Please tell me how, Dear Jane!
 

I've been quilting for at least 30 years and I remember thinking when I began that if Barbara Johanna hadn't written her book about fast piecing, I'd have never gotten into quilting. I couldn't bring myself to use templates.
All these years later, I'm savvy like most of us with rotary and ruler. So, I really feel like a dumbhead asking this BUT...is each pattern in the Dear Jane book done by tracing templates onto plastic (or whatever) and then tracing those on the material, as in the old days?

There was a challenge quilt about two years ago out on the Internet called Pinwheel something or other and it had all these lovely blocks made of different size stars/pinwheels. Each block had a different size star and I just sat there stumped. Did they really want me to use a template? Project stalled....

So, give me the bad news...do we have to go to templates to do these small sampler type blocks?

Great questions....I am watching for answers too.

Yep.
The book doesn't really have any quilting instructions.

It just contains a color (fabric) picture of each block along with an outline drawing showing all the different patches (no seam allowances included).
Oh, and Brenda's treacly (semi-coherent) ramblings to a dead woman.:p

You decide on the piecing method.
So you have to trace (mylar, freezer paper, vellum) the pieces or block, depending on if you want to foundation piece, rotary cut, applique, reverse applique, etc.

Instead of buying the book, you might consider getting the (stand alone) software
http://www.amazon.com/Electric-Quilt-Companys-Design-Software/dp/B002XNWLJ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=135121790

FYI - if you buy a used copy, there are NO issues as far as installing the software, even if it was previously registered.

Gives you many more options for printing.

I'm half way through one DJ and have started another with a group on this board and haven't made a template yet unless you count using freezer paper for some of the blocks that are appliqued. Most of us, but not all of us, have the Dear Jane CD and print out the patterns from that. A lot of us also go to the "that quilt" site for tips and how-tos on some of the blocks. Browze through the thread and join us! Here it is: http://www.quiltingboard.com/blocks-...n-t175669.html

Hi, Leigh! I'm fortunate to have a scanner to put the Dear Jane diagrams into my computer. Then I put freezer paper onto a piece of regular printer paper and print the block diagram onto that!

FP makes it just so much easier and more accurate. Here is a good tutorial when you don't have to sew through the paper: http://www.twiddletails.com/store/in...age=page&id=21

I have the book (Amazon.com-slightly used/no prob) and also invested in the EQ DJ software as I had decided after getting the book that I wanted the make those squares at 6". The software is great as far as adjusting the size and also gives you the choices of template, paper piecing, applique printouts.......has really helped to clarify some of those blocks.....btw, I started out gung ho, but now it is getting nearer to the UFO stack............

I got the book first and realized, like you that I need to make templates, not going to happen. Bought the software and SO glad I did. Just print on paper if paper piecing or put on freezer paper or whatever and go to it. I have enjoyed the process but I wasn't interested in making myself crazy.

Another available easy option is to iron the fabric to freezer paper, and then print the templates DIRECTLY on the fabric (a la Inklingo).

Most? Many? of the blocks have symmetrical designs so with majority of the blocks it wouldn't matter if you printed the templates on the wrong side of the fabric (without flipping them)

I can't recall if the DJ software did that or not (although you could do it via your printer if has those capabilities).

I am in the group with katybob (she does fabulous work by the way). I have the book and the CD...love the flexibility of it! I can't imagine all of the math involved if you wanted to do larger/smaller blocks or different sashing. Oh my!

Many blocks can be paper pieced and the CD is well worth it...at least for my sanity. You can also print templates (instead of creating them) if you need them. I English Paper Piece a lot of the blocks so I often print the whole block on cardstock and cut it up. Voila, ready to baste to my fabric.

Feel free to join our group at any time. Some started in January and some started last week with everything in between.

Good luck. :)

I tried it...I can't get the blocks to come out the same size! I gave up on it. I have soft ware and the book.