That is a beautiful quilt and I love the story. That is so awesome that someone found it waaaay away from Vermont and sent it to a museum there.
The quilt is very much out of my league at present. I don't even think of ever doing anything like that. I can enjoy looking at it and thinking about how patient and meticulous Jane (and all you fabulous & experienced quilters on this board) were/are to make this quilt.

beautiful just beautiful, that's it, I am going to make one even if it will take me years!

I just recently began a dear Jane quilt top. I have done 19 blocks so far. Here is a link to mine:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-134067-2.htm

38 ufo's...get back in that sewing room and don't come out til your finished !!!!! wouldn't that be nice being sent to your sewing room

Problem is Dotti every time I go to my sewing room, I take out all my UFOs, look at them, then I put them away because:" oh this is an awful pattern, color, block etc, what was I thinking?" and then I start a new project......

[quote=thebooklady27]I also had the patterns forever, I had purchased a notebook full of printed patterns, plus the softwear and the book from a lady that had given up on it. Everytime I looked at those teeny templates I freaked out and put it all away again. Then I noticed while playing with the software one day that many of the patterns could be printed out for paper piecing.... and that changed everything for me. So I designed a semi-Dear Jane with squares on point and used a pattern for the border that I had seen on Linda Franz's version of the DJ. There are 211 four and a half inch squares in my quilt, plus side triangles. I used every DJ pattern that I could in either paper piecing or machine applique and filled in with other paper piecing patterns from here and there. The quilt is about 8 ft square and will be put away as a wedding quilt for my baby grandson. :) So...perhaps if you don't make yourself be locked into replicating the DJ quilt exactly it would be more fun for you to try. You could also make a smaller quilt, make the blocks bigger....just about anything you want. I hope you will try it out, I can truthfully say I had a ball doing the blocks and putting them together in the block by block method allowed me to machine quilt each block intricately and that was fun too. Good luck! ]


this is an absolutely stunning quilt! bravo

:-D :-D

Your quilt is beautiful! Another proof that thinking outside the box is a GREAT idea. I like the setting triangles and your 2 borders - the scallops are beautiful!

I signed up for a block of the month that sent enough fabric to do several square blocks and 2 triangles a month. It lasted for 24 months. I got about 5 months done before going on to something else. The shipments kept coming. Last year after being in the hospital for 3 weeks, I needed a project as a form of mental health therapy, so started on it again. Some days I only did one or two blocks. Some days I did a lot more. I finally got the top put together. I've got the backing but just never get to pin basting the quilt together so I can start quilting it. I will hand quilt this one.

I'm thinking of doing a rainbow jane, or maybe not.

well how about this one mans trash is another mans treasure...why not post them and see if anybody wants to trade, buy or just finish them for u.

Native Texan is so right, the blocks take time. I just purchased a book of Aunt Jane quilts, A Baker's Dozen, by Sandy Klop and I am ready to tackle at least one right after the candlequilter star block is finished. That is the one UFO that will not take a back seat.

if you have Electric Quilt, you can get the Dear Jane CD and that is all you need.

I'm using the Dear Jane CD and I don't have Electric Quilt. It's a stand-alone program.

I have been itching to do a Dear Jane, but would like an accountablity group...preferably in person. I do well with dates and time lines. Anyone in the St. Louis area interested? It would probably be a two year (at least) committment. I am hoping to go to Vermont this Fall and see THE Dear Jane Quilt.

Maybe you could do a DJ block, finish a UFO, do a DJ block, finish a UFO!!!!! I bribe myself all of the time.

http://www.benningtonmuseum.org/search-results.html
The Stickle quilt is displayed every September and October in the Rotating Textile Study Area.

Oh boy, I am not the only one with lots of UFO's. I get bored with one thing or I see something new and go that way. Fabric draws me to something new.

I have just got home from a little Dear Jane group that we have about once a month. We call ourselves Natterjanes. There is no teaching as such, but we all help one another and spur ourselves on. I have been doing my Christmas Baby Jane since 2007, and I have learnt so many techniques !!
www.thatquilt.blogspot.com is a brilliant site and will help enourmously. You can see my design wall by clicking on the link below. I have done 100 blocks and my VERY slow journey is progressing !!
There are so many ladies on here who will encourage you on your journey !!
DottyD.

All I can find is the CD that goes with EQ7. Could you tell me where you found the stand alone program for Dear Jane? Thank you so much.

Many thanks, just ordered it. Should keep me busy for the next one hundred and fifty years.

Aren't you ambitious!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I'm thinking I'll be done sometime in the next millennium. :roll:

I think you are probably closer to the time element than I. Have always wanted to do one of these quilts and I figure if I work in one block a month I might be able to pass it on to my son when I'm older and grayer than I am now

it is a great project to use up tiny scraps. I went to a group that was working on it, and did quite a few, then got off to something else, but it was fun and interesting. I will do more in the future. I have the book and templates, but not software. Good for developing applique skills, and there is a blog somewhere that tells you how to do the blocks, tips and easier ways. Try looking at thatquilt.blogspot.com Great information and pictures.

I have been making a Dear Jane for several years now. I bought the book and the Dear Jane compuer program and am not sorry I did. These blocks are really fun. Some are easy, some are challenging. One day, I will finish the quilt and make it my "heirloom" quilt to be passed down. If you like to make the ultimate sampler quilt, go ahead and invest.

I am in the process of making a Dear Jane quilt. I joined a group that made 5 blocks a month for 4 years. I think it may be the only way to go. Get a group together, that way it inspires you and makes you do the homework. I only have 22 more blocks to make. Can't wait until its done. I have increased my blocks to 6" because at the normal 4 1/2" blocks, it would be too small for my bed. You must have the program to get the templates and paper piecing directions. Most blocks are paper pieced and applique. The book is horrible, the patterns have errors, and sometimes the photos and the directions are different blocks. Good luck.

Oh my gosh - way to much work and time for me. Actually I doubt I'd have the patience to get it done. LOL. I commend any of you who do it tho!

I'm always impressed by the people who take on such a huge endeavor. I don't have it in me to do it, I don't think. Maybe someday :)

I'll be glad when I get it back out and finish as well. Maybe 20 more blocks to go. Not doing the triangles in the border, just the 4-1/2" blocks. Also can't decide on the setting for it. Maybe I should post and ask you what you think would be best - sashings or not!

Can you imagine the journery she was on when she made the quilt? It would be interesting if letters were found about it.

I've always thought it would be such a treat to be able to go back and sit with women quilting. Like during the Civil War, what did they talk about? How did they keep their families together through all the tragedy of losing sons and husbands? Or in Lancaster County in the 1800s. quilting by candlelight. If the quilts could talk, oh what stories could be told. Where did the fabric come from? I must get to work on my time machine, right after I finish my UFOs.

I just started a DJ Blue BOM in May(it runs a course of 24 months) and I am also doing a Kaffe Fassett one as well, yup, you heard right, I am doing 2 of these at the same time, lol couldn't make up my mind on the color way I wanted to do, so I decided to do them both. :P So far I have gotten the first month done, which consits of 8 blocks and 2 triangles (of each colorway). I am going to start month 2 this weekend.

I think the key to doing one of these and actually finishing it is to make sure you set time aside each week to do some blocks.

As for my other UFOs that I have going, well I have about 25 in various stages but I figure if I didn't jump in and start this project then I would never ever get around to doing it, and I really wanted to do this, I think of it as a milestone in my quilting journey.

Some people are just overachievers. Show off. :mrgreen:

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Can you post a pic here of your blocks so far - especially the Kaffe ones? I'd love to see them. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Well I wish you much success. I'm another one who wants to do every BOM I see, well almost, and so its good to know I'm not the only nut. I have three BOM going right now and all twelve patterns for "Ladies of the Sea." That is one that I'm determined to finish as it is the most beautiful quilt I've ever seen.

I believe you are correct when you say that you need to be disciplined and make sure you do work on each BOM each week.

Well instead of sitting here at the computer I should get downstairs and finished the Candlequilter's Star. Of all of my UFOs that is one that will be completed by week's end.