Dear Jane....

1863
Jane A. Sickle Quilt

Dearest Jane,
How in heaven's name did you get this magnificent quilt done?  I have been saving all my little bits and pieces from my Civil War Diary quilt with the thought I will make a 'Dear Jane' quilt.  Testing the waters, I started with the first block.  Traced all my pieces onto freezer paper and have ironed them onto my fabric.  Thinking this project would be a wonderful hand piecing project that I can do in front of the TV.  Thought it would be easy to sew using an English paper piecing method.  I'm struggling with it.  I either need to get new glasses, or a magnifying glass.  I can not imagine hand piecing a quilt in the 1800's under candlelight!  Jane, how did you do it?  How long did it take?

Respectfully yours,



So I have been saving all of my bits and pieces from my Civil War Diary quilt thinking "These will be perfect for a Dear Jane quilt"  I decided I would give the first block in the book a try.

I traced and iron on all my pieces on my fabric using the freezer paper method thinking how hard can it be!  I've done English Paper Piecing and finished a double sized Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt.

I start sewing in front of the TV and scream, I need more light, I need new glasses and so on.....

I managed to get half of the block done.  Yippee... half done.... and that's where I last left my Dear Jane Quilt almost a month ago.  I vow to get back to it.... maybe next week.... I'll just keep saving my Civil War Diary Scraps.