Jane's Pancake Stack

This is what 44 Jane blocks look like stacked up all nice and pretty.

If you'd like to see more detail, feel free to look here and here.

More tutorials will come ... but they're sadly on the back burner
with so many other things up in the air.

It's been so long I really need to check in with the other
Girls under the Willow Tree to see what they're up too.

We're all dealing with our little bits of life that take have to take priority over Jane.

4 Easy Machine-Pieced Blocks for Jane

I am sure you think by now that we've all gone away ... never to be seen again. But it's not true. Sometimes life just throws out a few challenges and we find it necessary to answer them first.

We're all here. We're all doing "ok" in our own way. But struggling to keep up with things. Again, I'll try to check in with the other girls. But hey ... it just might be me for a while.

I pulled Jane out of the cupboard today. She's been staring at me. Not guiltily, just in a "you'd feel better if you made a block or two" kind of way. She was right. I made 4 and I feel great!

First I needed a kick start. Something easy. I grabbed my book and it fell open to page 90 and my I went straight to J-2. Not bad. I could handle that.

So I grabbed my trusty 6-1/2" ruler and set to measuring.

Dear Jane® book reference: Block J-2, page 90

Background (my solid teal):

• Four 1-3/4" squares 
• Two 3-1/4" squares ... cut each in half diagonally so you will have 4 triangles for the corners.

Print:

• Two 3/4" x 1-3/4" pieces
• Three 3/4" x 3-1/4" pieces (these will be a tad long, trim it to length after you've sewn it to 1/2 of the center section)
• Two 3/4" x 3-3/4"

It's really a pretty simple block. But after sewing the very center section together I checked that it was square before adding the teal frame all the way around. Then I sewed the four print corners and finally trimmed the finished block to 5" square making sure that I have a 1/4" seam allowance beyond each point.

Back to the book, I was ready for another. I think this one would have been just as quick if I hadn't started with the wrong size for the center square. A deep breath and started again resulted in this beauty that was very pretty before I decided to zap it with a bit of spray starch.

Dear Jane® book reference: Block I-8, page 85

Background (my solid teal):

• Two 2-1/2" squares cut each in half diagonally so you will have 4 triangles
• Two 2-5/8" squares cut each in half diagonally so you will have 4 triangles
• Two 1-1/4" x 2-3/4" pieces
• Two 1-1/4" x 3-1/4" pieces

Print:

• One 1-5/8" square for the center
• Two 2-5/8" squares cut each in half diagonally so you will have 4 triangles
• Two 1-7/8" squares cut each in half diagonally - you'll use these in the final "border"

Then I went about sewing, pressing, trimming repeatedly. Sew two print triangles to opposite sides of the center square, press then trim the points of the triangles flush with the square. Sew the opposite sides, press and trim the completed square-in-a-square unit. You're aiming for about 2-1/16" square - not generally an easy measurement. The idea is to trim it like Block J-2 above - allowing for 1/4" seam allowance beyond the tips on each side. Then sew the next set of triangles. This time solid backgrounds first to opposite sides, press and trim. Then to the opposite sides again. Press and trim this unit to 2-3/4". Finally add another set of triangles - using your print. And trim this time to about 3-5/8" ... the most important thing is those tips again, don't cut them off. Concentrate on having a 1/4" seam allowance. To add the border, I sewed the triangles to the end of the 1-1/4" pieces then trimmed that long even with the long edge of the triangle. Then added the second piece and trimmed again. I'd be happy to post a pic if you like - just let me know. THEN I trimmed the entire block to 5" .. it really worked out. I was dead pleased. You could paper piece this one ... but this rotary cutting and machine piecing worked out so slick that I am very glad I didn't.


So, ready for block three? This one really couldn't get any easier. I chose to strip-piece in two short lengths (cuz that's how long my poison green scrap was ... a tad over 6").

Dear Jane® book reference: Block M-12, page 119

Background (my solid teal):

• Two 3/4" x 6-1/2" lengths
• Four 2" squares

Print:

• Four 3/4" x 6-1/2" lengths

Sew one length of background a length of print. Press toward the background - yes, even if it is lighter. You'll be glad you did this. And tomorrow I'll take a pic of the back of my block so you can see how flat it lays. Sew another length of print to the other side and press again toward the background. Repeat this so you have two "racing" stripes. Trim the end of each strip square (line up your ruler against a seam, not the edge of the print fabric), then cross-cut each stripe into three 2" sections. Yes, you'll have one left over as a spare. Sew together as a 9-patch. Spin the intersecting seams at the corners. Yes, I know that pic would really help right about now ... tomorrow ...

Finally, block 4. This one really wasn't bad either. Just a pinwheel with a border.

Dear Jane® book reference: Block E-3, page 50

Background (my solid teal):

• Two 2-3/8" squares
• Two 1-7/8" squares

Print:

• Two 2-3/8" squares
• Two 1-7/8" squares
• Four 1-3/8" x 3-1/4"

For the pinwheel: Place 2-3/8" squares of background and print right sides together, draw a diagonally line on the wrong side of whichever you can see best. Sew a 1/4" seam from each side of this line. Cut apart on the line and press to the darker fabric. Trim these units to 1-7/8" square. Sew together as a pinwheel, spin the intersecting seam to reduce bulk.


For the corner triangles: Place 1-7/8" squares of background and print right sides together, draw a diagonally line on the wrong side of whichever you can see best. Sew a 1/4" seam from each side of this line. Cut apart on the line and press toward the background fabric - even if it is lighter. This will help to reduce a lot of bulk. Trim these units to 1-3/8" square. Sew two of these to the end of a 1-3/8" x 3-1/4" piece twice. 


Assemble the block by sewing the remaining 1-3/8" x 3-1/4" pieces to each side of the pinwheel. Press toward the background and add the other border to the remaining two sides. Press again toward this "border."

So there you have it. Hmmm, enough info? If you're struggling with any of these instructions or need more help, PLEASE don't hesitate to ask. I'll do my best to take additional photos.

So I'm up to 32 blocks? How about you? Any you are struggling with?

These are the ones I have made so far. 

Pretty wild. 

And I am really loving it without sashing. 

 keep in mind I am not following Jane's setting. 

mine will be set in a rainbow trip around the world

Did you know that Jane's quilt did not have sashing??

1. A-1, 2. A-2, 3. A-3, 4. A-4, 5. A-5, 6. A-7, 7. A-8 (re-done), 8. B-1, 9. B-3, 10. B-4, 11. B-9, 12. B-10, 13. C-1 (adaptation), 14. C-3, 15. C-6, 16. C-9, 17. C-10, 18. D-9, 19. E-3, 20. F-7 (changed), 21. H-13, 22. I-1, 23. I-8, 24. J-2, 25. J-6, 26. K-7, 27. L-4, 28. L-5, 29. L-7, 30. M-2, 31. M-9, 32. M-12 (sadly it won't show itself unless you click on this link)

Carnival (Kermis) Brights!

four more Janes, a photo by Jovita's Patchwork Atelier on Flickr.

I was able to sit down to the sewing machine for a while yesterday and made these four Contemporary Jane blocks. Am happy with the first three .. but didn't realize until later how much D-9 and A-8 are alike. So I will probably re-do A-8 .. reversing the background and using a completely different color - like green!

Happy sewing to you all .. things are bright and colorful around here. Kermis is in town although I have to admit it's much more bearable this year. It rained the first couple evenings which meant things closed down much early. Today is the most important day .. Jaarmarkt .. so I sat on the sidewalk with handwork and drew quite a few onlookers eager to know what I was doing and Why? Oh, and by the way, how did an American end up in Kalken???

Hot August Not

Honestly, where does time go ... ? In the back of my mind I've had this nagging feeling (along with a couple of migraines) that I haven't blogged here ... but then neither has anyone else.

I promise things HAVE been happening behind the scenes.

You see ... I got kind of caught up ... in a crazy hexagon craze! This wasn't really supposed to happen, considering I'm still busy busy on this and this. But you see, Lynne of Lily's Quilts started a "HEX A LONG" inspired by this quilt and then ....

I only allow myself to work at this one a block at a time during the week and even then evenings only ... but weekends are fair game.

Then, there's this one, my take-along everywhere project. I picked up this simple but inexpensive case at Ikea (yes, I know coulda-shoulda *made* it but this way I have more time to stitch *fun* things). Makes taking along so simple: doctor's office, 5-hour round-trips to Germany, the garden for a half hour each evening when Axel comes home. When I get back, the hexies get sorted into my tray to make sure I'm keeping my color saturation where I want it. Am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the fabric I designed and was printed by Spoonflower and another order of Japanese fabrics ordered from the states. Also found some more gorgies at a friend's shop nearby.



And I promise to get busy on Jane again ... I realized today that I never blogged about my "fake" method for reverse applique - so that's on the top of the list for this week.


Maria, on the other hand, has been busy with Jane and you can see more of her gorgeous blocks here.



I know Deb has been busy too getting ready for their quilt show. Now if only we'd been smart-er and had told you about it before the show ...

And I'll be checking in with Dana later tonight.

Mary? I am sooo excited .. we've made a date .. to have coffee and exchange our little quilts .. in November!!

So, what have you been up to? Has your weather been as crappy as ours (not that I'm complaining - wink ... our summer just came early - April / May early and now fall is firmly on it's way). Are you busy with the summer, kids going back to school, new projects, heaven forbid that jump start on Christmas gifts? Tell us what's on your sewing table ... we'd love to hear, and if you have a blog we'll be sure to stop by and see!

Don't forget I blog over here too .. you'll find my latest knitting project, a day out in Gent, a another quilt along - I'm one of the designers ... and more! I hope you'll stop by!

Meet Mary

Mary and I are doing a swap ... and I wanted to tell you that I've been blogging about the design process of her quilt on my blog and thought you might want to stop by and check it out ... I've been carrying these little saltwater pearls around in my pocket waiting for the opportunity to add them to her little quilt ...

... but then I realized I haven't properly introduced Mary, who played a very crucial role as I began my venture as a shop owner.

She and I met when I was teaching foundation paper piecing class before my studio/shop got off the ground in Mukilteo and when I did open she kind of followed me there.

Thank goodness too .. her kind, caring, calming ways have come in handy more times than I can count.

Like introducing me to black coffee topped with softly whipped cinnamon whipping cream .. oh my goodness.  If you haven't, you need to try this!  Sip slowly, letting the cream melt in and mix with your coffee as you go ... it's sure to calm your nerves and give you the energy to carry on!  Of course this experience is at it's best when shared *with* Mary ...

One thing I've always loved about Mary is that she is always game for trying new and challenging things ... the class where we met?  Introduction to Foundation Paper Piecing .. no houses for her .. she wanted to work on this unicorn.  And did ... and finished it and bound it!  ... see the two quilts under her's, they are both mine (the binding *has* been put on the one on the left, the one on the right? - umm, it is still waiting for a border ...).

Mary has really moved on and is a wonderful mixed media artist showing at a variety of galleries in the Pacific Northwest. Visit Funky Fibers to read more about Mary and her artwork, gallery showings and workshops.

As for me, I am especially in love with her series of bathing beauties!

She is also responsible for this ... a most cherished memory of my shop. The original photograph was taken by her mother-in-law, the watercolor is by her father-in-law.  

There is a lot more to tell you about Mary, but I'm hoping she'll do some of that herself and show us more of her projects.  And tell funny stories about her two beautiful daughters!

Thanks for joining us Under the Willow Tree Mary, with tons of Love from Jovita and the rest of the gang!

Contemporary Jane Kick-off

Hi ladies and gents!  I am truly sorry it has taken me so long to get this going ... I could make excuses, but let's just get this ball rolling instead!  I am so excited about this quilt and quilting along with all of you!

Quite a few ladies have signed up for our Contemporary Jane quilt along ... if you're name's not on the list be sure and let me know ... or linky up your blog here.

And boy oh boy have some of you ladies who are joining us been busy!  

Be sure check out our Flickr group, these ladies have been uploading pics faster than I can blink ... you'll want to check these out!  Quiltdiva is working in BATIKS, "Pink" has posted some fabulous PINK and green blocks while Bea is also working along with KAFFE fabrics, 

With everything going on I haven't done much past my first seven blocks, but two are partially hand-pieced in my take-along bag and if I have anything to say, they will be finished this week - bringing my tally up to 9 blocks.

So, you're asking how is this going to work?  Well, once a week Deb, Maria or I will post here, Under the Willow Tree, a new block that we've made.  We'll tell you how we made it and what worked or didn't work.  You are welcome to work ahead, behind or right along with us ... we're not setting limits or deadlines, we're just going to have fun!

... our aim is to make "our" Jane ... we're not using reproductions but sticking to fabrics that reflect us now and with the freedom to add, change or leave out blocks that don't fancy us. To get an idea of what we mean, check out our "Contemporary Jane" board on Pinterest. For more useful Jane links, please see this post.

So Ladies and Gentlemen, hold onto your hats ... heeeeeeer we gooooooo!!

Jovita's Shopping List for Jane

A Mini Quilt Swap & Roll Call

It's been a while so I thought I'd give you an update on what's been happening Under the Willow Tree.

Liz and I decided to do a mini quilt swap ... we had way too much fun, only a few rules and a lot of nail-biting (for me at least).  Our "rules" were pretty simple : we were to work with each other's favorite two-color combination, use half-square triangles and not be bigger than 12" square ...

My color combination was turquoise and red

Liz's was lemon and lime.


Imagine my total pleasure when I opened this!!!  I love it ... just what I wanted :)  It's already hanging and and eventually more of this will be displayed with it.

I  had fun to trying to meet Liz's requirements and I was in a real hotbed of quilting frenzy there for a while. Lemon and lime - like literally - like their skin colors?  Well, no, more organic really like apples and pears ... ok ... so I pulled tons of fabs and began cutting and cutting, playing and rotating.  I "cheated" a little and added a few sticks of red apple to come up with this.

But then I had quite a few triangles left over.  The only answer - USE THEM UP.  But be different.  So I added one of my favorite solid blues and voilá,  an entirely different quilt.  The triangles are 1" finished and I'm really pleased with the results.  My favorite bit ... the little vintage lemon beads I used as an accent cover-up.  It was rather hard to part with this little beauty, but because I was laid up my swap got mailed much much later than it should have so this was my consolation piece for Liz.

And since it has been so long I thought I'd do a little roll call too and update you on what the other girls have been doing Under the Willow Tree.

Maria has been a busy bee ... and already had two finished quilt tops under her belt by January 9th.  On top of that she keeps my mouth watering on a regular basis with all her yummy baking and cooking ... if only I could somehow transport myself into her kitchen on a regular basis.  Be sure to check out her blog to read and see more!

I actually haven't spoken to Dana for a little while but when we do talk it's like it was yesterday.  Man that girl can make me laugh.  She had me GREEN with envy with this adorable little snowman she stitched up for the holidays! He's an adaptation of Bunny Hill Design's March 2010 block of the month "Snowbound".

And Deb?  Well, Deb is going through a really rough time at the moment.  She could surely, surely use our thoughts and prayers right now.  She's been on my mind every day ... and when I don't think it will sound trivial or come at a bad moment, I'll ask what she's been working on and see if you'll post some of her beauties for you to goggle at.

the girls in Mülheim

i have some friends ... wonderful friends who I met at least ten years ago ... they live in and around Mülheim, Germany ... toooo far away. they are an amazing group of ladies who do *everything*  they are a constant source of inspiration and companionship.

angela dyes the most amazing fabrics, beads, quilts, does mosaic and much more i haven't seen

elisabeth makes things from paper, beads, quilts and loves on her sweet little grandboy

gila felts, beads, sews, makes hats, quilts and runs her little studio called Kunst Stücke "pieces of art" ...
gabi beads, quilts, knits and more
helga specializes in things teeny eensy weeny .. the littlest beads, mini patchwork and knits
hildegard quilts, embroiders, teaches, stitches, etc, etc.
roswitha quilts, teaches and does 100 more things than i know about
sigrid quilts, crafts and collects mini things

i could tell you more and i am sure they will remind me of everything i have forgotten but it has been one of those days.

twice this group has banded together (in different configurations) and flown across the big pond to visit my husband and i in the pacific northwest.  many of you have met them and if you didn't i hope someday you will.

you see - they all belong under the willow tree and i'm really hoping i can convince some or all will sometimes contribute to this blog.

last tuesday i got to spend the WHOLE day with them.  what  blast!

it's always fun to see who's working on what.  and i got to show them my DOTS!  and i'm happy to say some of them caught the contagion and are already addicted.  see what they did!

Gabi's gone dotty with Kaffe

Gila has a huge batiks collection

Angela dyes her own fabrics

Got Dots?

Check out Jovita's new Quilt-Along ... Got Dots?  

Click here to find out more here - p.s. there's a give-away too!!http://www.jovitaspatchwork.eu/gotdots.html

A give-away because I need your ideas ...

Look what I found today ... well, it wasn't really lost but in the midst of clearing up and organizing my new, wonderful studio ... I "found" it again.

It's one of those things that surface from time to time and brings back a ton of memories.

The fabrics remind me of one of my favorite baby dolls - I think her dress was made out of a reverse of the polka dot.  White dots on red.  The dots and blossoms are flocked, the content is some kind of polyester blend.

My sewing skills ... ahem ... leave much much to be desired.

• Not a single patch is square.
• One patch is pieced - curved no less - rather resourceful if I may say so myself.
• The seams - hehe - not a single one is straight, or even.
• Some seams are sewn double.
• One seams has a huge pleat it in.
• Not a single corner is matched.

But how can you not love it.  I've been thinking of ways to display it.  Hoping somehow I could show the front and back.  Frame it?  Quilt it?  Add to it?

I'm not sure ... although today I think I came up with something I could love but I'm not sure ... it involves the new color in our courtyard and some oh-so-very adorable "Little Red Hen" fabric that makes me think of my childhood - in a good way.  Surprisingly "Not I said the Little Red Hen" was a common phrase of denial in our household.  It's stuck with me.  

For now - I have finally stuck the block to the bulletin board in my new studio to look at and gather ideas.  Because I think it finally needs to feature here - a reminder of how far I've come and all the things I still want to do!

Do you have any ideas for me?  I would love to hear them - add a comment below - and next week I'll pull a random winner to receive a sweet little package from me!

Welcome

Welcome to Under the Willow Tree!  I'm thoroughly looking forward to this new endeavor and introducing you to some of the very best friends a girl can have.  

I thought I'd just pop in and show you my first quilt first.  Started just over 20 years ago ... at a time with Seafoam Green and Peach were everywhere, I thought I was being clever by adding a bit of Burgundy.  Now, when I see it hanging (as  it did in front of my house for my "Annual Patchwork in my Garden Party") it looks ok but it really isn't my style any more.  The colors are a blast from the past, the pattern is too predictable and well, muslin?


But it's not like I'll ever part with it either ... it all started my senior year of high school (in fact the last three months).  I was working at the local fabric store and planning to head off to college / Colorado in July.  Well I wanted a quilt.  So I picked out my pattern, knew I wanted an element of scrap and started gathering up fabrics.  My sister helped me get started and then I just got too busy.  I was graduating after all ...  so she finished up the top for me and then had a quilting bee for friends and family to quilt on it.  Then it went to my mom's.  And she had it ... and quilted on it ... for about the next ten years.  When we moved back to the States in 1999 mom gave it to me ... unfortunately in the meantime I had married Axel (um, unfortunately he's so tall, not that I married him - being married to him I am very fortunate) who is 6ft 8in / 203cm.  So ... the quilt is rarely used unless one of us is sick and it gets pulled out to go on the guest bed.  Today I put it on our bed today to get a "real" pic ... didn't take long for Clark to get comfy - but I also realized it fits our bed.  I'm really surprised and guess it just might have to show up there more often.

The details: 

Block:      Ohio Star  (12" / 30.5cm)
Fabrics:   variety of calico prints from the 
               $3.99 flat-folds table
Sashing:  simple muslin
Piecing:   entirely by machine
Quilting:  hand-quilted - group project 
Backing: wide backing, print on peach
Binding:  backing brought around to the front
Size:       84-1/2" x 100-1/2" /  215cm x 255cm