The original DJ list was a support group formed by Karan Flanscha (SadieRose@aol.com). We merged in February, 1997 with about 15 members and by April had 47 members. 

At that time there were Row Moms who were responsible for helping with tips for each row. There should be enough tips here to get you started and to apply to the other blocks. As people make the blocks, they offer specific tips. 

I must tell you right away that I am not the one who keeps this list moving and together. It is the people on it! I was the most clueless person in the world, and they very patiently pulled/pushed me through the "Doorway of Technology." In truth, I haven't taken many steps beyond. I depend a great deal upon everyone on the list to carry me, which really isn't fair to them, but they do it out of kindness and Baby Jane® love. 

There is a spirit on this Dear Jane List which is full of warmth and  love. I have been told it is very different from most lists. What I do know is that everyone here shares a common bond in making Janes quilt and is very generous of their time and talent. 

We try to keep Jane and her quilt as the focus of attention on the list. This does not mean that every letter is about a block. On the contrary, we share all of our lives, friends, family, joys, sorrows. We have rejoiced with the birth of babies and cried with the loss of loved ones. This is the very heartbeat of the DJ list.  However, if you wish to correspond with someone personally, please make it a private matter, out of respect for them and for the rest of us.  We ask you practice good netiquette, it's really just common sense.

What is a Baby Jane? When this project started in 1991, Baby Janes are what the blocks were named. It is derived from the fact that Jane's quilt is the Mother of all Quilts, and all of the quilts which we make are her "babies.". Neither my students or myself never thought of calling them anything else. When the book came  out in April 1996, some were calling the blocks DJ blocks and I believe that is the name most familiar to the people on the list. I also call the quilts which we make "Baby Jane" quilts, because they are made from Baby Jane blocks. Patterns for The Quilt: the blocks themselves are the patterns. We are all using many techniques for making the blocks, but the one tried and true is to trace the block on freezer paper, cut apart the pieces and add 1/4 inch seam allowance to each piece, just as you would do with any quilt block. 

Button Pin

We have a  2 inch button pin! It has a photo of The Quilt and "Dear Jane" on it. We use this pin so we can recognize each other at quilt shows. The pin is available in the Dear Jane store and is free with the purchase of a book

How much background do I need?

In the book , I suggest 5 yards for the entire quilt. This is an error on my part. If you are hand-piecing, you will need about 8 yards. If you are machine piecing, I recommend about 15 yards. However, if you are foundation piecing, you will need about twenty. This information had been graciously provided by those who have made the top. (Myself? I have made many Jane quilts, blocks and triangles.  I am currently making Eeva Liisa in honor of a lady in Finland by the same name.

As for Newbies, there is a strict rule: you must introduce yourself! We can't welcome you if you're lurkin' in space :-)  I am having a wonderful time meeting all of you! Hope you will be able to attend one of the classes/lectures.
 

Many DJ'ers take their books to Kinko's and for $2-3.00 have it spiral  bound. 

See the Dear Jane website for photos of the quilt, Jane's home, and the Jane store (books, pins and tote bags) All items are sent Priority Mail, except the pin. 

The website is designed and maintained by my son Michael.  He is the "Dear Jane Support Group." I'm am learning ... If you have a question, write support@dearjane.com. If I can't answer your question, I will pass it on to Michael, our guru. Needless to say, I believe it is the best site on the Internet! 

 Karan Flanscha has been gracious enough to compile some information for those beginning their Jane Journey. Thank you Karan for providing this to us!

Welcome to the Dear Jane list.  Here is some info I have collected, to help you get acquainted with the group.  If you will take the time to read through this (I know there is a lot ;) many of your initial questions will be answered. 

  The DJ list started in Feb. 1997, and some of our members have been with the list from day one!!  So, if you are new to the group, there is alot of "history" for you to catch up on!!   Feel free to ask questions, this is a very welcoming group that is happy to help out our new "converts" :)    Karan-Jane

Probably the #1 most asked question on the list: "what do the numbers after your names mean?"   (For example:  138, 1, 1, 2450)

The numbers are number of blocks Jane blocks completed, number of triangles completed, number of pieces used and some put in a 3rd number, number of corners complete.  So it looks like (138 blocks, 1 triangle, 2450 pieces or 138 blocks, 1 triangle, 1 corner, and ???? pieces if you lose count)

DJ CD-   Dear Jane on a CD-Rom!!    No, you don't have to have the CD to do Dear Jane (but it will make it a lot easier!) and you don't have to have EQ5 to use this CD, it is a stand-alone product. You only need Windows 98 or better. You can order from Brenda www.dearjane.com/order.htm

Hyphen my name and call me Jane!

 From:   becky@dementia.org (Rebecca Maclean Rieger)After several months on the DJ list, I have finally cracked into making a block for myself - A6. Yay! Just wanted to celebrate!
Becky-Jane  1-0-0-9 (did I get it right?)

 Yes, Becky got it right :)   When you complete your first DJ block, youofficially become a DJer (or Stickler, or Janiac), and you can "hyphen your name" and put the numbers after it in your signature!!

 The term "BOLLs" was what we came up with as the opposite of "Newbies" (because it sounds so much better than "oldies"!!) It stands for Been On List Long, and with the year you started (BOLL 97, for example).  When you have been on the DJ list for 1 year, you qualify as a BOLL. 

 Probably the #2 most often asked question is "what does TATW mean, and what colors are the rows?"

 Trip Around the World....if you study the photo of the original Jane Stickle quilt, on the page opposite the Table of Contents in the Dear Jane book, or the photo at the web site, you will notice the blocks are arranged in colored rows, like a Trip Around the World quilt, giving some order to the variety of colors in the blocks.  The center is a Green block, the next row is 4 yellow blocks, then purple, red, pink.  The next row is probably purple, although some of  the colors may have faded over the years, then another row of red with a few pumpkin oranges.  This is the last definite row, then the partial rows are mostly browns, with a few blue blocks.  The four corners are green blocks. 

#3 "Do I have to make my quilt with Civil War era reproduction fabrics?" You can make your quilt with whatever fabrics you want to!!  We have seen Dear Jane quilts in every combination imaginable, here is a list of some of the color schemes DJers have used:  Civil War, like the original, with one background fabric OR with all different shirting print backgrounds; Amish (black background with solids); autumn colors with black sashing; batiks, some with Eggplant background; black & white; blues & white; blues & yellows; redwork-style embroidered Janes (in various color schemes); greens & white; "neutral" blocks (tan & whites); New York brights (PhabPhan Diane's amazing technicolor quilt!); pink, red & burgundies; purples & white; red & green (Christmas); red, white & blue (Brenda's "Spirit of Jane" quilt); all reds with shirting prints; all plaids; "scrappy"; "stained Jane" with black background & bright prints; 30's repros; teal & white; "tropical parrot brights"- blues/greens/yellows, black & white (some with an accent color). 

#5 What is a siggie??  We  use block D-13, signed with our names, locations, e-mail address & often some drawings or other embellishments, to trade with other DJers.  The "siggies" trade is done once  a year.  Information for the 2006 Siggie Swap is found http://www.dearjane.com/siggie_swap.htmn
There are a few other swaps during the year like Spring Fling, Fall Frolic, Christmas swap. These swaps will be announced throughout the year.

 #6 What blocks to start with??   New DJers often ask this...some members start with A-1 and work their way systematically to M-13.  However, the general consensus from the list members is to start with some of the "easier" blocks and as you gain skills and confidence, proceed to some of the more challenging blocks.  Suggested pieced blocks to start with:  M-10, A-6, A-8, B-13, D-13   Applique blocks to start with: D-3, C-9, B-1, E-10 (the background is pieced, but this is a good place to start practicing your "melons").  Be sure to check out the tips at the Dear Jane web site. 

 European DJ's

There are plenty of European Janes on the list, but quite a few are of the quiet variety. If what you are looking for are to get closer to other European Janes, I know of the following possibilities :-)If you read German, there is a German Jane list with Yahoo !There is also a Scandinavian Jane-list (if you read any of the Scandinavian languages,write me privately if you want to know about that one :-). I frankly don'tknow if there is a French list, but I think (and might well be wrong) thatthere is a Dutch list :-) So, depending on your language (Flemish oFrench), you might get lucky and find a European language group focused on Jane :-)

Tilde in Copenhagen (Denmark, Europe :-)From:   binger.hougaard@mail.dk (T & T Binger-Hougaard)

DJ: Virtual Design Wall
Sharon Mastbrook created a Virtual Design Wall to track your DJ progress: http://www.smastbrook.net, then click on Dear Jane, then Want to see How Your Baby Jane is Doing? 

     http://www.smastbrook.net/dj/djvdwall.htm

Ongoing activities:

BOW:  Susanne Kleen will be posting the Block Of the Week block challenges for 2006. When you have completed the block for the week, write Susanne susanne@janiac.com
See the complete list:  http://www.janiac.com/2006bow.html

TOW: Teri Reymann issues the Triangle of the Week.
When you complete your triangle, write to Teri
thefatquarterlady@yahoo.com
See the complete list: http://les3a.no-ip.com/rosa/tow/tow.html

 COW: Dear Hannah Challenge
Linda Jones issues the Hannah Challenge of the week.
When you finish your Hannah block, write to Linda
 ljones38685@bellsouth.net
 http://www.dearjane.com/weeklychallenges.htm

 Triangle Achievement List is kept by Mary in AZ:
0 triangles you are a Plain Jane
10 triangles a Baby Jane
20 triangles a Teen Jane
30 triangles a Lady Jane
40 triangles a Fancy Jane
52 a Queen Jane

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 DJ List - Connie Lucas  keeps track of blocks completed by members and posts a list every week:  
Silver--25
 Gold--50
Diamond--75
Jubilee--100
Platinum --130
Wonder Workers --all 169 blocks completed
Miracle Workers --all block and all triangles completed
Goddess-- Dear Jane quilt finished.

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THE QUILT (Jane Stickle's original)  will be on display annually the last three weeks of September and the first three weeks in October at the Bennington Museum in lovely south western Vermont.  The museum info can be found at   http://www.benningtonmuseum.com

 The Bennington Museum is open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM according to their web site. 

 POSTER:  The Bennington Museum now has a poster of Jane Stickle's quilt.  To order call   1-802-447-1571  $19.95plus $2.00 S&H

Shipshewana, IN DJ Gatherings
Information can be found www.janiac.com

May 2006                    April 26 - April 30
November 2006           November 15 - November 19, 2006 

Susanne Kleen maintains a website with links to many DJ web pages:
If anyone else wants to be included on the links page please e-mail her.
If you are listed and want your link removed please let her know.  Also, if anyone would like to submit photos for the Dear Jane Friends web site, e-mail or snail mail them to:  Susanne Kleen susanne@janiac.com

Here is the DJ Friends web site address:
http://www.janiac.com

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