Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 20

I have done NO sewing this week.  I have been busy at work.  In a spare moment, I have indulged in a bit of Pinterest.  I have a board 'A Lifetime of Quilts To Make' to which I have added a few quilts. However, with the progress I have made this week, I am going to need more than one lifetime! Oh well ... back to the latest Nearly Insane update. 

Red and White Nearly Insane Blocks - Draw 19

This round has been one of the easiest, especially Block 31 which only had twenty pieces in it.  It was almost like a normal quilt block!

6" quilt block

It is always difficult to portray the actual size of things on the internet, so here is one of the 6" Nearly Insane blocks adjacent to my 6" square ruler.

The next blocks are as follows

3 - 8 - 45 - 94

 No promises when these will get done.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 38

Block 38, Nearly Insane Quilt

It has just gone 16:30 here in the UK, and I rushed outside to take a picture of the latest Nearly Insane block before the natural daylight faded completely.  As I write this the sun is just setting. Miraculously, the photo doesn't look as if it is mid-winter here! The red cherries in this block certainly cheer up the gloomy days. The blocks lately have been quite easy to do, with less that fifty pieces in them.  I think the next one only has about twenty pieces.


Block 38, Nearly Insane Quilt

Sometimes it is only once I have put the block together that I think that a bit of fussy cutting on some of the fabrics may have improved the overall look.  However, when I am actually cutting the fabric, I am desperately trying to use every last inch, which isn't always compatible with fancy cuts.  Also, I want to thank you for tolerating the green tacking thread in my blocks as we go along the journey.  For some reason I feel this block in particular will be greatly improved once the tacking thread is out, but there is still a way to go before that momentous occasion.


NUMBER OF PIECES:  45
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square 1/2" (13mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square  1 1/2" (38mm) x 1 1/2" (38mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Calico
Fine red stripe, Stof Quilters Basic
Days Gone By for Exclusively Quilters
Cream Pin Dot (Unidentified)
Gingham by The Henley Studio for Makower #920 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 22

Block 22 - Nearly Insane Quilt Block

It feels like this block has taken a long time to do.  The six inch block has about 133 pieces in it, so it is not surprising it took time.  As it was coming together it was looking a bit messy, but now it is completed and pressed, I quite like it (do I say that about all of them?).


Block 22 - Nearly Insane Quilt Block

When I was making the colour selections in my Electric Quilt software, I wanted to create a different pattern from the traditional flying geese look.  I think the result is quite interesting, a bit like an optical illusion. The border is made up from flying geese blocks which are just over half an inch deep, which you can see from the detail, but the impact of the pattern is quite different from a distance.
 
BTW: Did you see that Bonnie Hunter is on her way to England?  The trip she is on covers most of the key quilty places in the UK, and ends up at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, where I exhibited my Red and White Pinwheel quilt last year.  Knowing she will be there in August I feel the pressure to get one of her mystery quilts quilted and entered into the show!

NUMBER OF PIECES:  133
DIFFICULTY: 4/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square 1/2" (13mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Strip, 1/2" (13mm) x 2 1/2" (77mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Calico
Cream Bias Check Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5495 11
Cherry Sketch Basic Collection by Timeless Treasures #C8224
Somerset Shirtings c 1890 by Julie Hendrickson and Nancy Gere, Windham Fabrics # 35205
"Berry Falling Snow" by Kate Spain for Moda #27127-11

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 74

Nearly Insane Quilt, Block 74

What a difference a week makes.  After all that lovely sewing time of the holidays, I am now back at work, struggling to get just a bit of sewing done on my Nearly Insane blocks in my spare time.  Even finding time to blog seems difficult.  Anyway, here is Block 74.  I actually finished it on Day 12 of my sewing marathon, but only now have had time to take a picture in the daylight and note down the details.  This was a relatively simple block, with some pretty pinwheels, and I always like to add stripes.

Reverse - Block 74, Nearly Insane Quilt

Here is a reminder that I am making these blocks using the English paper piecing method.  This is a view of the back, and you will see that I baste through the paper and I will keep all the paper in until I have at least added the sashing pieces to each block.  I know there are different ways of doing this - this method works for me.

I am currently working away at block 22.  It has lots of flying geese in it and has over 100 pieces in it, but I don't have much more to do.

Also the Nearly Insane plan on my sidebar has been updated, and is a reminder that I am approaching the year anniversary on 16th February 2014.

NUMBER OF PIECES:  53
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square 1/2" (13mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Strip, 3 3/16" (80mm) x 3/8" (18mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Calico
"Prairie Paisley II" by Minick and Simpson for Moda (14739 21)
Spraytime (Scarlet) by Makower #2800-R06
Scattered Red Stars on White (Unidentified)
Red Garden Pindot by Michael Miller Fabrics 
Red and white stripe - unidentified

Day 9 - Twelve Days of Sewing at Fabadashery

Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt 2013 - Block Layout

As I said yesterday, a lot of my sewing time at the moment is being taken up with Bonnie Hunter's 2013 Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt.  Whilst I took a bit of a break from sewing today, I still managed to layout the blocks on the floor, and start to put them together.  It is happening quite quickly, but still a way to go.  At least you get to see a bit of a REVEAL of the final look.


Nearly Insane Quilt - English Paper Piecing

Whilst out and about today, I managed to prepare some of my English paper piecing templates for the next Nearly Insane block. All this was done whilst travelling in the car, and am pleased with the progress on this.  Over Christmas, this project has kept a steady pace, but as always, you wish it was going quicker.

Suzi hasn't much time for sewing today as the weather outside is wild and windy.  There are so many noises and sudden movements going on that she has found a spot to keep an eye on developments. See other busy cats at Feline Friday at Sarah Did It!

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 69

Block 69 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Here's another pretty block, mostly done on Christmas Day.  I think I have cracked the formula - include the cream neutral of the sashing, include a solid, and include a midtone, and use as many different fabrics as possible - I bet there are a ton of quilting books that could have told me that! Thanks to Zeynep Maule for identifying the little circle print as 'Homeschool' by Windham fabrics.  I just had a look at the whole range, and it is quite cute.


English paper piecing - tiny bits!

Here are some of the pieces that outline the central squares, they are only 1/8th" wide and 1" long, but I really like the detailed effect they give as part of the block.

Block 69 - Nearly Insane Quilt

The only decision now is which way to place it in the quilt ...

NUMBER OF PIECES:  54
DIFFICULTY: 3/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Rectangle 1/8" (6mm) x 3/4 (19mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Strip, 6 3/4" (170mm) x 7/16" (11mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Calico
Homeschool Mini Mono Floral Red, LB Krueger for Windham Fabrics SKU# 35182-3
Spraytime (Scarlet) by Makower #2800-R06
Red Garden Pindot by Michael Miller Fabrics 
Red and white stripe - unidentified


 

Day 4 - Twelve Days of Sewing at Fabadashery

Canoe block cornerstones - Nearly Insane Quilt

It seems like I was busy in the sewing room today, but have little to show for it.  Firstly, I managed to get three more canoe blocks done for my Nearly Insane quilt, so I think that makes a total of seven, so far.


Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt 2013 block trimmings

The rest of the time was spent trimming the remaining blocks for my Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt.  It seemed to take me ages.  Since I hand piece most of my quilts, mainly using English paper piecing, trimming for accuracy is not something I ever need to do, as the paper templates inside keep an accurate shape.  The quilt may be quick to sew on the machine, but other bits of the process sure take time!
 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Block 98

Edge Block 98 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Here is a photo of Block 98, one of the half blocks that go around the edge of the Nearly Insane Quilt.  I emphasise that it is a photo, because somewhere between taking the photo and now, I have misplaced it.  It is the only evidence that I have that I completed it.  I am hoping it will turn up between some papers, or in a 'safe' place that I might have put it.

As you will know, I always add the statistics of a completed block to the end of the post.  In it, I have a difficulty scoring.  So far only a very few have been beyond 4/10 (Block 43 sticks in my mind ...). To be honest using English paper piecing I have found these Nearly Insane blocks easy to put together.  As each one is different, it is like making a fresh 6 inch quilt each time. I have found process most enjoyable.  Yes, some pieces have been very small and difficult to handle, but they have only represented a tiny part of this quilt.  I know that if I had been doing those on the machine I would have given up a long time ago!

NUMBER OF PIECES:  15
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1" (25mm) x 11/16" (18mm) x 11/16" (18mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 3" (77mm) x 2 1/8" (54mm) x 2 1/8" (54mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Little Spots Red, Pierres Famous Travelling Circus, Michael Miller
Hearts on Red (567-R5) Makower
Tangled Threads in Apple Red on Cream, Mama Said Sew, by Sweetwater for Moda

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 85

English Paper Piecing - Nearly Insane Quilt, Block 85

Here is a detailed photograph of Block 85 of the Nearly Insane Quilt.  I hope it shows how the block is constructed, compared to the final effect.  You will see that I have used scraps of different fabrics to make up the square inside a square effect, using English paper piecing.

Block 85, Nearly Insane Quilt

Again, this block is my latest favourite.  The more scraps I can use, the more I love it, and I like the way the triangles make up the red square.I like the bright red square in the centre, I like the midtone half square triangles around the edge, and the white space.


Construction - Block 85 Nearly Insane Quilt

I am very aware that the Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt eats up a lot of my sewing time at this time of year, so I make sure that any time watching Christmas TV is productive, and Nearly Insane gets moved on.

Canoe Block Cornerstones for Nearly Insane Quilt

After Christmas I have hatched a plan to get a few more of my canoe block cornerstones completed.  I hope to do a "Twelve Days of Christmas Project" where I aim to get just one cornerstone done a day.  That will be twelve more done for the start of the New Year.  They are only small.  It should be easy enough.

NUMBER OF PIECES:  49
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1/2" (13mm) x 3/8" (9mm) x 3/8" (9mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 2 1/2" (63mm) x 1 3/4" (44mm) x 1 3/4" (44mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Scraps

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 39

Block 39 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Here is another attractive block for the Nearly Insane quilt.  Stripes, scraps, and a bold pattern. A good mix. However, it didn't go as smoothly as I thought it would (especially for just 29 pieces and mainly square shapes!)  I had mixed some pieces up and I was trying to line up two pieces that clearly didn't belong together - something was wrong.  I put it away for a few days until I knew I had the time and patience to unravel what had happened. All sorted now.


Block 39 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Also at the weekend I had a 'shout out' over at the "in hand EPP link party",  where you can see lots of English paper piecing - lots of busy people using found moments to get a bit of stitching done, creating wonderful masterpieces.  I always carry my stitching with me, as you never know when you may have some time on your hands.  A traffic jam, getting stuck in a lift, waiting for a train - all of these are attractive scenarios when you have your stitching at hand. Today for the first time in AGES, I left the house without my little bag of sewing.  Once I realised, it made me feel quite anxious.  I know Sarah had a similar experience a few weeks ago.


Clover Clamshell Case

BTW - Did any of you see the 'Great British Sewing Bee - Christmas Special' last night?  Stuart made one of the clamshell accessories cases that I made a few months ago.  He was using it as a hanging Christmas decoration - a great idea!

NUMBER OF PIECES:  29
DIFFICULTY: 3/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 11/16" (18mm) x 11/16" (18mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square,  5/8" (16mm) x 5/8" (16mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Scraps and Calico

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 59

It was almost a month ago since I asked for all your opinions for the colour choice of Block 59. It is only now that I have finally got around to getting it together.  Thank you for your thoughts.  In the end I went with Joann, Carole and Tubakk, and have made No 4.


Block 59, Nearly Insane Quilt

Today, I have just started getting ready for Christmas.  The Christmas decorations have been taken down from the attic and the Christmas cards are finally in the pipeline.  I would love to be doing more blocks for this quilt.  I would love to be catching up with Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt, but at the moment there are other priorities.


Block 59, Nearly Insane Quilt

There are only 33 pieces in this block.  It was easy to make. Just not so easy to find the time.  Roll on the Christmas break.

NUMBER OF PIECES:  33
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 11/16" (18m) x 11/16" (18mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square,  1 13/8" (36m) x 1 13/8" (36m)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Cherry Sketch Basic Collection by Timeless Treasures #C8224
Ivory on Red Cameo Bud Yardage # 14764 Midwinter Reds by Minick and Simpson, Moda
Apple Red on Cream Sewing Guide Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5490 11
Zig Zag Chevron Stripe Fabric in Cream Red 5498-31, Sweetwater Mama Said Sew, Moda
Calico

Nearly Insane Quilt Update - 100th Follower Edition

Nearly Insane Quilt - December 2013 Update

I am pleased to announce that Fabadashery has its 100th Follower!  Welcome Tina, and ohh look, here comes the 101st, Jennifer.  Since 90% of this blog is about the progress of the Nearly Insane (Salinda Rupp ) Quilt, as a treat for all the Followers, we get to have a Nearly Insane Quilt update.


Nearly Insane Quilt - December 2013 Update

I don't have a design wall (I don't think the EPP blocks would stick anyway ..), so I use a design floor.  I had to stand on the table, lean at an awkward angle, and hope for the best when taking the picture. When I do the updates, I don't place them in their final spot, it is a bit of a free for all.  However, this time I have laid it out showing its final width, which is about 7 blocks across.  Do you notice anything different since last time?  A few weeks ago I changed Block 30, as I felt it was not fitting in.  I think it is looking better this time around.


English Paper Piecing - Nearly Insane Quilt

I am also building up quite a collection of blocks, and the total so far are looking like this

48 Blocks

17 Edge blocks

30 Cornerstones

10 Half Cornerstone

105 Sashes

09 Border Units

And here are the sums for how many pieces I have done so far. 

Blocks and Edge Blocks = 2682

Cornerstones = 324

Sashes = 105

Border Units = 31

TOTAL = 3142

Electric Quilt - Nearly Insane Quilt, December 2013

This is how the Electric Quilt design is looking at the moment, and as always, it is updated on the sidebar regularly.  It still looks like there a lots of gaps to fill, but according to my sums, we should be 3/4 of the way through in the next few weeks - Celtic Solstice allowing!

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 56

Block 56 Nearly Insane Quilt

Life has been busy here, so getting my Nearly Insane blocks done has been more of a challenge lately, so this block really does deserve a Whoop Whoop.  I managed to get most of it done at a new quilting group that I have joined at Busy Bees Patchwork, Newport.  We are called 'Worker Bees', as we meet up after work, once a month.  We all stitch on different projects and it is great to see what everyone is doing.

Block 56 , Salinda Rupp Quilt

Each block I do becomes my new favourite, and this is no exception.  Pretty fabrics, pretty block, and pretty easy to put together.  This is the last one of the latest draw, so time to start thinking about the next batch.

I was going to head down to the West Country Quilt Show in Shepton Mallett, today, but instead felt I would get more value from my time if I actually sat down to do some stitching - there are so many projects needing to be done.  Bonnie Hunter has released the first part of her Mystery Quilt, there are Christmas projects half done, and Christmas presents to be made ... see you later.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.

NUMBER OF PIECES:  64
DIFFICULTY: /10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 3/4" (18mm) x 1/2" (13mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 2" (50mm) x 1 3/8" (36mm) x 1 3/8" (26mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Cream Bias Check Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5495 11
Lazy Daisy Red by Mama Said Sew Collection by Sweetwater for Moda (M 5494 21)
Friendship (Tonal Red) by Howard Marcus for Moda (Collections For a Cause) # 46130
Red Sprig print (unidentified)
 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Block 95

Edge Block 95, Nearly Insane Quilt

I tried to make something of the original pattern for this half edge block, but it was coming to nothing.  Instead I have adapted it (again).  It has ended up as a scrappy half square triangle fest, which is just fine for me.

Red and Cream fabric scraps

My pot of scraps is always staring at me, so whenever possible I try to use them.  As it is, I tend to make more scraps in the process!


Sewing thread for Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt

Speaking of scraps - it is only 4 days until Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt starts.  As you will know, I have raided my fabric stash for my alternative colour scheme , and yesterday, I went through my thread collection to pull out some spools of thread to use them up for the project, before I go out and buy some more. 

NUMBER OF PIECES:  16
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1 1/8"  (54mm) x 1 1/2" (38mm) x 1 1/2" (38m)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 1 1/8"  (54mm) x 1 1/2" (38mm) x 1 1/2" (38m) (they are all the same size!)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Scraps

Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Block 88 (Basket Block)

Block 88, Basket Block, Nearly Insane Quilt

This is the final basket block for this quilt.  I have used the same fabric combination as I used for Block 47 back in March.  The fabrics are really pretty, but they have a pink element in them, so I have avoided them for most of the quilt.  I just didn't want Block 47 to be on its own. 


Basket Blocks, Nearly Insane Quilt

Here are all the basket blocks together, with one full one and two edge blocks. It ended up as one fruit basket and two flower baskets. These are the only blocks which require applique, and you can see how I made the bias handle strip by visiting the post on Block 41.


NUMBER OF PIECES:  19
DIFFICULTY: 4/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 5"  (126mm) x  3 1/2" (90mm) x 3 1/2" (90mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 1"  (25mm) x  11/16" (18mm) x 11/16" (18mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Tried and True Raindrops Garnet(04273) by Nanacy Halvorsen, Benartex
Northcote Range, by Cabbages and Roses #35204 -21 by Moda
Tiny Flower Print (Unidentified)

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 14

Hand stitching with red thread ...

I really am making progress on this quilt.  Look at that spool of red thread.  There were 500 metres on it when I started, but there can only be about 3-4  metres left.  I always feel that reaching the end of spool of thread is a sign that I really DO do a lot of sewing, and it is justification for buying more fabric!


Block 14 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Moving onto Block 14.  I have used a lot of the 'Mama Said Sew' collection by Sweetwater, which was the collection that really got me going with the whole red and white theme for this quilt.  I originally had a layer cake, and I am near the end of my Red Hoops for that one.

Just 33 pieces, so quick to come together.


Block 14 - Nearly Insane Quilt

  Also working on secret Christmas gifts at the moment ...

NUMBER OF PIECES:  33
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 3" (76mm) x 1 7/16" (40mm) x 1 7/16" (40mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square, 1/2"  (13mm) x 1/2"  (13mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Christmas Past  (14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
Cream Bias Check Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5495 11
Red Hoops (5493-31) Mama Said Sew Collection, Sweetwater for Moda
Red dot (unidentified)

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 16

Salinda Rupp Quilt Blocks (Nearly Insane)

Here are Blocks 49, 66 and 81, and with the latest round of Nearly Insane blocks finished, it is time for the next draw, which are ....

14 - 29 - 56 - 95

 

I haven't had a chance to look at them yet, but over the weekend, I hope I will be able to make a start on them.

November 2013 - Red Berries

Unusually for mid-November, most of the trees still have their autumn colours, and we have had a few unexpected sunny days where they have looked really beautiful against the blue sky.  The bushes are also thick with red berries. However, we have had our first frost this week, and it looks like we finally have the start of winter here I the UK.



Fabadashery - Celtic Solstice Quilt Fabric Stash

Along with the winter comes Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt.  This is what my fabric stash for the quilt is currently looking like, since I last wrote about it.  Plenty of green, yellow and pink, but struggling on softer / tangerine oranges.  However, over at Sparrow in Flight, there is a Givewaway - FOR INTERNATIONALS ONLY, sponsored by Fluffy Sheep Quilting, where I see they have a great range of orange fabric.


Suzi the Cat - waiting patiently ...

Suzi loved doing the Easy Street Quilt last year and can't believe that there are still two weeks to wait before we can print off the first set of instructions!

Joining up with Crazy Mom Quilt!