Monday 11 February 2013

Nearly Insane Quilt - Passport Packed!

Before you embark on a journey you need to make your travel arrangements, pack your suitcase with essentials, and arrange for someone to feed the cats.  These are the sort of preparations I have been making before my Nearly Insane Quilt journey.

1.  My guidebook on my Nearly Insane Quilt journey is Liz Lois book which has the templates for each of the 6" blocks, colour pictures of some completed Nearly Insane quilts, and along with some beautiful quilts on the internet, has been the inspiration for the journey in the first place.
Book: Nearly Insane Quilt by Liz Lois
Book: Nearly Insane Quilt by Liz Lois
2.  The type of journey I will be going on will be a hand pieced one.  It will largely be English Paper Pieced (EPP), but if there is heavy weather ahead, I am prepared for an alternative route using Foundation piecing.
3.  The flavours I will be tasting will largely be red and cream, with some white fabric.  At the moment I have not made a final decision on the fabric for the sashing and the cornerstones.  At the moment the sashing is probably a cream calico and the cornerstones a solid red.  But like any good quilter, I will try to fit in a few 'fabric shop hops' along the way of my journey, where I hope to find something more appealing.

Red and Cream / White Fabrics for Nearly Insane Quilt
Red and Cream / White Fabrics for Nearly Insane Quilt
3.  My map on the journey is Electric Quilt 5.  I have already drawn out each block into the software, and set them into the quilt.  I have also scanned all my fabrics in, as a 'Nearly Insane Collection'.  This allows me to print off an accurate block for my paper pieces, and the shapes for cutting out the fabric.  It will also allow me to keep track of my progress, so I know how much of the quilt I have done, and how far I have to go.
Nearly Insane Quilt in Electric Quilt Software Fabadashery
Nearly Insane Quilt in Electric Quilt Software

4. To help decide which route I am taking I have set myself up a lucky draw.  I have cut up each block from the Electric Quilt print out of the whole Nearly Insane Quilt, numbered each block, and put them in a lucky dip bowl. For each draw I will randomly select 3 blocks, and 1 edge half block.  This will allow me to prepare the fabrics as I go along in a manageable way, and set them up in portable project bags, so there is always something ready to do on the go.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Lucky Dip Bowl Fabadashery
Nearly Insane Quilt - Lucky Dip Bowl
I think that is about everything for now.  I will be on this journey for quite a while, but I hope to send you all regular postcards!

12 comments:

  1. I think being really organised is the only way with a quilt like this, I have the book but first I want to make Dear Jane :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane was a close contender, maybe somewhere down the line!

      Delete
  2. Great analogy...looking forward to the postcards!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a fun post to read...love your flavors! Can't wait until you depart!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh my! That is totally insane in a beautifully crazy way. Love your Lucky Dip Bowl! I'll be following along to make sure you don't fall off the deep end...

    ReplyDelete
  5. I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but
    your blogs really nice, keep it up! I'll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back down the road. Many thanks

    Feel free to surf to my blog post ... blaze

    ReplyDelete
  6. The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iphone
    and tested to see if it can survive a twenty five foot drop,
    just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now broken and she has
    83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!



    Have a look at my homepage ... http://www.pakhazara.com
    Also see my web site: pakerice

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have the Dear Jane and the similar Diamond version. I can't wait to see yours.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, you did the blocks on EQ5... :-D
    Amazing!
    First I'll finish my DJ (just begun last week), then I'll think about Nearly Insane, but it's soooo inspiring to see your work!
    Congratulations... :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Goodday. I love the quilt and would love to make it. My problem is I have already ordered it twice form amazon.com and it is still not been delivered. That was already September this year. Does anyone know where I can manage to byu the book and it been delivered.
    Kind regards

    ReplyDelete
  10. How do you know how much fabric to buy?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Goodday. I selected my colour scheme in shades of red and the tone on tone whites. I bought 3X 6 inch strips of 14 coulours - light, medium and dark tones as a start-up. I have selected 7 different white fabrics and byu as I need. All fabrics is cut in 6 inch strips and should one be finished and not available I substitute it with another red fabric in same colour range. In this manner I do not have to byu bulk and sit with exxes or any exstras when I am done and I have a variety in prints. Regards Rene

    ReplyDelete