Dear Jane Quilt-Block 1!!!

I've been oohing and ahhing over Dear Jane Quilts for a while now and finally decided to take the plunge... here is block number 1!!!



The polka dot material is the fabric from my stash that I said was my favorite. The white is also from my stash. It was fun to do but does use quite a few tiny pieces. It finishes at about 4 1/2"
and I think that it looks like some type of pinwheel. Sometimes it's just nice to grab some fabric from your stash and just sew a block. The reason I like Dear Jane so much is because it is like a sampler and if I have to make the same block with the same fabrics over and over again I think that I would be bored out of my skull! This block I would like to make a full sized quilt out of it but they would all have to have different main fabrics or I would still get bored. That's why I like scrap quilts so much, as you will soon find out!

Stashbusting...

Today I have been working on a certain mini quilt that uses scraps and stash. I can't quite remember the name right now, but I do know that I got the pattern from an issue of Better Homes and Gardens Quilting magazine. It's been fun working on it and eventually I will post a picture of it in progress. In the border there will be applique so I'm really looking forward to that part! As you read my blog more you will see how much I am enjoying hand applique. It is so fun and relaxing. The problem is that it is TIME CONSUMING! That's why I like it so much on mini quilts. I am also experimenting with machine quilting. I have a darning foot but I can't for the life of me figure out how to lower the feed dogs! Any suggestions would be very helpful. Another thing that I need to post a picture of is my current quilting project... a quilt that I like to call Jacob's Coat. It uses appliqued flowers. What I am working on is hand quilting baptist fans in an all-over pattern. It's going slowly but I'm getting somewhere! Guess I'll have more to say tomorrow. Bye!

Hi!

Hi there! This is going to be my quilting blog... someday I might actually find some time to work on sewing of any kind though. Well, I actually found some time to post and I found this survey on Sew Mama Sew's Blog so I thought it a good way to get started up...

What do you usually sew?
Quilts are my specialty...

When you shop for fabric, what size cuts do you usually buy? (i.e. If you see something beautiful, but you don’t have a use for it right away, how much do you buy?)
Ummmm, normally I try to limit myself to 1/2 yard cuts...

Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need?
I normally go out looking for something I need but am known for impulse buying at good sales...

Are you a pre-washer? If you are, do you wash your fabric before you need it, or only when you’re ready to use it?
I do try to pre-wash but sometimes it's hard to wait for it to finish!

Do you iron it?
I do but I hate it!

How do you sort it? (color, print size, collection, etc.)
I don't actually have enough to even sort it yet. (At least that's my excuse! lol!)

Do you have any special folding techniques?
Not really, just if it's small I sometimes fold it like a hand towel...

How do you store your fabric?
I have it in stacks by my sewing machine!

What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash?
What I just started doing is when I go out to buy something for a project I'll buy a little extra. (i.e. If I need 2 1/2 yards I'll buy 3)

When do you say enough is enough?
Ummmm... I DON'T!!! LOL!

What are some of your favorite stash-busting projects?
I love scrap quilts of any kind.

Do you have a current favorite print in your stash? Let’s see it!
There's this brown with white polka dots... can't have enough dots!

What’s your definition of the perfect stash?
Whatever I could ever use in a lifetime! lol!

That was fun! See you tomorrow!