A-7 Dad's Plaids

Here is a block to show off or practice your applique skills. I hand appliqued it but it can just as easily be done by machine. I imagine some have even reversed appliqued it. Now, that I look at it, I think I should have reversed the ones with the melons made out of background fabric so the seam allowance wouldn't have shown through. Hmmmm....maybe I will remake this block.I'm not real happy with my fabric choices anyway. I machine pieced the background making it into a 5.5-6" block and using a 4.5" ruler traced around it so I'd be sure not to extend my melon shapes into the seam allowance. I don't want to cut those melon tips off when I sew the blocks together. Trim the block, using your DJ ruler after finishing it.

A-6 Uncle Homer

Could there be an easier block? This is quite simply a 9-patch block. This block can easily be rotary cut and sewn together. If

this quilt daunts you, just begin with this block and you'll easily

be a Janiac with your Baby Jane started.

Now, seems like a good time to mention that you might want to

keep a record of this quilt as you make it. Make a chart listing the date when each block is completed and how many pieces it took.

A-5 Cathie's Campfire

This block is composed of flying geese

surrounding the center. You can rotary cut the

geese if you like and cut 5-2" squares for the center

corners.....however, I would cut the outer squares just

a little bigger. But, then again this can be done the

easy way and entirely paper pieced. Then you can

sew together in 9-patch fashion. It's a very simple

block and shouldn't take much time. I think a 2nd

block could be made today. Besides, it's snowing outside

a great day to hibernate in your sewing room.

A-4 Courtney's Stethoscope

There isn't much to say about this block. I paper pieced the

entire block. Start with the center row on the diagonal and the

2 attaching rows. Sew the 3 rows together and frame the block with corner stones. Make the outer frame larger and trim down with Dear Jane ruler square after it's assembled.

A-3 Hunter's Moon

Cute little block, don't you think? It's raining outside today, great day to make some Dear
Jane blocks. I see lots of possibilities to make this block. It could be machine pieced to get
the corner curves like the original, or hand pieced which would also give you the curves. It could be machine appliqued, reversed appliqued or hand appliqued. Guess what method I chose? Hah....I chose hand applique', however I did not do needle turn (which is another
possibility.) I, chose to make a template out of mylar (heat resistant template plastic) and using a bit of spray sizing ironed my fabric over the mylar to make my shape. It's so easy and
makes for a perfect shape everytime you sew it down. Let me know how you chose to make
this block.

A-2 One-Two Buckle my Shoe

Another day, another block, this could really be fun. As you can see I am using Civil War
fabrics with shirtings. I don't plan on repeating the focus fabrics but don't think I could
ever accumulate 225 different shirtings, so....the shirtings will be repeated. I hope this
fabric scheme will work out. I paper pieced this entire block row by row and then sewed the
rows to one another. A hint that helps for me is to use my all purpose sewing machine foot for all the paper piecing tightening up the stitch length. I like to use foundation paper, Carol Doak's brand is what I have on hand but other ones work well too. Then I pop on my quarter inch foot to sew the rows together, pinning at all the little seams. It works perfectly. I also
like to use Carol Doak's paper piecing method using the add-an-eighth ruler. These pieces are
tiny and you need to keep the bulkiness of the seams as small as possible. Keep the seams
that attach row to row at 1/4".I like to press those seams open so my block lays flat. A spritz of Best Press before trimming to size also helps. Have fun with this block, it really isn't difficult.

A-1 Pinwheel Gone Awry

What a fun block to begin my journey. I plan on making my blocks in order from first to last.

I have to make them all anyway so might as well mix the easy with the difficult. This is the

first block and a fairly easy one. I paper pieced it row by row and sewed the rows together.

It went together quite easily. I always make my outer edges a little larger then size it after

it is completed.