I can't remember if it was you or possibly Sandpat that posted the preferred batting to use on the original thread I started in October?? I have looked over the entire thread ...obviously missing only that particular post! If it was you can you tell me what the batting was? I'm going to Road to California on Friday and would love to buy it...
Thanks!
Monica

and - still have not found the connector to transfer pics :( if it doesn't show up soon I'm buying another!

I wanted to post a couple of pointers for the first 3 blocks. They are quite straight forward. I did not paper piece or foundation piece B4. Whenever possible I use a small 6 1/2" square ruler to determine what size I should cut all pieces - there are so few of them! at least so far.... I line up two sides with the 1/4" mark and cut pieces accordingly.

A note about measuring... I have found that if I place the 1/4" mark my ruler 'against' rather than 'on top of' a sewing line, I end up with a few more threads of width -- just enough to make up for the thickness of the thread and my sewing. Be sure to test what 1/4" is on your machine on a regular basis. It tends to change a little every time you have it serviced and sometimes even when you change thread or needles I have found. One of my LQS owners says you should sew a few strips together that are 1 1/2" wide and make sure that the center strip ends up 1" wide when you do so to check for the perfect 1/4" seam. I'm lazy I admit - I just check the measurement of the first pieces on the project I am working on, if I have to do it over again - oh well. But if it is right the first time - why should I waste time trying it with something else??

Getting back to B4...
I measured each piece with my ruler and added them to the sides of the center 3" square, centering each successive strip. I pressed each time a section was complete all the way around the square -- remember PRESS = straight up and down - no stretching of fabric allowed by moving your iron back & forth - you do not iron. When I had added a light strip to the square all the way around, I checked to make sure it measured correctly - such that the next 1/4" seam to the dark fabric left the right width light band - [1/4"] and so forth. A little extra work - but the result is well worth it!

Here are my blocks. I'm doing civil war fabrics. Love the look of it so far. These little blocks are very addictive.

You all have beautiful blocks!

Just found this thread, how exciting. I hope to catch up this weekend and get the blocks started. What fun!!

gus, don't know who posted about the batting. but i'll add my two cents. i don't believe the orginal DJ in vermont had batting. please don't ask me how i know this. the vt musuem said 'no touching'. does a pencil eraser count?
for my dear jane, and i know several other ladies did this also. we used polyester, the thinest of whatever we could find. mine was very thin. sorry, can't tell you the name brand or etc. it was something i usually don't use.

the orginal DJ was in 'near new condition'. i don't believe she had ever been used. you would not believe the workmanship. every corner met perfectly. every point was perfect. sometimes it looked like the pieces were all one piece. her workmanship was just out of this world. i don't believe there was any square any place on that quilt that had a slight imperfection. there were a couple age spots on it. and for the life of me, i don't know why they didn't have a restorer clean it. i am a firm believer in oxy clean. i have used that on several saved vintage tops. and it just works wonders. i don't believe this would have hurt the orginal DJ at all.
and you would not believe all the different prints and colors that were available during the civil war. they matched anything we have now. i was just blown away. if i didnot know better i would have thought it had been made last week.

oh my, all my old subsriptions are there. thx gus. my life is 'good' again.

sewNso, when did you visit the quilt? What an awesome trip to take!

sewNso - Tymetoshine sent me the name of the batting - Quilter's Dream :)
I will check it out when I go to the quilt show Friday.

The thing about Civil War fabrics is interesting... there was little $$ during the war to purchase or even produce much more than was already available. But in the years prior to the Civil War British Mills in particular produced an overwhelming selection of cotton fabric of the purist dyes. They are absolutely astounding!! As soon as the war began, women had to make money and keep their minds occupied so they turned to sewing. Towards the end and shortly after the war the fabrics became more drab because they used old garments, often the uniforms of fallen soldiers, etc. and not much fabric was purchased during the war years - so when the beautiful collections that were imported were used up - you see drab....

This makes me re-think mine... I guess I will have a few 'postbellum' blocks because although I like what I have - it is drab!

we went to vermont in oct. 2011. we were afraid to go because of all the flooding, but stayed on the main highways, so all was good. the orginal DJ was on display until the l5th of oct. i believe. some orginal jane pic's on flicker. under sewNso1 . not good at licks.

Thanks, sewNso. I found your flickr page here http://www.flickr.com/photos/6885328...th/6263733847/
I love the close-ups of the quilt in your pictures. One thing that has bothered me in the software is that the basket block J-12 shows as sideways. In your pic, though, it is right-side-up. I'm assuming that your pics are showing with the way the quilt is hung. I love the fabric in triangle RS-7... it looks like tiny little teddy bear faces. The original fabrics are very interesting, indeed. Some of the blocks are a tad wonky and a few of the points are off, but it is still truly amazing work. Thanks for sharing those pics of the original close up :thumbup: