General Appliqué Techniques for Dear Jane Goes EPP

General instructions on doing appliqué using the Dear Jane EPP kits available from Paper Pieces.

[@lance3665]

Your work is amazing. Thank you for all the tips.

[@tallquaker]

You do amazing work! I love the fabrics you are using in the quilt. Can you tell me about them and where I can find them and similar fabrics? I'm always looking for good reproduction civil war era fabrics. Thanks so much!

[@PoolesPiecing]

Thank you for your kind words. My fabric selection was simple since I am using a BOM I had from 2010 from Stitchin’ Heaven. They actually still do this BOM in this exact colorway, and is starting a new round this November. Here’s the link: stitchinheaven.com/products/dear-jane-r-bom The photo on this site is the original Dear Jane quilt. They do their best to match these fabrics with what is available to them at the time. They provide you with Fat 8ths (or 16ths - can’t remember which) so it saves a ton of money on fabric since most places you have to purchase AT LEAST a fat quarter. There is also instructions for piecing blocks included, but I just ignore those and use the fabrics for EPP. It has been a wonderful resource. I don’t know of anywhere else that you can find a better setup. Hope that answers your question.

[@cmspe]

There are options in situations like this where you do not have to cut any paper out. If you use a dissolvable applique paper for the melon, you sew the melon on and leave that paper in. Later, when you wash the quilt, the paper softens into tiny fibers and can stay in the quilt. Also, the paper is iron on and turning the fabric around the shape (melon) is very easy. Here is a link to the product I use most often (Appliquick paper). kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmSzn4uwj5KIobs

[@mariaescuderomartinez3430]

Cuando se quitan las plantillas de detrás ? Me encanta el Dear Jane

[@dawnebrooks1350]

Why not do the applique this way. After preparing the melon, just starch or spray to firm up the edges and then remove the melon paper piece?

[@PoolesPiecing]

This is a suggestion based on my experience with the Dear Jane EPP kits. There is no “rule”. However, I have found it is more accurate to keep the paper piece in while appliqueing. Then remove it once the entire block is in its proper place within the quilt.

[@roxyandpeanut22]

I'm using the Dear Jane EQ software and my J-9 block has the melons so small that they fit in the white border, and don't extend out onto the outer border of the block. They are so tiny I'm having trouble preparing the pieces.

[@PoolesPiecing]

Try enlarging the pieces like Paper Pieces did. You can find a larger football shape on another block in the book so you don’t have to fiddle around with trying to draw it yourself. Make it whatever size is comfortable for you to handle and that you like. Remember: this is the ONLY ONE of these blocks in the entire quilt, so make it your own!

[@PoolesPiecing]

J10 might have a good sized football for this.

[@roxyandpeanut22]

Poole’s Piecing , thank you so much!

[@sharonfoster4310]

I did reverse applique in one block which had tiny 3/8" triangles . Sorry I don't know its ID number. I seriously considered embroidering them

[@terririddle3070]

Why aren’t there videos on rows A-F for block assembly?

[@PoolesPiecing]

I started doing videos at the end of Row G because it was a need that surfaced. I will be doing videos for all the rest of the rows when I start my next colorway. My first top is currently at the hand quilters. I hope to start my next one this summer.

[@KJTrucks]

Regarding the use of the stapler - don't you think the ends of the staple may snag your fabric and pull the threads in your piece? A pin is pointed, a staple is not. Did you ever have a problem with this process?

[@PoolesPiecing]

I have not had any issues with the fabrics I have used for this project, however I have had issues in the past with fabrics that had a lower thread count. Products similar to a linen-feel like a homespun-type fabric don’t hold up well. For the normal high quality, quilt-shop fabrics, I just make sure I move quickly with the stapler. A slower move tends to snag like you suggest. Like anything else, test the technique on scraps to make sure you have it down and are okay with the holes in the first place.