Friday Finish March 16

Hello and welcome to my regularly scheduled Friday blog post!
Today I am sharing some blocks that I did on vacation in Florida.  Yes, beach during the day, of course!  But quiet time at night was taken up with hand applique of the following blocks.

Continuing on with my thoughts in Tuesday's post:  These were like a meditation too.  I had packed up my supplies, and prepared my blocks for freezer paper on the bottom applique before I went to Florida.  Each evening, I would sit under the best light in the hotel room, my simple tools at hand - needle, thread, a few pins, scissors.  Working with white or navy blue thread, do the smallest applique stitch I can manage.  Take out basting stitches, remove freezer paper, and you are done.

Please see dearjane.com for more explanation of the 1863 quilt I am slowly reproducing in blue and white.

Linking up with Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Finished or Not at Busy Hands quilts, and Finish it up Friday at Crazy mom quilts.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

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Tuesday Quilt block April 30

And next in the sequence is a triangle for the border of my Jane Stickle quilt. This one is LS4 - Virginia's kite.

Ah, I see one piece is a little wonky - it must have slid a little while I was appliqueing.  Oh well, better basting in the future.

I used a very bold and beautiful turkey red print for this triangle. I am very close to finishing the piecing of blocks and triangles for this quilt.

I am linking up with Connie at Freemotion by the River and Quilt Story as I do most weeks I have blocks to share. Both blog hops have of pictures of pretty quilt blocks and other projects.

I am on Facebook too: just search for Viridian61.

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Tuesday Quilt Block Jan. 22

The next block in my countdown:

 

One of the "elevenses" - really challenging blocks that seem to be in the 11th column, that I left to near the end.  This is Wagon Wheel, E-11.  I followed Anina's method for this block, which avoids the applique of those tiny melons.  Otherwise I don't know what I would have done.  As it was, I had to turn under the seam allowance on the inside edge of those melons, and my fingers felt very clumsy.  Needle turn was a struggle also.

 

I have been to Bennington and studied the Mother quilt but I do not recall looking closely at this block.  I would like to know if Jane appliqued all those tiny melons, or did a layered technique like Anina!

 

Another thought: will more quilts in the style of Jane Stickle get finished, now that Anina has published hints on all the blocks, triangles, and corners?  Hmm.

 

I am linking up with Connie at Freemotion by the River and with Quilt Story, as I do most weeks I have blocks to share. Both blog hops have of pictures of pretty quilt blocks and other projects.

I am on Facebook too: just search for Viridian61. I post only when I have put up a blog post, and very little else.
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Tuesday Quilt block Jan. 15

For the next few weeks I am going to run down the last few quilt blocks I have made, to hit the magical 169 blocks for the center of the Jane Stickle quilt.

This one is Twin Sister and it is not as bad as some others to come.  However, it does have a number of melons that have to be carefully placed on the background. And they do - I had to undo one I had partially appliqued because it had shifted. And all those wonderful corners to turn.  My method for melons is freezer paper underneath, and turn the seam allowances under.  Then I slit the background fabric and take the freezer paper out. I use a neutral gray silk thread.  It is very thin and fine (but strong!) and blends in with the background of most fabrics that I use.

This blue is a new fabric I ordered and I think it looks great.

I am linking up with Connie at Freemotion by the River and with Quilt Story, as I do most weeks I have blocks to share. Both blog hops have of pictures of pretty quilt blocks and other projects.

I am on Facebook too: just search for Viridian61. I post only when I have put up a blog post, and very little else.
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Hattie's Hen House

Thanks for everyone's comments on past entries on my blocks and triangles in the manner of Jane Stickle.
Following some people's advice, I did buy 'cheaters' or reading glasses, and put them on OVER my current glasses. Wonderful! I can hold my applique work at my normal working distance, not so close that I might poke my cheek with the needle, or hit my eye with the back of my wrist. So I have been pushing ahead with the applique blocks.

I do admit to some continuing eyestrain.  Not nearly as bad as before.

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I have seen the Mother Quilt!

I was able to get to Bennington VT to the Bennington Museum last week, to see The Quilt. I wasn’t able to be there for Brenda’s talk – I do hope someone will tell us about it.
The Quilt is displayed in a gallery upstairs with two antique quilts from the museum collection and a selection of Peace quilts from Haiti. It is on a tilted board (covered with a soft fabric) and displayed behind a rope and under low lighting. Absolutely no flash photography allowed, so I have no digital pics to share.
Here are some observations:
This time, the Quilt is displayed with what we know as the left side at the top. Rebecca’s basket is right side up, and Jane’s signature square is in the lower left.
The corner with the five pointed white star (Longwood): the star is made of a shirting print. I guess this is shown in Brenda’s book but I never noticed it before. The pink five pointed star on this corner appears to be reverse-appliqued.
Triangle BR9 Sue's Garden: the smallest piece near the point of the triangle is appliquéd on, not pieced in. TR6 Carla's Candle Flame shows some fabric bleeding. Also, Jane used dark thread on the top melon and I can see her stitches! I felt close to her then.
Jane did use different background fabrics – at least they aged differently to slightly different shades. And at least one block has pieces of background fabric with a twill weave. (think chinos, or gabardine) Yes I was very close to the Quilt – I tried not to breathe on it or drool on it. I did not touch it though I could have reached out and done so.
In the signature square, 1863 is very obvious. Only in a strong light does one see the thread behind the fabric, linking the numbers.
Hunter’s Moon: I could see the detail on this brown striped print, not nearly as ‘solid’ as I thought.
A number of blocks are smaller than 4.5 inches – in some cases a bit smaller. Jane framed them with white fabric on all 4 sides.
L-10 Nan's Naiad shows up well. The blue fabric is not as pale as I thought. The little triangles are appliquéd of course.
B-12 Starflower really did appear to be reverse appliquéd. I will take heart and do mine the same way.
And most of all: I am AMAZED at the variety of fabric used in this quilt.

World Series B-7

Well, back to the recent blocks. Since I have done Hunter's Moon (A-3), which has 4 melon shaped pieces appliqued to form a circle, I figured I could start on this one. First, I traced the pattern from the Dear Jane (R) book on freezer paper and cut out all the pieces. the center piece I ironed to the center of a 6 inch piece of green fabric. This will help me place the melons into position ( a hint from the Dear Jane (R) mailing list).OK. Now I placed the melons (inside and outside curves are not quite the same - mark your template!) and used the brute force applique method.

Of course, the melons can still look a little wonky. Mine are always off a little, but I am not going to undo the sewing. The white lines are chalk marks for a five inch square. This was to help me keep the diamonds in the block, and not extend into the seam allowances.

There is a 'short' end to the diamonds, and a 'long' end. Orient them correctly. After appliqueing two, with those tight points, I began to wonder if reverse applique might be a better way. Too late now.

As Brenda says, "Finished is better than perfect."

Viridian

1800's Christmas Jane 130, 40, 1, 3987

Pretty in Pink Jane 95, 33, 0, 2983

Miniature Madness! 55, 0, 0, 776

C-5: Eye of the Cyclone

A big BIG shout out goes to Anina at That Quilt - this is 110% her method for constructing this difficult-looking block, that sends shivers down many quilter's spines. Here is a link to her specific directions with photos.
The idea is to approach this block by making two pinwheel blocks, as you do for block B-2. Then the clever part: a frame. [hits forehead, gently] - why didn't I think of that? Because I am not Anina, that's why. Above is my pinwheel block, and the frame, freezer paper on the wrong side. The curves are gentle here, and you just need to adjust the points so that it looks right.

Here is the finished block, next to the picture in The Book. I did not plan on reversing the colors but I am very happy in how it turned out. My one recommendation: choose a print fabric that you love, because you and other Janiacs will be looking at this block.

Thank you Anina!

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Merry May

This is post # 96, so getting close to post #100!

Merry May is block E-2 of the Jane Stickle quilt. Another block I put off because of the applique. But this has large pieces, so I would recommend it to a beginner, just tackling melons for the first time.

The melon that appears to be 'underneath' is actually two pieces, placed with the help of the drawing in the Dear Jane book. Applique in place, leaving the seam allowance that will be under the top melon in place, don't mess with it. Then place the top melon down, and baste in place so that it doesn't slide sideways. As always, I use the brute force method.

Add the borders and you are done.

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Hunter's Moon

This is block A-3 of the Jane Stickle quilt, book by Brenda Papadakis.

I started this project in the fall of 2007. Looking back, I don't remember quite what pushed me to start such a major undertaking. I do recall that I realized I was the same age as Jane Stickle was as she completed her quilt. But there had to be something more.... hmm maybe it will come to me.

I prepped the brown block well over a year ago. I cut the brown fabric a bit larger than 5 inches square, and prepared the melons for brute force applique. Then, I set it aside. The thought of those melon points - 8 of them! was so intimidating. I am happy to say my skills have improved. So has my prepping for applique. My points still aren't so pointy but they are flatter. And my curves are smoother.

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1800's Christmas Jane 127, 38, 1, 3840

Pretty in Pink Jane 94, 32, 0, 2932

Miniature Madness! 55, 0, 0, 776

Nicholas' Diamond

Paper-pieced. Here are the sub-units, laid out in position. Keep track of what goes where!

And the final triangle, looking a little skewed because I always leave some extra fabric at the base, just in case the size is a wee small. Also, my latest applique attempt, four leaf clover. Trust me, readers, you need to use the reverse applique technique with this one. Oh yes, and don't use cheap black thread to baste your pieces in place. Traces of black may be transferred to your white fabric. Hopefully no one will get get close enough to see it.

viridian 118 blocks, 38 triangles!

Red Triangles

Two more triangles for my main Jane Stickle quilt: RS7 Fedelia's Hearts, and

TR8 Brigadoon. Slowly but surely, moving forward.

Christmas with Jane: 114, 35, 1, 3483

Triangle RS8 Love Forever

After Doing Hannah Lou's hearts, I am on a run of heart applique.
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1800's Christmas Jane 113, 33, 1, 3435
Pretty in Pink Jane 84, 28, 0, 2583
Miniature Madness! 53, 0, 0, 762

Hannah Lou's Hearts

Just a little brute force applique for H-12.
I am also using YLI silk thread. It is very thin and so very forgiving - stitches don't show. However, how strong is it?
Note: I am using freezer paper on the bottom technique, so I have to cut through the background to remove the paper. I was cutting through the white fabric, and starting slicing through the freezer paper, and came THIS CLOSE to cutting through a red fabric heart. ACK! But I did not.
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this is block 113 on my main DJ quilt!

Back again

Very busy and distracted these last few weeks.

Winter is ending, Spring is coming, and my hands are healed. Therefore, two Jane Stickle blocks that involve some applique: Pouf, and Rick's Volleyball net. I just love the fabric used in Pouf. And the printed plaid in Rick's Volleyball net is a repro fabric that I have saved for at least 15 years. The corners don't match but I say - I wanted it that way!

Miniature Madness: Walter's Place and Pete's Paintbox in busy prints, both vintage fabric.

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1800's Christmas Jane 110, 31, 1, 3352

Pretty in Pink Jane 80, 26, 0, 2463

Miniature Madness! 50, 0, 0, 730

No hand applique for awhile

Though I really would like to do some Dear Jane applique, especially of some simpler blocks in my 3 inch size. I also have a binding on a quilt that I need to sew down. However, my hands are in dreadful shape. With the winter temperatures and low humidity, my skin is dried out, and yes, chapped and cracked. I stopped an applique block 2 weeks ago when I noticed a touch of blood on the thread (luckily not on the fabric yet). So have done a bit of machine piecing (see previous post).
It turns out that Goshen is the triangle of the week this week! I must get the rest of the pieces ready and finish my first kite.

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Brute force applique: results

Well, the results are in, and for some Jane blocks, this method works well and my frustration level is waaaay down. top photo shows results. Next photos show how I prep by basting right through the freezer paper, then the final product, with a pink block prepped and pinned and ready to go.

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Brute Force Applique

Try this method when your frustration level is high and your pieces aren't too small.

1. trace shapes onto freezer paper (FP), cut out, and iron them, shiny side down, onto the back side of your applique fabric.

2. Cut out, leaving 1/4 inch or at least 3/16 inch seam allowance all around.

3. with tip of iron, iron the seam allowance over onto the FP, leaving a nice crease. There may be a little rumpling. Don't worry.

4. Baste down the seam allowance. Sew right through the freezer paper. Do not use your best needle for this. Some force may be necessary. Points may be lumpy.

Here is F-13, Tour de France. Iron your applique pieces flat, flattening out rumples and lumpy points.

5. Place your applique piece on background fabric. Pin into place. Put the point of the pin to back side of your piece so that your thread does not catch on it.

6. Using best needle and thin thread, applique around your piece. I finish, remove the basting stitches, then cut a slit in the back and remove the freezer paper with tweezers. Or, you may stop 3/4 of the way and remove the basting, then remove the FP.

Iron block flat.

I started doing this when just a crease was not enough to follow, or, with freezer paper on the back (no basting) the FP would slide off and my melons would look strange.

Not recommended for heirloom sewing! :-)

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