Here you go: :D

http://www.dearjane.com/

This is about a quilt made by a woman named Jane A. Stickle that she finished in 1863. I believe the quilt is in the Bennington Museum, Bennington, Vermont.

A woman named Brenda Manges Papadakis has written a book called "Dear Jane" which is an homage to the quilt and quiltmaker.

Brenda writes "letters" to Jane as she explores the quilt. Brenda has taught quite a few classes making these blocks and she calls the quilts based on this quilt "Baby Janes" - or maybe it's the blocks she calls "Baby Janes"

There are 169 small blocks in the quilt itself, and 60 pieced triangles in the border (14 on each side and one in each corner) that are each different.

I don't know what the finished size of the original quilt is. I think it's quite large. There are photos of different sized quilts in the book that have been made using the blocks - some mimic the original and some makers have totally original concepts.

It's basically a sampler quilt made with blocks that vary from 3 to 5 inches in size, but they appear to have been "framed" with muslin to get them to be about the same size. then there is a very narrow sashing between each block.

The scalloped border is spectacular.

Here is a picture of the Dear Jane Quilt.

[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uAI_9RibNE...Jane+Quilt.jpg[/img]

Oh thank you both so much. I just love to know the historical background!

I did see a picture of it in my search but wondered if it means that when quilters make it, they always copy it exactly as is?

It looks like a really big project. I'll enjoy reading all about it now.

you don't have to make the quilt exactly - it can be a sampler.

the author of the Dear Jane Book has never made the entire quilt, she only does samplers of the original quilt made by jane.

whenever some one make a quilt based on the original it is called a Baby Jane, regardless if its 100% accurate or a sampler.

you can use reproduction fabrics or any fabrics that suit your tastes - its your Baby Jane and you can make all the design decisions.

Just started my DJ quilt this week. I've had the book for a while. Traced all the patterns on freezer paper and will be hand piecing and quilting the whole thing. I figure in about 10 years I'll have a picture to post.

i hope i'll still be here to see the pic :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol:you're still ahead of me!

I hope you won't leave the forum. You've already joined in many threads and I'm sure, since you've been quilting for 10 years, can give us lots of help and encouragement. My Dear Jane group found your site (That quilt) at our June meeting and hope to get help there with our blocks. We found it to be very informative.

Twiddletails,
Sorry I couldn't post sooner . . . but, I hope you stay. I found your blog to be quite interesting and appreciated the information you shared there and could share here as well. :)
Maribeth