For the
Blogger's Quilt Festival, the quilt I made that I like the most is the Dear Jane quilt that took me a year and a half to do. I first saw this quilt about 20 years ago when I was browsing the internet but didn't have the skills nor the available time to make it then.
I knew I wanted to own 'that quilt' so after I began my quilting journey in 2001, I looked for the pattern. There were clubs devoted to the
Dear Jane quilts so I joined one and read all the tips I could find about making it including buying the book written by Brenda Papadakis showing each block. However, the book had only pictures; it was up to the reader to trace and figure out how to engineer each block.
I began the quilt top in 2007 and completed it mid-2009. I enjoyed the challenge and I understand why so many of the Janiacs make more than one. I made the traditional baby Jane using a different fabric for every block and triangle. It was very challenging to find the correct colored fabric and to figure out what method would be best to make each block. I'm hand quilting my baby Jane and that also is quite a challenge for me.
I guess I'm a scrappy quilt person. My DJ has almost 5,000 pieces in it.
Jane Stickle was the woman who first made this quilt and dated it "In War Time 1963". It has 169 4.5" square blocks surrounded by 52 8x5" triangles and 4 corner triangles.
I love working on my baby Jane; I have named it after my g-g-grandfather, who fought and was injured at Vicksburg during the Civil War... it's my Elnathan Jane.
Fabulous! Jane would be proud of you!
ReplyDeleteYou are motivating me to complete mine. It is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWell done! I hope I finish my DJQ one day. It's been dragging on for years and years.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love seeing the Dear Jane variations. Yours is no exception. 5,000 pieces, oh wow! Keep up the inspiring work!
ReplyDeleteWowee - I too love DJ quilts and yours is certainly no exception. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteGood job! One day I will have one......I think :). So far I have box of bits!
ReplyDeletewonderful, I rhink I should go and work on mine
ReplyDeleteAwesome your DJ is finished and quilted! I hope to start my DJ sometime this year. I've started doing my Sylvia Bridal Sampler and I love it!
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt.
ReplyDeleteA pretty labour of love - congratulations on finishing this beauty!
ReplyDelete; )
Thank you for you nice comment!
Gorgeous. One of these years I might attempt one but maybe just in two or three colors.
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I hate doing the same block over and over...this quilt may be the perfect answer.
ReplyDeleteOMG! I love it. I have the book but have yet to start. I want to do it in reds and whites but still can't decide if that's what I really want to do.
ReplyDeleteWow! Your quilt is so beautiful! Love it.
ReplyDeletewow that must have taken for ever. wow i love it.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWow - this is incredible! I've just started a DJ quilt so I really enjoy seeing finished ones :)
ReplyDeleteSpectacular quilt. Great job.
ReplyDeleteSewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
That is just one awesome quilt! So glad you picked this quilt to show us.
ReplyDeleteWow; a DJ quilt! Hats off to you; this is amazing!
ReplyDeleteamazing and so much work to make such a marvelous quilt
ReplyDeleteOmigosh, your Dear Jane is so totally impressive! I'm a scrappy person too, so this quilt just sings to me.
ReplyDeleteI saw some of these Dear Jane quilts at a show given by the Empire State Quilters in New York City last Spring and I was mesmerized. Yours is fantastic. Congrats for finishing such a challenging project. I especially like the idea of dedicating it to your Civil War ancestor. I'll have to go search my ancestry stuff for someone to inspire me!
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot of work in only 1 1/2 years. Really beautiful!
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