Dear Jane Quilt - 81 Blocks Sewn Together Plus Two Sets of Two for 85

Happy happy!

Dear Jane Quilt - 21 More Blocks

This brings my total of central blocks sewn to 85 with 84 still to go, so just over the half way point of the square blocks.  Yeah!  After that there are still 56 triangular border blocks to make which will be a bit more complicated, so I am figuring I am one-third done time wise now.  Still Yeah!

D3  I appliqued this block.

E3  I pieced this block.

E11  This was a time consuming block.  First you had to make 8 black ovals which were appliqued to a circle.  Then you had to make a reverse applique circular hole in a square and applique this on top of the circle and then you had to applique four quarter circles in the corners.  A lot of work for a tiny block.  I like how it turned out though!

F3  I pieced this block, it was fairly simple.

F11  This was another complicated block combining applique and paper piecing.  First you had to applique the quarter blue circles to black squares and then create the block with paper piecing and then applique the black quarter squares on top.  I used Susan Gatewood's paper piecing templates.  My applique is still not the greatest, but from a reasonable distance, they are OK.

G3  This was also appliqued.

G11  I paper pieced the diamond rectangles using Susan Gatewood's paper piecing patterns

H3  I pieced this block and like it very much.  It has been named "Berry Baskets".

H11  I also paper pieced this using Susan Gatewood's patterns and required "Y" seams.

I3  I strip pieced this one, very simple.

I11  Once again, I paper pieced this using Susan Gatewood's paper piecing patterns.

J3  I pieced this using my "Drunkard's Path" templates for the curved quarter circles.  The black rectangle arrow shapes could line up a bit better but from a distance I am fine with how this block turned out.

J11   It took me awhile to figure out how to make this block using a "Cathedral Window" technique.   In the end I made six individual orange peel blocks using a coloured square and layering two black squares folded into triangles on top and then rolling back the triangle edges.  For the central block to have the criss-cross, I cut one completed orange peel block in half diagonally cross ways and placed it on top of another incomplete orange peel block and then rolled the edges back on it.  Because of the method I used to make this block, I do have two black lines on my central block that are not on the original Dear Jane block, but I'm fine with that.  I was able to make the block using "Cathedral Window" techniques and no applique.

K8  I paper pieced this block, not because it was difficult, but just to make it more accurate, again using Susan Gatewood's paper piecing patterns.

K9  I pieced this block.

K10  I pieced this block.

K11  I pieced the centre of this block, but I paper pieced the outer black rectangles with the coloured triangles again using Susan Gatewood's paper piecing patterns.

B3  I used my "Drunkard's Path" templates for this block.

B4  I pieced this block.

B10  I pieced this block.  My plus sign is little wonky, but not too badly.

B11  I pieced this block with orange corners and then added black squares folded into triangles to the corners and rolled them back like "Cathedral Windows" to create the curves.

I am still having so much fun making these blocks.  I was Dear Jane binging over the Victoria Day long weekend since it wasn't nice enough most of the time to be outside.  I started working on these blocks in January of  2018, 17 months ago and now have 85 blocks which means I have averaged 5 blocks a month.  I hope to pick up the pace a bit so it doesn't take me 17 more months to finish the square blocks and still have all the triangle blocks to make.  Maybe I can complete 5 blocks a month plus at least 1 or maybe even 2 triangles a month going forward.  May isn't over yet and our Dear Jane group hasn't even met yet so I can certainly get a few more done this month!  Once I sew 81 of the 85 blocks into a 9 x 9 grid, I will post a picture.

Sewing Machine Cover Cat Applique - Applique and Quilting Completed

Wow, time has flown, I didn't realise it was two and a half weeks since I last did a blog post.  I have been sewing on several projects, although I haven't finished anything.  I have almost completed my Sewing Machine Cover with the cat applique on the front though.  After I appliqued all the chocolate Easter bunnies, I got the cat out and started appliqueing his body which was a bit more intricate than the bunnies.  My sewing buddy Marilyn gave me the idea of using the magnifying light to see if it would help me see better, and it certainly did.

After I took the above picture, I also switched to an open toe foot so had a totally clear view of  the stitching line which helped me sew even more accurately.  It also helped my posture because instead of leaning forward to try to see what I was doing, I actually had to lean back a bit from the magnifying glass and sit up straight to see clearly.

Here are detail shots of one of his paws from the back, just for fun, and from the front showing how closely I was able to follow the contours of his toes because of the magnifying glass and the open toe foot.

Here's the cat all appliqued, quilted and with embroidered whiskers.  I love his mischievous face and big feet!

Now I just have to decide what the back of the cover will be made out of and get it sewn together.