The time is drawing near for the Dear Jane Cyber Block Party January 2010.

Attached you will find a shopping list, the projected block/triangle list, and a list of all blocks and their difficulty level.

the projected time frame for the entire project (from 1st block to putting on the binding) is January 2010 to May/June 2011.

its roughly set up with 6 weeks of sewing followed by 1 week off. the summer months and the fall/winter holiday season is when we'll be doing easy blocks/triangles and the rest of the months will be more challenging with mixed methods and difficulty levels.

the focus of the group will be support, encouragement, and friendship. i'll be working about 2 weeks ahead of the group that way i'll be able to put up tutes for the harder blocks and provide paper piecing order for the people who only have the book.

i'm not the best quilter around nor do i know the best method for putting together the blocks - so i hope that everyone will be willing to share their method of putting together the harder blocks so that we can all learn from the experience.

please look over the attached documents and let me know what you think - i want everyone to feel comfortable with the project.

So is everyone welcome to join in or is this a continuation of your other swap????

If it is a new group then I am interested :wink:

anyone can join in - we won't be swapping any blocks/triangles.

you keep what you make and you'll make them out of what ever fabric you prefer.

I think this great and we keep our blocks. thats great. count me in.

YIPEE!!!!! I am so excited and nervous :oops: but can't wait to give it a try!!
Thanx for doing all this Klue!! Hope you are feeling better :D

I can't wait to get started!

How exciting!!! I can't wait!! Thanks again for taking this on, Klue!! :D
I can't wait to order my fabric!!

its going to be lots of fun and there's plenty of time to add some of these things to your christmas wish list.

A really big thank you for organising this. It is appreciated.

Well I am tentatively dipping my toe in the water and will say I am going to give it a try.

I have a lot of asian fabrics and I just love working with them. Poor Jane would probably turnover at the sound of this. :? However I think it would look different, most definately different and I really would enjoy using these fabrics. What do you think. Am I pushing it one step toooooo far?

Elle

There are a couple of pictures in the Dear Jane book of quilts made with Asian fabrics. They are lovely.

Oh thats good to know, I don´t have the book only the software and some of those are really gorgeous. There I was thinking I was going to be the first to have this idea LOL

Elle

asian fabric would be great.

all the indigo fabric in my blocks and triangles are going to be japanese indigo.

That sounds like it a plan then.

CLue, for those of us who are new to the DJ blocks, could you please explain what't so special about the ruler, and what the software provides over the book?

Thanks bunches.

i like the rulers mainly for the large triangle - it makes it easy to square up the pieced triangles and kites. the small 5 inch squaring ruler is nice but most of us already have squaring rulers that have that size on it.

the small 5 inch ruler does have a small 2-2.5 section that helps in squaring the blocks along the way and some people might not own squaring rulers in the 2.5 inch range.

the book is really a "day type journal" about the author of the book and contains very little information about jane, the quilt maker.

it only has line draws of the blocks and nothing about how to put the blocks together or how to put together the quilt.

if you use the book to make a quilt you will have to trace out all the blocks/triangles/kites so that you can make them or scan them into your computer and then scale to size.

the book also has very few pics of the actual quilt and blocks.

the software has tips on how to put together blocks/triangles/kites along with the templates, rotary cutting, and paper piecing patterns for all blocks/triangles/kites along with numerous variations of many blocks. you're able to design your own quilt in the software and it will tell you how much of each fabric that you need.

here's a link to the software which will give you more information then i possible could.

http://www.electricquilt.com/shop/dearjane/dj.asp

Klue...so glad to see this finally up! You know I'm in!

Elle, the Asian fabs sound very interesting and I'm sure will look wonderful! What background will you be using?

Yikes!!! We start triangles the 1st week!! :shock: :shock: I ummm, better get busy learning how to do them! :lol:

yes, i had to start right away with the triangles and we still end up with having to do nothing but triangles and kites in the very last couple of weeks.

I am in and can't wait.

moda is coming out with a Civil War Reproduction line if any one is interested in that here's a link to see the prints


http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/Item...ar%20Homefront

The Moda line is making me drool all over... :roll: I need to go to Whittles.... :wink:

whittles has a lot of "civil war" type fabric and you just can't beat their prices.

klue- what do you think is a good estimate on the over-all cost if I purchase fabric around $9.00 a yd? Would it be around $171.00? That sounds too low. It would be a king, maybe queen if we downsize our next mattress for our small room.

I'm all ready for it to commence! Still practiceing my software. For a dummy, some of it is not to clear but I'm trying. Doing cream colored muslin and scrappy. Going to be fun!!!!

i designed my quilt in the software and soup to nuts (not including a back but it does include the sashing, scallop border, and the binding) it says i should buy about 25 yards of fabric.

so if you went with that estimate you're looking at $225 or so in fabric costs.

i think the software is easier if you are already used to EQ (its really just EQ lite).

if you've never worked with EQ its best to do the exercises that come with the Dear Jane Software Book (its included with the software purchase).

Wow here we gooooooooo! This is gonna be great!

Kelly - thank you so much for putting this together! I'm going to print out the lists and study them hard! I think I have a good start on things, but we'll see.

I plan to use all modern prints for my colors, although I will say my off-white I've chosen is a bit old-school. Still pretty though.

Let the games begin! and KLue - you are amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! :!:

I'm in! I'll be doing my Jane in batiks & muslin.

Jan

If we are not sure if we're adding the triangles to our quilt, can we do those in the end? I have a 2.5 inch acrylic but I'm thinking that the larger triangle ruler will be a must. I'm doing a scrappy 30s (eventually :lol: ).

Wouldn't you know I am new to EQ and have misplaced my software book! I'm tearing the house apart looking for it.
RETRO

I would love to join in, just don't know if I have the focus to last that long in doing it.

At the moment I can't afford any of the supplies either, The fabric I could probably use what I have, but no rulers or software or pattern.

I'm excited.

Thanks Klue for organizing this. You have done a wonderful job.

Elle the Asian fabrics sound great.

I have been buying fabric here and there. It's now time to take an inventory. :-)

ai731 aka Jan: I am also using batiks. I just love them. I have a neutral batik for the background.

I am going to do the blocks in around the world color placement. I may change the size of my blocks to make a queen size quilt. The software is great for this.

you can make the quilt without the triangles - its your quilt so you can make it any way you like - every one is welcome to join regardless of the way they wish to make their Jane.

i'm not a jane purist so you'll see through out the year that i'll redraft blocks to make them more user friendly - i have no problem adding or removing seams to make the blocks/triangles easier.

i think the triangle ruler is good to have but the little square ruler isn't necessary.

you might be able to make the triangle ruler yourself if your handy and have template material.

the only things that are a "must" is fabric (which you have) and either the book or the software.

you could check and see if your library has the book or you can put up a post on this forum looking to make a trade for the book/software or maybe someone has the book and will let you borrow it.

i don't have the book, i just check it out of our library when i want to look at it otherwise i would let you borrow it.

i love that about the software too - you can scale up or down with a click of the mouse.

the quilt would be beautiful on a bed.

oooh I do, Klue. You're so good. I'll have to take a close look at one because the online DJ triangle rulers look pretty complicated. I've really not even checked out the actual triangles because I wasn't going to do them or do larger solid triangles of print fabric every other one and the kites....but then I saw one that had white on white triangles and I thought hmmm that would work. Thank you so much for setting this sew along up for us!!!
:D

I am not near a library, and I hope to be moving next summer (but who knows) Maybe if I try it I will get it going and done faster. if I have the right information I might be able to swing the blocks faster than that and have it done.

We will have to see what the new year brings, I know a few that are going to try,

I think a squaring up ruler/square is very helpful - for whatever size square that one chooses to make.

It has taken me a bit to get used to the markings on the 5 inch dear jane ruler.

Haven´t got a clue what the background will be I thought white as I can match that up easily as I go along and I don´t have to spend loads all at once. I am going through my asian fabrics petting them at the moment.
:D

I would definitely like to join this cyber block party. I will purchase the software shortly. I'm still contemplating my fabric choices. :D

Thanks, klue. I figured I was too low on cost. Still not sure if I will join this one or not. I will be lurking either way. So much fun to see you all getting so excited and planning.