Pat S wrote:
Before you do anything, Trish, I suggest you visit one of the Dear Jane
online groups.

Yep! Lots of help is out there, but hardly anyone mentions what
quantities of fabrics they bought beyond the background. Because Trisha
and I are so beginnish, we're embarrased to ask silly questions at a
dedicated group. Rctq seems - cosier - y'know?

When you get the books, you will see that there are no instructions.
Now, instructions have been created elsewhere than in the book, and tips
etc and have been gathered together on the dedicated sites (you can
discuss etc just like here). If you have found the blogs and such, that
will do you fine. I didn't use them - not because I am arrogant, but I
have ways I like to work and we are all different. The very fact that it
had been proved that they were do-able was enough for me!

Yeah - we feel a bit the same way. I'm thinking paper piecing might be
our preferred method. We've already done a big fat Mariner's Compass
each by paper piecing them and it was great fun.

One thing, you may find that the background fabric quantity which is
usually given has been overestimated. It would be awful to have to buy
the large amount - at Australian prices - and then find you had a lot
left over. I bought a lot less background that it said and think I will
have enough; but it does depend very much on how you work with the blocks.

Whew! Oz prices are the Pitz - so great, in fact, that it's well
worthwhile to buy from the US! (Massive postage included).

Working slowly is good; just set an easy target - even one or two a
month will keep you going. You will find that some are very easy and you
can get quite a few of those done quite quickly. Others will take more
time. It is a very appealing project and you will have great adventures
along the way. When you have examined all the pros and cons, don't be
afraid to make them your own by, perhaps doing fewer blocks (if you are
finding it hard-going), or re-arranging them.

Hah! That's *exactly* what I needed to hear! Thank you! The whole
project (especially the cost) is pretty daunting if you sit still long
enough to think about it. It's nice to be reminded that perfection isn't
required! LOL!


By the way, I know this is going to sound scarcely believable: but, when
you have finished and are labelling your quilts, you must be careful not
to call them 'Dear Jane'. You might want to put them in a show or make
them public in some way, and the 'Dear Jane' title is copyrighted by the
author of the book; and there is at least one record of her taking
someone to court over the name. Many of us use the Dear Jane name as a
sort of shorthand. You can always use the name of the original designer
and call it something like 'Trish's quilt in the style of the Jane
Stickle Quilt of 1863'.

Gee, it is amazing! I mean, the JASQ is an historical item and, I'd've
thought, priceless. How can anyone 'own' its name, or even its nickname,
even if s/he coined it? Oh well. I shall call it JASQ in future.

Hope something here helps.

Yes! Thank you! My family thinks I'm mental because I keep googling Dear
J - erm - JASQ and drooling over the lovely fabrics.

--
Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia