please let me know if this works either way.

if it doesn't we'll figure the problem out don't worry

Klue...you're the best.

Klue,
Thank you so much for your patience. I'll try that today. I may have set the blocks to 6 at some point by accident....I am afterall a clueless newbie to DJ and EQ6.
Thank you thank you thank you!
RETRO

Thank you Lugo

One question. Can I email a pattern? (to myself because my printer is at the office)[/quote]

yes, but you have to install this free software first. its the printer interface that will appear as a printer option in the Dear Jane Software once you install it.

it will read something like doPDF as a print option when you click on the down arrow next to properties.

a PDF file will open on your computer instead of printing the pattern. just save the file with the name and email it.

here's the link to the free software download

http://download.cnet.com/doPDF-Free-...html?tag=mncol[/quote]

Thanks again.
OMG!! What would we do with out you.

I came across this DJ Design Wall and downloaded the html for it. I can't get it to work. I've gone over the directions several times, edited it to include my m8.jpg file but it just shows that tiny Windows picture icon, not the actual picture of my block.

I would love to put this on my blog if I could get it to work. Can any get it working or know of another way to fill in the blocks like this?

http://www.smastbrook.net/dj/djvdw.htm

don't you have the DJ software?


this program is built right into the software.

follow the scanning directions (in the software) on how to save the file back into the DJ program.

then you can export that quilt layout to your blog.

lol... that program has EVERYTHING! Now if it could just cut and sew. :lol:

Thank you.

to find the program in the software.

1) open the DJ software

2) click on "Dear Jane Home" on the left side of the screen

3) click on "my jane journey" top of screen

4) click on "my block chart" top left

5) a pop up window will open. it has the quilt layout ready for you to upload the pics.

click on "directions for using my block chart"

it will tell you step by step how to scan and upload the pics into the software.

Go for it!!

I have two machines..but my sewing room can no longer hold two people at the table! We could find a way to make it work though! Or I could bring my machine to your house! Hell, you could also sign up for the sewing day at Cotton patch with me on 1/29, from 1:30 - 10:00 and we could work on our blocks, plus whatever else you want to work on. I'm going to be there...I think you would enjoy all the ladies - it's lots of fun.

I'd love to go to a sewing day. I don't know if my sewing room will hold 2 people either. I have two tables and two machines, my new Viking and my old Kenmore. I was thinking the dining table but I hate my cafe height table. Maybe that's incentive to get it replaced!

Thanks Klue, I found it and got my scan added. I will also start the Journal.

Sorry got the wrong pics will start again

THANK YOU Klue, I knew there must have been a way, I was missing out the Options tab, not noticing it - it works a treat, when you know how!

My redraft for I9

Here is the first redraft done with my cut down method. I am concentrating on making it easier to piece and not on how big the left overs are. The bigger the swatch the easier it is to recycle the leftover piece. Plus I used a lot of the left over pieces back into the DJ as I built my sections.

The cut down method means you use large swatches sewn together and then cut down to the size you want it to be. This means you don't have to handle teeny tiny pieces.

As the nature of these blocks are small you will still have an occasional tiny part that has to be handled but they will be few and far between.

I have taken the picture printed it off and cut it into sections. There is the center / the flying geese/ and the Triangles
There are 5 sections to build.

I tried not to use any more pics than needed so if you have a question feel free to ask. I didn't show each and every step because that would have been over 50 pics. Some steps I think we all know how to do.

Starting on the center section

Cut a swatch of the white and the dark. Sew them together
Trim the white from the seam at 1" plus a hair(just a slight bit more)
Sew another dk onto the opposite side and continue to add borders to this white block
Lay your ruler so you can trim 1/4" from the corners.
You should have a 1 5/8" square in a square.

Add the white strips now
and trim at the corners
to get a 2 1/8" Sq in a Sq

Sorry my camera is dying I think and the pics are not as good as I would like. I hope to get a new camera this next week and the pics should be better.

excellent!

isn't it wonderful that we can sit in our own sewing rooms thousands of miles away from each other and we can still help and inspire each other.

My DJ software keeps crashing! Should I remove it and reinstall? It's when I'm trying to work in the TR2 triangle.

Next add the navy strips and repeat the trimming at the corners
You should have a 2 7/8" Sq in a Sq

Now on to the Flying Geese sections
You will repeat these steps for 4 Flying Geese and each section
has two Fllying Geese in it. If you have a favorite way to make these FGs then feel free to use that instead.

You might notice that the bottom of the white triangle is not as wide as the original but I couldn't seem to work out how to get it to do that. Mine are not off that much and I don't think it is too noticable.

Start by cutting a white swatch and 2 dk strips for borders
Add these two to 2 sides of the white. You can cut a square white piece so as to have a straight edge to sew to.
You can sew 2 more borders on the other two sides and you will be able to cut out two FGs out of this unit.

Now use your ruler and position it so you measure 1 3/8" from the point of the white triangle. Make sure your lines on the ruler line up straight with the triangle lines(seams)
Trim it down to the 1 3/8"

no, just close the program out. when you open it again it will ask do you want to use the backup - say NO.

start a brand new session and everything should be fine.

You will need to trim the FGs on each side of the triangle so you have a 1/4" seam allowance on each side.

In the first picture you can see the FG section as I have it trimmed.
Then add both FG sections to the center section.

Now on to the last section the Triangles Corners

Sew a light and dark together and using the corner of your ruler cut a square as if you were cutting a Half Square Triangle block but you only need two sides cut.

Trim it to 1 1/8" from one edge. Add a dk strip to one side.
Add the other dk strip.
You can see in the pics where these strips go.

Trim the sides by lining your ruler up with the center triangles as in the pic below. Then continue to trim all three sides.

My section is straighter than it appears here. It wouldn't lay flat so it looks crooked but it wasn't.

Now add the white strips the same way as you did the dk ones.
Trim only the long strip at the bottom.
Make sure you don't trim the other sides as we will trim them after the block is all together.
Trim the bottom strip to 7/8" from the seam

Now to sew on your Triangle corners line up the point of the little white triangle with the corner of the center Sq and pin the two together. I laid the white tri corner(folded back) so it touched the corner of the Sq and if you lay the Tri section flat it should line up with the edges together and your points should be line with each other. You can check this by placing a pin sideways where the seam will go and open it up as if it were a seam and see where your points are. Then if you need to adjust you can move it slightly to realign them if needed.

Sew the two Tri sections onto the center section.

Now line your ruler up to the last FG on each end and trim the edge. I laid my ruler on the Block to see where I needed to cut. So center you block within a 5" x 5" square on your ruler and make sure you are going to come out the way it is supposed to look. If it is off then you need to do some trouble shooting to fix things if needed.

Now trim all 4 sides this way and you will have a perfect 5" size block.

Trouble shooting

When you put the center and the FGs together you may need to trim the sides of the completed unit. Trim the FGs to match the center Sq in a Sq.

If you end up with a joined section not the size it needs to be which I did then you can tighten a seam by running another seam inside that seam.

My center was way too long. I measures against the picture I printed out to make sure I was getting the right size of every section as I went. So my center was too long. I went back and shortened all the seams and it came closer to being right.

Make sure you take time to measure as you build your sections. It will prevent a lot of frustration.

Any questions just ask! Thanks Rhonda

thank you rhonda!!

that block looks fantastic and it a great alternative to paper piecing.

I need to finish my N/D DQ and then I will get the other two done and posted here. I don't plan to do the triangles but I will do as many of the blocks that will work with my methods.

Thanks for letting me be a part of this Klue. I looked at my DJ block I just made and I thought what can I do with this. And I thought put a border around it and I can use it in a coin purse or makeup bag!! So someone down the road may get this block as a purse with a Doll Quilt! LOL

I also can see the center section as a bookmark! I am going to do a few of those I think when I get time.

plus they make nice coasters or just a cute little treat to hang on the wall.

I have four or five "rejects" from both the christmas swap and the blue and whites, plus a couple of trial blocks for colour. I like the idea of bookmarks, but mine are going to be coasters. There's always a use, even for the rejects! :-)

Wonderful tutorial Rhonda! I'm not using it now as I already finished those blocks, but I want to try this method down the road. You are such a wonderful teacher! We are lucky on this board to have so many talented folks!

M8 DONE WITH THE CUT DOWN METHOD

There are 29 pictures so be patient while I load them. Thanks

The cut down method means you sew pieces together and then cut them down to size.
Accuracy is extremely important in this size of block. So measure along the way to make sure you are on track.
Straight seams are a must. Tho some of mine are not as straight as they could be. A slight variance can make a differance when working with miniatures.

Do here we go!

First you will see the block seperated into the differant sections

The sections are the 9 patch center / the corners / and the borders

9 PATCH CENTER

Cut strips about 3" x 2" I cut mine longer and wider because I like to have alittle extra to prevent coming up short.

Sew one dk to one med. Trim the med to 3/4"
Sew on the other dark to the med.

Cut into 2 sections

Sew on a med swatch on the cut edge of one of the sections

Lay the second section on the med strip and fold it back to match up the seams. Pin in place. And sew. Iron the seams open

Trim the dk sides to 1 1/4" from the seam. Continue to trim all 4 corners.

CORNERS


Cut med and dk strips and sew them together.
Trim the center strip to 3/4"
Sew on a third dk strip. Open and iron all seams flat

Cut the strips into 4 sections approx 2" from top to bottom

Sew a section on two opposite sides

Match up the seams and lay your ruler on it to check to make sure your seams are all straight. it is easier to fix something now than later. Refer to the troubleshooting I posted on the first block above if you need to fix a seam.

Trim all the sides to 1 1/4" from the seam.

After you have all 4 sides sewn on

Trim them to 1 1/4" from the seam

Now you need 4 swatches for the tip of the corner. Cut them about 2" by 3"

Sew a swatch onto each corner

Lay your ruler on the block so the line on the ruler is laying on the edges of the dk in the corners

Trim along the edge. Repeat on both opposite edges and then the other two edges. Check to see if your block is square as you cut.

This is just something that struck me funny as I cut this.

This cut makes it look like a fish to me or a Christmas Tree if you turn it upright!! LOL

Bet you never thought a DJ would make a good Christmas tree all by itself!

Here you can see the sides cut.

I like to check against the printed block to make sure I am getting the size right. Lay the block on the paper version and fold back the edge to make sure the point of the corner matches the point on the paper version.

You can do this with any of the steps.