Just letting you know that I will definately be joining this.
I did have some doubts until I tried one of the blocks.
I tried out the M8 as to me it looked the most difficult of the 3 first block Klue starts out with. I thought I was going to have loads of problems but it turned out really good. It also gave me an idea of what the Asian fabrics were going to look like and I put them with a white background which worked really well.

Elle

Hey Elle - can you post a photo? Love to see what it looks like. KLue - perhaps you should start a DJ Cyber Party Photo thread...bet people start doing things now!!!

Well as per request here is my first effort. It was intimidating to start with hae to say.

Made a mistake it was I 9 that I tried. Also tried the triangle but it really is wonky and will need another try I am sure

I would love to see your block Elle. I did an A1 just to see and it turned out backwards for some reason and I'm sure that reason was me! I'll post if you like, althought it's way down the list.

Janstar I have posted its above your post. Can´t be any worse than my wonky triangle LOL

Elle, Your block looks great!

Elle, good for you jumping right in. :thumbup: Like the background, too.

Someone who'd done several said I absolutely HAD to use muslin or at the very least cream. So glad to see there are others using white, not that I ever make layout decisions by quilt police coercion :lol:

Retro-Who ever told you that you had to use muslin or cream must not have looked at the many DJ quilts posted on the web from all over. There are many, many beautiful DJ quilts out there and the backgrounds are as different as the quilters. Do what you love, forget someone else's rules!

I think the only important consideration is the contrast between your fabrics so that all of the little pieces don't get lost in a mush of color.

Thanks, I need to go back to the machine and make another triangle cos thats way squiffy. However it was a learning process and I have to jump in, just to see if I could really do them. The PP patterns on the Dear Jane Software are fantastic.

Elle

A really big thank you for this organising. I once started my Dj en made a few blocks but what I started I want to finish so thats why I'm in.

I do have the DJ book and the software, but I prefer to work with the book.

Enniehow, It's really great that you do this! :D

Elle your block is so pretty with the asian fabs. I'm charging up my camera batteries so I can post my A1.

Okay standing by my computer waiting patiently :wink:

Elle

retro, the software shows all types of backgrounds for the Babyjanes so go ahead and try something that makes you feel happy.

I just happen not to be very keen on CW fabrics (geesh I am getting shot down in flames), I like the gold accents on the Asian fabrics.

Sorry, had to charge up my camera batteries.

Janstar that's looks great :!:

you don't have to spend $9 a yard for quality fabric. you should check out whittles, i purchased the bulk of my jane fabric from them.

whittles has quality fabric for $3.50-$6.00 a yard.

you need to print A1 as a mirror image for the paper piecing pattern, its one of the options in the software on the print page.

i think the triangle is wonky because it looks like the size is wrong. make sure on the print page that the size reads 5 inches by 8 inches.

the software doesn't have default sizes, since you're able to scale anything up or down, so when you open/print a block and then you go straight to open/print a triangle it will still have the 4.5 inch size on the print page so you have to change it to 5x8.

I want to try this as well. My group of quilting ladies just got a Dear Jane to quilt made of brights! WOW! I love it, but becasue it isn't mine, and she doesn't want to show it until SHE is ready, I can't post a photo. Just wanted to say, you are only restricted by your own wishes!

thats just crazy, i'm using indigo as my background fabric and my layout is an extreme break from the traditional jane.

use what ever you want and use what ever layout you like - its your quilt.

this is an EQ pic of what my finished jane should look like

I'm using white as a background too.... and hoping to use mainly my stash for the rest.

I have a large bin of scraps from other quilts, and I'm planning on using those, so that each block is a "memory" of a quilt I've made.

And if I run out of scraps, then I'll start on the fat quarter drawer.

the pics of the blocks look great!

if you guys want we can start a pic thread - the next pic someone has start a thread for the DJ practice blocks.

also, if some of you want to get a jump on the blocks and have questions just ask on the thread or send me a PM and i'll help you if you need it.

i haven't made every block but i have made a bunch for our guild quilts.

i just love that idea, i can't think of a better way to pay tribute to your quilting career then by using the scrap bin to make this quilt.

I'm gonna give this a shot as well, I will also be doing scrappy 30's and white kona cotton. Thanks Klue for all your doing , this should be lots of fun.

buddy'smom----me too, that should be really fun to see how everyone's blocks come along.

Thanks so much for the encouragement everyone.

Janstar, your A1 looks great!!

Elle, keep up the good work. You'll be finished by March at this rate :D

Klue, it was some lady on the dear jane list serve. She emailed me when I said what I was doing. I kind of thought, well if you can't say anything nice.... :lol:

BlueChicken~
what a wonderful idea. I keep scraps of the ones I've done, but I haven't completed many yet. Maybe someday I'll put them all together somewhere besides my journal. :D

I just love the 30's, there one of my favorites, I made the underground railroad in the 30's it's stunning. These blocks will be super and gonna be interesting to see everyone's bocks.

Thanks Klue for that tip, I probably did exactly what you said, I thought it looked short and I measured it and it is just that.

It was only a practice so now I know what I am halfway doing I think I will make sure I do what you said and size the blocks up. the first one is correct though yippee.

Elle

Janstar it does look very nice and Klue has told you why it looks different. In actual fact mine had a fault as well, so back to the drawing board.

Elle

I9 needs to be printed as a mirror also - so i'm sure thats the problem and its not something you did.

sadly, i've never found any where in the software where it tells you which blocks must be printed as "mirror" for the paper piecing patterns.

I imagine that anything that isn't the same on both halves has to be printed that way, I think the term is asymetrical, if both sides were the same, it wouldn't matter what way it was printed out.

Dumb questions Dept: Does it matter if it's backwards?

no not really, the only person it has to please is you.

actually its blocks that have symmetry that are the problem but not all of them.

it only applies to printing out the paper piecing pattern, you have to let the software know that even though its a symmetrical block to reverse the color placement on the other side - but like i said its not all of the symmetrical blocks.


i've only learned by making some mistakes and i'm sure i haven't found them all yet.

I'll see if I can fix it and if it's too confusing, I'll leave it. In my humble opinion, it looks fine.

i agree 100% with you, i didn't even notice but you said something so i looked up my notes to see if it was a "mirror" block.

Thanks Kelly! Are there many more mirror designs? I marked I9 as being mirror. I'll probably drive you nutty asking about that software.

Elle, I love your choices for your DJ...I think your block looks great! And you might want to save your triangle so you can compare it at the very end..you'll have - "well, I started here....and ended up here with this beautiful quilt!"


Jan...I think it looks fine too.

I guess I need to go fabric shopping! Ya'll will be finished with the quilt before I decide on fabric! :wink:

Thanks Patti. I'm just using stuff from my stash. It takes such a small amount of fabric so it should work out fine. I'm buying a full bolt of muslin though because you can always use that.