you want to do? i need the letter of the row the top row is A and the last row is M.

Let me understand this. You need us to do 18 of ONE block, correct? So the person who is choosing 12 would need to understand she would be making a total of 216 blocks?

so, if I chose to do 2 blocks, I will be sending in a total of 36 blocks, right?

send me a PM with you email address and i'll email you the templates to make block D6.

its a pretty straight forward block and an excellent choice for a beginner.

yes, your math is correct.

i think the lady meant she wanted to do block 12 but left out which row its in.

i don't think there's enough time in this swap to do 12 sets of 18 blocks. :lol:

I'm in - D-13 Field of Dreams - I found a web site with directions for all the blocks - I'll post it in a minute - - -

www.dearjane.com has a grid labelling the blocks as Klue describes.
You find the block you want in the picture of the quilt, figure out which row (A-M) and which block (1-13).
Go to the grid, click on your block and you'll find directions for how to make it.
If you're lucky, it'll be a 5 inch UNFINISHED block.

Klue I think she meant I -2

can there be duplicate blocks ? I have never done any of the swaps and am afraid mine won't be good enough as a beginner .

thank you so much for pointing that out.

if we get more than 18 sets going then we can start to duplicate blocks but i would wait until then.

i can go thru the blocks and find a simple one for you to do.

you should do M10 - its a 9 patch

this is what i have so far

sharon i put in as a maybe for block M10


Dear Jane Christmas Block Swap

Colletta = A6
Norbanaquilts = H13 and K12
MNQuilter = I2
Star = D6
JoanneS = D13
Sharon B = M10?

Another question. Didn't Janes mostly finish at 4.5 , how do I adjust for the 5 inch finish ?

4 1/2" finished = 5" unfinished. Isn't that what we're doing?

janes blocks were done at various sizes and then she added sashings around the blocks to bring the smaller ones up to size.

the book and software has everything at 4.5 finished to make things consistent for todays quilter.

you would send in blocks at 5 inches in size that way when they are sewn together the finished size is 4.5.

for the M10 block you would cut nine 2 inch squares and sew them together alternating the color.

so lets say you want to use red and cream. you would cut five 2 inch red squares and four 2 inch cream squares.

then when you sew all the squares together it should measure 5 inches square.

yes, thats what we're doing. send in 5 inch blocks then when we all sew them into a quilt they will finish at 4.5

OK M-10 it is ! LOL Hope I don't disappoint everyone .

Is there a site where you can see the blocks a little bigger or is the book you mentioned the only place to see them? I searched but every pic I saw is still so small I can't really see how the blocks look up close.

this site has some really good close up pics of their dear jane quilt.


http://rimfire.0catch.com/



its very hard to find large scale pics of the original jane - the official dear jane site seems to have the best pics.

the book doesn't really have better pics of the quilt block either - the book offers a scale line drawing of the block which you could use to make templates or to make a paper piece pattern.

You can also zoom within the screen itself..... hold the ctrl key down and use the little wheel on your mouse to scroll in and out.
The resolution of the picture is good enough to scroll quite close and see more detail.
:-)

Thanks for answering Klue. I am thinking of joining if I find a block I like.

Thanks Blue I didn't know you could do that! That really helped. I can figure out the piecing but i needed to see them enough to see how they connect within the block.

Ok Klue I will do H6 and K3 if noone has spoken for them yet.

I'm in for B3. If I can summon the courage, I'll try a more intermediate for a 2nd block, but for now will commit to one.

This is so cool!!

Thanks for posting this site. The author of this site also redrafted several of the blocks in an attempt to more closely imitate what Jane might have had in mind.