T is for Tuesday Quilt Block and Tutorial

Perfect: T falls on a Tuesday. I am going to present my way of doing the Dear Jane kite TRC Longwood. This is the one with the 5-pointed stars. To applique them or reverse applique them, and get lousy, lumpy points either way? Well here is another way.

Prepare your main block using the method you like best, and cut a piece of your background fabric the right size (include seam allowances.)

Then: visualize the center as odd-shaped pieces of focus fabric appliqued onto a background fabric base, leaving  a bit of the background fabric exposed.  Here are my A, B, C etc. pieces traced onto freezer paper, for my favorite method of freezer paper underneath applique.

 

The next picture will help you visualize this.

 

 

Two green pieces appliqued on, the third is waiting.  The star is beginning to form.  Next, piece this  unit into the center of your main block.

 

 

Ah, impossibly sharp star points.

Now on to the star in the corner, which I treated in almost the same way.

 

 

I added some lines and pieced one star point.  For the bottom, I appliqued oddly-shaped pieces of background fabric onto my focus fabric.  Trace these from the diagram in the Dear Jane book.  (You can still see my freezer paper in place). Sew these two pieces together and you have a pretty star!

 

Remove any freezer paper, trim away focus fabric, and finish the corner kite using the directions by Anina. See the end of her post.

 

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.

Keep up with this blog on Facebook: just click on Viridian61.

 

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First kite done: BLC Goshen!

A bit of a struggle with this unusual shape, but it is done. I would suggest cutting the outside pieces a bit bigger/wider. My first kite! Yay! I will be doing all kites in green.

70 pieces the DJ software program says. By my count, 74 pieces.
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105 blocks, 31 triangles, 1 kite, and 3223 pieces for this Jane Stickle project

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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Change can inspire

Sometimes taking a break can refresh and inspire. Then again, the old project can be shoved into a bag and become a WIP (work in progress) - implying it's not been worked on lately. My break with the 3 inch mini blocks has been exciting - and it's got me thinking of my other Jane Stickle quilts.
So... we have here the center of my very first kite (Goshen - still needs some bits added) and Chase a myth for my pink and white Jane quilt. My skills are better and I am moving faster on my paper piecing!
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1800's Christmas Jane 105, 31, 0, 3149
Pretty in Pink Jane 75, 26, 0, 2315 Silver!!
Minature Madness! 35, 0, 0, 518