Wow, 225 different fabrics? I have a large (for me) stash, but I doubt if I have that many different ones. Well done, I will look forward to seeing it in due course.

Well...I recolored the quilt in the software at the start. I was trying to stay somewhat close to that..but I have varied some. I don't have a stash large enough to use all different fabs, so I have to go with what I have here. I'm just trying to stay within a "range of colors"

I'm wondering if when I lay it out at the end and something looks terrible .....how guilty will I feel moving the blocks around from their original placement....how do you guys feel about that?

I would go with the best color placement. It's all about color placement. The majority of the population-even quilters-won't have a clue if a block isn't in it's "proper place". But folks do notice colors . . . yeah, listen at me. I haven't even got up the nerve to BEGIN such an awesome project.

I have a simplified Trip Around the World layout, with about half of the blocks. When all the blocks are done, I will lay it out and if it doesn't flow with that design, I have no problem moving blocks around, I don't feel committed to Jane's layout since my fabrics have a star/holiday theme. I have about 40 different fabrics, with dark reds, greens, tans/creams and blacks. I am working with a coordinated fat quarter bundle. It will be me when its done! I doubt Jane would mind. :)

Patti said: Well...I recolored the quilt in the software at the start. I was trying to stay somewhat close to that..but I have varied some. I don't have a stash large enough to use all different fabs, so I have to go with what I have here. I'm just trying to stay within a "range of colors"

I'm wondering if when I lay it out at the end and something looks terrible .....how guilty will I feel moving the blocks around from their original placement....how do you guys feel about that?

I've already done that. I discovered I had made two triangles on the same side in the same fabric, so I substituted one for one one another side. I wasn't in to redoing the offending tri! The other thing I have done is change B13. All my blocks are just two colours, and I really didn't feel that B13 lent itself very well to this (Jane used a printed fabric for the centre, and two other colours). So I have done one of the alternatives in the software, and made 8 flying geese going round each other.
Is this sacriledge? Well, it's right on one side, out of the way, so to speak, and in some ways, the flying geese are more interesting than the original block, so no, I don't think I feel too guilty. I just haven't told my brother about it, as he has nabbed it for after I am gone, because it fascinates him from the historic point of view. He has even asked me to put it in my will for him, so he really means it! (I redid my will recently, so he is sorted and it will go to him)

I've also looked at lots of finished Janes, and a lot of people have moved the basket around (J12) so it's the right way up if you stand at the end of the bed. I think I'll do the same when I start assembling. My cornerstone fabric arrived yesterday, and I've just finished quilting all the squares I have made, so I can start on quilting the tris now. I still have 33 blocks to make, so I haven't finished yet.

Well, I think that I will just lay mine out, then change the blocks around as "desired"..(kind of like quilt as desired)...I just won't tell Jane :wink: . I'm going to have to go look at the B13 alternates just to see what you did Lesley. I already thought that I would change the basket too.

I must be nuts because I thought...well, this will be my "practice" Jane...the next one will be the actual tribute when I know more of what I'm doing....then I thought... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: who are I trying to kid????? :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I think if your intention is to make a replicate, then your ideas would be a problem Lesley. If your intention is to make your "baby Jane" in your own way, then you are doing it PERFECTLY!! I think you can lay them out however you'd like and it will be fine!

As for what I'm doing...I printed out the blank DJ from the software. I then color in the square/tri I'm making with markers to reflect whether I'm using green/brown/red/orange as the predominant color for the block. One of these days I'll snap a photo and post it. Then when I go to work on a block, I pull out my chart, and look what's near the block I'm making to decide which fabric to use.

I think the minute I decided to make mine with batiks was when it stopped being like a replica Esq. and I very early on thought I would call it Jane, Past and Present, so I'm hoping she will look down and forgive me my transgressions!

I didn't realize when I started making the blocks that Jane had used, more or less, a trip around the world color placement. When (if) I ever get my blocks done, they will be arranged in a color pattern that more or less pleases me - and Miss Jane's layout will be Miss Jane's layout.

I rather suspect she made all her blocks with whatever she could get her hands on at the time, then played around with them for color placement.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could just pop back and ask her?