the long awaited Cyber Block Party has begun.

These pics are for the people who are using the book.

as you know, the book doesn't help you to divide the block into sections that can be used to paper piece.

you can zoom in on these photos by clicking on the download button and then clicking on the photo to zoom in.

if you still don't know how to paper piece - here's the link to amma tute

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-25541-1.htm

and here's a tute that i put together that shows how to put together a multi unit paper piecing block.

I9 notes

1) mirror print the blockfor people using the software.

2) for people using the book you'll have to trace the pattern in reverse. you can tape it to a window with the back facing you and then just trace.

otherwise, this is a fairly straight forward block to put together - its just a lot of pieces.

i used variation #1 from the software because the outer edges are slightly wider and i feel a little less bulky.


this block is up on "that quilt" blog and you can see step by step over there.

K9 Notes

1) sew the pieces to form the 9 patch center to each other first

2) then sew on the corner units that have the final strip and corner stones to finish the center motif

3) then sew on the single corner units and you're done


this is another fairly straight forward block - it is not up on "that quilt" but its simple except for the small size.

M8 Notes

this might be the hardest block of the week because its many section that need to come together to form the entire block.

1) sew the finished block units from the center out. so as you'll see in the photo the units are labeled A, B, C, etc

B is the dead center of the block and you would sew A & C to the B unit.

then sew on C & D.

then sew on the short border units and finally the long border units.

this block is up on That Quilt with step by step

this one is a few photos.

more M8 pics

TR5 notes

5x8 = don't forget to print the triangles at 5x8 inches instead of 4.5

yes, we're starting right away with triangles. its much easier to do 1 a week then save them all for the end :lol:


1) for people using the software, sew the long strip outer edge "D" on first then sew on long strip outer edge "E".

2) for people with the book, sew on the shorter edge strip first then the longer one.

this triangle is on That Quilt for step by step.

The time has arrived! I am sew excited!

i just noticed in M8 i have a typo.

D & E not C & D

Notes on how to print the patterns in the software.

1)install the software on your computer

2)open the software and click on the "wizard" hat its on the upper left side

3) select "Classic Jane Quilt" and click on "finish"

4) click on "view" along the top of the screen

5) click on "sketchbook"

6) click on the "blocks" tab if the blocks aren't already displaying.

7) scroll thru the blocks and find "I9" and click on "edit"

8) click on "file" at the top of the screen

9) click on "print"

10) click on "foundation pattern"

11) click on "options" towards the top of the print screen that just opened up.

12) click on "mirror" towards to right side of the print screen.

13) click on "preview" center bottom of the print screen.

14) a window will open up with all the pattern pieces. you can move them if you don't like the location they are in

15) to move a pattern piece. click on "move" then click on the pattern piece. the seam line will turn red and now you can move it where ever you like

16) once you're happy with pattern placement click on the "print" button.


the only block this week that needs to be mirrored is I9. so make sure to check mirror when printing and the other make sure its not checked.

Thanks for the instructions Kelly!

Things I've learned so far.... print the block in my own colours, don't rely on memory!! ;-)

excellent tip.

another, you might want to mark the sections of the pattern with the color that should go there.

i use R = red W = white B = blue

even though the pattern prints with gray sections it gets lost on the transparent paper that i and many of you are using.

Dumb question about I9.... I have the pattern printed out in mirror, do you have to print the template pieces out in mirror too? Or are they still ok they way they are?

Thank you!

Is anyone else getting the print setting automatically going to a default 6 inch square? I have to check the settings and change each time I print. Thanks Klue for getting me moving on this project!! I'm so excited I want to jump right in.

Is I9 the only mirror image for this weeks block?
Thanks.

Sorry - should have read the posts better, I see the answer. Duh.

:oops:

Mine is going to 4.5. Maybe after you change it once, it will go to the 4.5?

i guess it depends.

if you're going to be traditionally piecing this block (not paper piecing) then just print out the templates and get to sewing.

if you're going to be cutting out fabric shapes to use in paper piecing (the amma way in the tute she made) then i would do 1 test piece first before cutting everything out.

you wouldn't need to mirror the templates to get it to work in the amma method of PP you would just have to determine - do i put the template on the right side of the fabric or the wrong side of the fabric.

no, i haven't had that problem. did you load a quilt from the layout library that is a default 6 inch block?

this might fix it for you.

1) open the software to your quilt

2) click on the "layout" tab along the bottom left

3) on the right side of the screen you'll see a pop up window - look at the "block size" section and make sure it says 4.5 inches.

4) if it doesn't correct it and save the new quilt size in the sketchbook.

5) you can now delete the old quilt and use the new one with the 4.5 blocks.


let me know if that works

yes, I9 is the only one this week.

but everyone keep your heads up because almost every week will have a mirror block for the paper piecers.

Thank you Lugo

One question. Can I email a pattern? (to myself because my printer is at the office)

Wow... this crept up on me! I need to get my fabric washed tonight so I can work on it this weekend. I'm so excited to do this once in a lifetime quilt.

yes, but you have to install this free software first. its the printer interface that will appear as a printer option in the Dear Jane Software once you install it.

it will read something like doPDF as a print option when you click on the down arrow next to properties.

a PDF file will open on your computer instead of printing the pattern. just save the file with the name and email it.

here's the link to the free software download

http://download.cnet.com/doPDF-Free-...html?tag=mncol

december just flew by - i really thought i had more time too.

I just finished one block tonight. If I do 4 of these a week I'm not going to be able to do much else at all. :? How long is this going to take again? :lol:

Well... I guess I can work on getting the dozen quilt tops from 2009 sent off to be quilted. It will take time to get them ready and then do the bindings. This can be a finishing year and I want to do a few more elaborate quilts.

when you first start the jane blocks its kinda slow but after a few you develop a rhythm and most won't take that long.

i find the best way to deal with the blocks is to do an hour or so a night.

The first couple i did I thought the same thing... oh my goodness I'll never be able to fit anything else in!

But klue is right, after the first couple they get quicker. I prefer to do mine all in one hit, although some may take more than one night to complete. But you definitely get a rhythm going.

I'll see how it goes tomorrow and I'll try to get the other 3 done. It took time tonight to wash/dry/starch/iron the fabric and get the foundations printed too.

Are we posting pictures of the finished blocks?

yes, i put up a thread in the pic section for the finished photos.

you have to post pics of the finished blocks every week to be entered into the fabric give away.

at the end of every work period, i'll throw the names of the people who posted all their photos into a hat and DH will pick one out.

they will receive some hand dyed and painted fabrics that i make.

Wow! I didn't know that (must have missed it). That is really great for you to do for everyone. :-D

What is the end of each work period? Sorry if I am asking questions that have been answered. I haven't been looking at all the messages in the last month with other stuff going on.

we're doing a 6 weeks on 1 week off time table.

so by the end of that 6th week your pics of all those blocks need to be posted - you can't use the week off to qualify for the fabric give away - its meant for rest, other projects, or to fix a jane block you aren't that happy with.

here is the entire schedule that details every block/triangle/kite and the weeks to do them in. it also details the week offs.

Hey Pam...do you want to get together every once in a while and sew together? It might help pass the time working on them!!

Thanks Klue... sorry for being "clueless"!! :P

I would love to get together and sew. The question is... who's house and do we bring our machines? :lol:

You're SOOOOO lucky! I'd love to be able to get together with someone to sew some of these blocks.

I am guessing that I am to far away huh?

That depends on exactly which field you're in the middle of! ;-)

Thank you so much Kelly!

No one has mentioned the problem I am having (not that I've noticed anyway) I get that I have to change the size of the triangle to 5in x 8in, but I can't seem to do it if I want a foundation print, only if I want the templates to print. I did that, and I've just had to draft out foundations for myself, because the templates only give you one triangle in TR5. So is there something I am missing? Is there a way to change the size of a foundation triangle? Many thanks.

Let the fun begin!

i'm not sure what the problem is but i'll run you thru the steps that i do and maybe we can find the problem.

1) open up the software and select triangle TR5 for editing

2) click on "file"

3) click on "print"

4) click on "foundation pattern"

5) click on the "options" tab

6) on the left side of the pop up window - change block size to 5 x 8 and it should have 1/4 inch seams

7) on the right side of the pop up window - make sure print numbers, separate units, gray scale, and print block name are checked.

8) uncheck any thing else that might be checked on the right side

9) click on "preview" towards the bottom center of the print window

10) you should have 4 pieces that need to be paper pieced and 2 long side strips.

11) move them around to different locations so they can all fit on one page

12) hit the print button once you're happy with the placement