What Is a Dear Jane Quilt?

A Dear Jane quilt is a patchwork quilt based on one created by a Vermont woman named Jane in the 19th century. Dear Jane quilts are characterized by varied and complex geometric shapes.

History

The original quilt was made in 1863 by Jane A. Blakely Stickle. In 1991, Donna Bister and Richard Cleveland published "Plain and Fancy: Vermont's People and Their Quilts As a Reflection of America." A photograph of the quilt appeared in the book. It was noticed by Brenda Manges Papadakis, a teacher and keen quilter with a background in mathematics, who began to make her own designs based on the original quilt. This became the impetus for her book, "Dear Jane."

Features

The original quilt features varied and elaborate geometric designs in colorful fabrics. Dear Jane quilts attempt to echo the design of the original, in some cases using reproduction fabrics based on the textiles of the era.

Fun Fact

Many quilters have taken up making quilts inspired by the original 1863 quilt. Their quilts are nicknamed Baby Janes, and the quilters themselves are called Janiacs.

References

• Dear Jane: The Two Hundred Twenty-Five Patterns from the 1863 Jane A. Stickle Quilt
• Abe Books: "Plain and Fancy: Vermont's People and Their Quilts As a Reflection of America"; Donna Bister and Richard Cleveland
• Darla: Dear Jane Quilt

Resources

• The World Wide Quilting Page: Quilt Block Patterns in Alphabetic Order