Thursday, May 5, 2022

A Zoom Class with Dana Jones - Peace Cranes over Hiroshima

Near the end of March, I attended a guild Zoom class with Dana Jones.  Dana created this Peace Cranes over Hiroshima pattern after a visit to Hiroshima.  She was very moved by the experience and set out to design a tribute to her trip.    This paper pieced project is not what you would call a beginner project.  I had some previous experience so I did ok.  Dana definitely has some techniques to help me enjoy paper piecing more than before.    The pattern kit she provided had all the tools you could possibly need.   Charts, sheets of over 80 labels to label all the pieces that were cut, sewing sequences of the segments and finishing diagrams, etc.   All were so useful to refer too, and made the project very easy finish after the class. 

Weeks before the class, I set out to create myself a fabric kit from my stash.  My friend Willa helped me out from her stash too.  Actually, I think there's as much from her stash in the colors as there is from my stash.  It was fun to have her opinion to pick the colors. (Many thanks Willa)


Stash fabrics all selected and ready for my class


At the end of the Zoom class day, I had completed the smallest
crane.    It set a good pace for me.  1 crane a day.  

Day 2 - another crane.   I'm feeling in the groove. 
My goal to have the 6 cranes paper pieced within the week.

Tada - this was a great pace for me.   6 cranes done in a week

After sewing all the segments together,
picking off the paper was the next task.  

A couple of evenings of watching TV helped.

The flimsey.  Pressed but not trimmed or squared off yet.

Background quilted.  Marking the wings of the cranes
and stitch in the ditch.

Made the label using scrap cuttings from the paper piecing.
It will be hand stitched to the back.


I used many rulers and tools to square up the piece to 36" x 48"

Detail of background quilting

My beautiful Peace Cranes over Hiroshima is
 done and is hanging in my family room.  I'm pleased.
 It will be shown at our next guild quilt show.