does anyone have the Electric Quilt Dear Jane Software?

do you like it? have you used it to help make a DJ?

i just got the DJ book from the library and i'm very underwhelmed by the content.

the book is more like a Day Journal with line drawings - no content on assembly, design, etc.

I have it and have used it to do 50+ blocks so far. It makes it much easier than trying to do them from the book.

have you done any of the blocks by paper piecing? i've skimmed thru the book and a vast majority could be tackled this way.

Try the dear jane webstie
www.dearjane.com
There are several tips/hints on block assembly.
HTH

I am very interested to see what others say, as I have bought the software but haven't had time to try it yet. Thanks for bringing this up.
Sharon

KLUEDESIGNS SAID:

"i just got the DJ book from the library and i'm very underwhelmed by the content.

the book is more like a Day Journal with line drawings - no content on assembly, design, etc."

[/quote]

Uh-huh

i've been to the site too and the tips section is lacking on many levels also. i don't think a DJ has to be this hard its almost as if she doesn't want anyone to make one without having to struggle at every step.

The software has hints on making the blocks. and Klue you are correct a lot of the blocks can be paper pieced. The book is good for reference, but the software makes it easier to make each block. I can't imagine making a DJ with out the software.

thats what i'm thinking too.

i going to pick some of the line drawings from the book and paper piece them to see how that goes.

lucky for me i'm not a novice to paper piecing because the book doesn't help you in any way with a numbering ordering of the fabric pieces.

to all

i'm not trying to bash the book its just nothing like i expected.

if you like reading blogs you'd like the book - its basically the author blog in a book. its a daily journal covering what ever chatter she wants to talk about and she addresses each entry to Jane.

i was looking for a book that would help me make a DJ quilt and i was just surprised that there isn't one on the market.

I just bought Sylvia's Bridal Sampler book with all the patterns and a lot of them look the same. need to check into it more, but they are6" blocks and I think the Dear Jane are only 4", not sure. There are 140 different blocks in this book.

according to the book the DJs are 4.5 finished

I also have the software, but haven't had much time to play with it yet. Looks like you need some time to go through their examples.

they have it at joann's online for under $40.

does anyone know if you can use the coupons on software - that would be a total score to get it at half off.

Hi Klue: I just bought the software and I feel the same about it as you do the book. It shows fabric sizes need for blocks and 'block tips', but no step by step instruction as to how to piece together. I emailed the company and they responded with what I already knew.

I am very disappointed and would not purchase this had I known that it was lacking in this information. I was actually thinking about purchasing the book, hoping that assembly instructions would be there. Sounds like I won't be doing that either.....

ninnie

i was just looking at the sylvia book online and its definitely in the same vain as jane.

is this a historical quilt? i've never heard of this one before now.

thats a shame because unlike a book you can't return opened software.

i really don't know why the author won't let this stuff out. i guess she just wants everyone to either struggle or take her classes to make one.

when i start making the blocks i'm going to take photos and put it up on the internet.

Klue do you have to have EQ to use this software?

Here is a review of the software.

http://www.planetpatchwork.com/DearJane.htm

No it is a stand alone software.

But with all this talk , maybe I will install it this weekend and see what it is like !?! LOL I only have two projects to finish this weekend :?

thanks for the link to a review

if any of you want to do a swap for your DJ software please let me know

It began in a fictional work, The Master Quilter, which I believe was the 6th book in the series of The Elm Creek Quilts. I have not read any of the books , ut loved the quilt. the author, Jennifer Chiaverini, She then enlisted the help of 72 of her quilting friends to make the quilt that was in her novel. Now there is a pattern for the quilt.! I don't know much more about it, except there is a online group called . The SBS Offline Quilters! Haven't visited the site yet though.

I just love the old fashioned look of it and hope to start it this winter, doing as many as I can on the machine and the others by hand. I'm sure it will be a on again, off again project to work n between other things! :wink: The book has 140 blocks and gives both machine and jpaper piecing instructions and templates.

Klue, when I went to the Dear Jane site, I found the same as everyone else, which was why i bought the other book. I would love to make a quilt like this, right up my alley. the only thing is the difference in the size of the blocks, It only takes 140 for this one, which is good, however I like the look of the smaller blocks.Oh well, I guess you can't have everything! I have a book of 4" blocks, it has 501 in it and I guess I could use it, but don't like them as well! LOL

that quilt is really nice and i'm going to check my library to see if they have it.

i plan on starting my DJ after the new year and i'm going to make a photo journal of the piecing process.

I kind of like the idea of making a "Dear ME" quilt -
using conventional blocks and making up others as I go along -
4.5 inches works well for blocks that divide into thirds -
6 inches would give a lot of flexibility for fairly easy drafting -

It seems reasonable to think that the Dear Jane blocks were hand-pieced.

I am very glad for your comment for now I know I don't want to waste money on the software if it doesn't give the piecing instruction. As for the book someone gave me a copy. Now I know why (I haven't looked through it throughly yet).

Klue, once you get started on your Dear Jane, I think you will find both the book and the software a necessity (Joann's is where I found the best price on the software).

I use the Dear Jane EQ software to print the paper-piecing patterns, but I use the book more for the pieced and appliqued blocks. The author of the Dear Jane book drafted the blocks to size and gives helpful hints about constructing the blocks, but it's up to each person to decide the best way for them to do each individual block. Dear Jane might be a difficult project for a beginner because designs are not explained in detail; but for a more experienced quilter, it's very interesting and challenging.

i don't see how this book is helpful in any way for making a quilt let alone a DJ quilt.

its usless to the beginner or intermediate and the advanced quilter doesn't need the book because i have to draft all the patterns myself anyway.

it's not a "how to" book on either making a quilt or learning a technique.

I wonder if it was meant to be a "how to" book - or as you said earlier - sort of a "blog" as she tried to recreate the blocks for herself

i agree she never wanted to do a "how to" she wants you to take her class.

if you want to make a DJ you don't need the book at all - the software with its limitations is more useful then the book.

if you want to read the random chatter of this author then buy the book.

I was surprised at the lack of info in the book also. I ended up with the software too. I like the book as a reference for the block and the software for the patterns so I don't have to draw them all out. The software can get very involved-like the EQ6. I just use the patterns and don't deal with the "fabrics" and planning. I'm not very good at following directions so the lack of them isn't a problem for me. I'm just starting -have 6 blocks finished and I started with the "beginners". So far they are all hand pieced but I know I'll give that up and move to the machine soon. There is a small group at our guild that are working on the DJ. They gave themselves 7 years. :wink:

There is a wonderful website that will help you with the construction questions:
http://thatquilt.blogspot.com/

She has an index on the lower right of each block, which takes you to a brief (but thorough) photo-illustrated blog entry on construction.

Hope that helps!
Janet

Janet, it's a good site but if people prefer not to use reverse applique, they won't find the assistance they're looking for.

Check out the hints on the original dj site if you need assistance. There are several programs that can guide you through it if you are not able to look at a block & immediately understand how it was constructed...but if you prefer to find some free advice, add yourself to the listserve there. A good number of people who have completed the quilt respond to individuals looking for advice, regardless of skill level.

The same here , have the book and software but haven't started. 8-)

skothing, it's a great project & regardless of your skill level, you will learn something making it. I've learned A LOT...it's been a really fun year. Now I have to put it all together for this fall and am dragging my feet.

you all crack me up...the DJ is NOT a hard quilt to make...the blocks are pretty basic...many, many people made them long before the Software came out..and many still are making them with NO software, no tools..just the book!

It is no different than the Farmer's wife book,or the nearly insane, or Jane Austin...they all have NO directions, they are meant for the more experienced quilter I suppose!

as for not being able to make them even with the software..well..how much more instruction do you need? if you know how to paper piece, that is all you need. The pieces are tiny, but pretty self explanatory when it comes to putting "A" with "B"...etc...the ONLY thing I found was that some of the blocks printed off backwards..meaning the right side should have been the back side so when the block was done it was going in the right direction..but that was really minor!

you can join the DJ yahoo group and research their archive where they give FULL details and hints, tips, etc on doing each block and tri...

wow..you really know so little about Brenda and how the DJ got started...Brenda NEVER knew this book would become the international phenomenon that it has become! She wrote the book after falling in love the REAL quilt that is in a museum. The book is more the history of Jane Stickle and not a "how-to" really!

Brenda did not teach classes on the DJ until years after the book was out and QUILTER'S begged her to teach the class.

WE the public of quilter's took the book, made the quilt and started what has become a "cult" as some call it, of quilter's around the world who share the common bond that is a love for this quilt and ALL that one learns from making it!

Perhaps you need to take the book back to the library, it is clear you would not be happy trying to make this quilt!

NO it is not..you have to have EQ5 or newer for it to work!

No you don't I didn't have any of the EQs but the Dear Jane one and it works just fine