Dear Jane Civil War Quilt – Baby Jane – My Newest Endeavor
Posted By drsao on April 13, 2008
I was inspired to make a DEAR JANE (Baby Jane) CIVIL WAR QUILT by the quilters on my recent Wakefield, VA retreat. Some people call our reproduction quilts BABY JANE QUILTS, reserving the title of DEAR JANE for the original quilt made by Jane in 1863.
I have been reading all about young Jane who made this quilt during the CIVIL WAR out of the tiniest scraps of material imaginable. The finished quilt has over 5,000 pieces. To read about this, check out www.dearjane.com. It is absolutely fascinating! Who would have ever imagined that young Jane’s quilt (made in 1863) would be replicated by women so many years later. There is something about this quilt that elicits awe and wonder. I am sure young Jane never dreamed that something like this would happen. (It is a sobering thought, isn’t it – just think, something that YOU are doing right now could someday become interesting to THOUSANDS of folks.)
On April 12, 2008 my historical journey began – my journey through the making of a Civil War DEAR JANE Quilt reproduction. I was ready – with the TO DIE FOR background fabric, Civil War Reproduction fat quaters, the book, the software, the courage – and the special rulers. I said, “Self, this is going to be a GOOD trip!” Hopefully others will join me on this journey!
Susan, at the QUILTERS CORNER is considering a DEAR JANE CLUB. Check the Quilter’s Corner Website in my blogroll for date and time (right now it is set for Wednesday, May 15, at 6 pm.)
Here are my Civil War Repro fat quarters- with the background fabric -that I picked out at the QUILTER’S CORNER April 12.
I must say that this is a new experience – there are diagrams for what the blocks are supposed to look like – but no rotary cutting instructions. I have become a bit attached to those instructions!
OK, no problem. I CAN DO THIS. I decided to choose the easiest block that I could find for my initiation into the Dear Jane journey – and A6 Uncle Homer’s block was my choice.
I have been told NOT to make ALL OF THE EASY ONES FIRST – but I think it is OK this time, given that it is my VERY FIRST BLOCK!
Moving right along, I measured the size of the block pieces and added 1/4 inch seam allowances. I was still feeling a bit like a novice, and because I LOVE my fabric – both the Civil War repros and the background – I decided to make a little practice block….
I carefully selected the fabric (LOVE RED AND WHITE)
…carefully looked at the diagram
….. carefully printed the A6 Uncle Homer page from my EQ program
……then I held my breath and carefully, cut, and sewed
(ever so straight scant 1/4 inch seams!)
Here it is – a perfect 5″ square and ever so cute. Time to breathe again!
Now I was feeling EVER SO BRAVE and decided that I was ready to move on to the REAL DEAL!
Since I LOVE all of the fabrics that I bought, it was a struggle to pick the one to begin with – but this one won! It is copyright protected from the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Collection – very interesting!
I was and am really excited – these blocks are so much fun to make and I like the dainty little dimensions. Actually, I just LOVE these tiny blocks and it was so easy! (I know, of course, that I just made the easiest block of all and that it took a WHOLE HOUR of meticulous, careful planning and practicing…..LOL…….)
A-6 Uncle Homer – is shown here – ready for a storage box – and hopefully it won’t be in there alone for long!
So far, I am having fun!
To be continued…….:)
Shirley, I too will be embarking on a Baby Jane journey. I bought the CD as well as the book. The CD gives you the rotary cutting directions. Of course, you need a degree in computers to figure out the tutorial that comes with the CD. I’ve only finished one block, but I do have plans to finish this quilt, even if it takes a while. I am using pink as my color for the blocks and white as the background. I am going to try to make at least one block a week. This is my time to go and visit everyone’s blogs and this is the first time I’ve been to yours. Your granddaughter is soooooo cute. Take care and good luck with the Baby Jane. Keep the piece. Renée