Hi ladies,
I've been working on a Dear Jane for more than year now. It is a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I truly feel like a better quilter after 130 blocks or so.
If you're struggling with assembling the blocks, I have a blog where I discuss my way of making the blocks. I am machine piecing and hand appliqueing.
The link to my blog is in my signature. As a new member I don't want to be posting links as yet.
Oh, and you can definitely make the quilt with the book only, although the software saves you from having to trace the block diagrams.