Saturday, December 21, 2013

Dear Jane Progress

Having spent the morning climbing up and down a ladder to get my Dear Jane blocks up on the design wall, I am seriously pondering NOT doing the triangles.  They are about 25% done, but I'm just not sure they are worth the effort.  Not doing them would allow me to use a wider sashing for the blocks and spread them out a bit to give them some space to breath.  A simpler border treatment might allow the center blocks to shine.  Then again, maybe I am just feeling lazy and see a possible light at the end of the tunnel?  If I skip the triangles, will I always feel that I cheated and took the easy way out? Opinions please.  Triangles or no triangles?


18 comments:

LuAnn said...

Well, I count 13 triangles in the photo, so you are 1/4 of the way there. I waited until the very end to do my triangles and wished that I had done them along with my blocks. I think they would be worth it along with white solid triangles in between them. Your color choices and blocks are just gorgeous, and you are so close!

Quilter Kathy said...

OH my goodness this is so pretty! Love all your colours! I really like the look of the triangles, but have no idea of how hard they are to make. And I like the blocks together giving the trip around the world effect, which you might not get as much if you put in sashing?

sophie said...

Take the triangles of the design wall and let it sit for a day or two (or three) and see how you feel about it without them. Like many aspects of quilting, I don't think there's one right answer here ... and you're not lazy if you decide to make a quilt without the triangles. But, if you' you know you'll keep chiding yourself if you don't make every last block and triangle in the Jane Stickle quilt, then you probably ought to keep going. Only YOU know which path will satisfy you and your design esthetic. Good luck with the decision :-)

Margaret said...

Sophie's advice is very good. Nowadays we tend to give up on projects when we hit a tough patch, and certainly Ms. Stickle is not going to haunt you if you don't do those triangles, but I'm sensing you might want to hang in there and do them. Only by removing them and auditioning sashing without them will you really know for sure. :-)

Diane Kelsey said...

Simply stunning! I agree with Sophie, wait until after Christmas to make your decision.

audrey said...

Your rainbow Dear Jane is gorgeous! So bright and happy. What part of this quilt makes it a 'Dear Jane' for you personally though? I bet you come up with that answer in a few days of seeing it on the design wall.:)

Deb A said...

Did you do the triangles on your other dj? Others are correct, will it bother you later if they are not on there? I think it is lovely without them but it is all up to what you will be happy with when you look at it.

Deb A said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dasha said...

The only thing you can do is remove the triangles and fill the design in with some trial sashing pieces, then let it sit for a few days so you can see the effect. I always find that if a question like that is asked, the fact that it is asked in the first place means that you really know the answer already, but are loathe to do what you know is the right thing (usually because it means a lot more work LOL). Good luck. It looks fabulous.

A Left-Handed Quilter said...

I agree with Dasha - if you have to ask, "If I skip the triangles, will I always feel that I cheated and took the easy way out?" - you already know that the answer is "Yes" - ;))

I did the same thing with my "Floral Applique" when I thought that I could stop after making the first four blocks. It could use another three - but it was SOOO much work - I decided to stop at four. It haunted me until I finally added the last three blocks on top - and NOW it looks finished. So I say - add the triangles - if you don't - someday you may wish that you had - ;))

Sewing In CT said...

I think that the triangles, although difficult, are a beautiful part of the quilt and also a part of what makes the WHOLE quilt so spectacular.
Triangles are for the BIG picture and when you dial it in closer, you see the beauty and detail of the smaller blocks. There's no rush to finish it though, is there?

Brenda said...

I like the idea of the wider sashing and without the kites, your DJ will be unique.

Amanda said...

If it were me I know that I'd regret not including the triangles. I often suffer from quilt fatigue as it gets near the end and don't finish it in the way I imagined it, and it is never really satisfactory.

Ellen said...

That is such a tough question and only you really have the answer. You already have a good start on the triangles and it would be such a shame to exclude them just to rush through to the finish.

Jo said...

I love the look of the bright colours & your triangles look great.
I would persevere with them .at the end of the day it is your quilt & your choice. Don't be pressured into doing what others say. You will make the right choice.
Merry Christmas

Sheila said...

I agree with you, Angela. I like the idea of wider sashing and a simple border treatment. And No. I do not think you are lazy.

Jennie said...

Not lazy at all! But I think you might regret not doing them in the future. Like everyone else - take them down and see what you think after Christmas.

A little bit of sashing may be a good idea even if you do inlude the triangles as it will the busy blocks some breathing space.

I'm certainly taking the advice of doing the triangles as I go - that's a good idea!

I still can't believe how far you've got with this in just one year!

AnneP said...

Another option would be to use the triangles you have already made but intersperse them with a solid fabric - put a solid fabric on your design wall around the middle and place the triangles on top and see if you like it.