Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 26

Block 26 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Another quick block.  I have changed the design slightly, adding the red corner triangles, and merging the centre four squares into one to make the most of some fussy cutting, so just in case the Nearly Insane Quilt Police are out there, it still ends up with more pieces than the original.

Block 26 - Nearly Insane Quilt

As a reminder, I have purchased Liz Lois 'Nearly Insane' book for the design of this quilt, transferred the block designs into Electric Quilt Software, where I have made a few changes as I see fit.

Block 26 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Strangely, this block had the same construction format as Block 51 which I have recently done, but this time I was able to take a photo during the construction process to remind me of what to look out for.  It has that same shaped piece on the sides which requires the block to be pieced in a certain order.

"Wishes" by Sweetwater, "Counting Sheep" Blank Quilting

I have been out and about travelling in the car this weekend which has meant a lot of hand stitching has been done.  We travelled through Dorset, and this always calls for a visit to Hansons Fabrics in Sturminster Newton.  I love the selection of fabrics that they hold there, plus the fact that they have a lot of dressmaking fabric, wool and other craft bits and pieces.  I bought a few fat quarters to supplement my stash and also two more red and white fabrics - yes, I know I only have a few blocks left but it is a hard habit to break! The roundels are from "Wishes" by Sweetwater and I hope to use this for some fussy cutting.  The little swirls "Counting Sheep - Cherry" Calista from Blank Quilting. 

NUMBER OF PIECES:  33
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle  3/4" (18mm) x 1/2" (13mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square  1 1/16" (27mm) x 1 1/16" (27mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Christmas Past  (#14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
Cream Heart Paisley # 14766-15, Midwinter Reds by Minick and Simpson, Moda 
Red Heart Paisley # 14766 , Midwinter Reds by Minick andSimpson, Moda
Red and White # 14766 , Midwinter Reds by Minick  and Simpson, Moda
Redwork Rendezvous by Alex Anderson for P and B Textiles
Pearlescent dot (Unidentified)
 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 23 + Giveaway Info!

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 23

I am really squeezing in every bit of sewing I can at the moment.  A few weeks ago I prepared quite a few Nearly Insane blocks, by cutting out the templates and fabric - it really pays off having them ready to go.  I have come to learn that the actual preparation of each block is quite a time consuming part of the Nearly Insane quilt.  There are no repetitions, there are very few opportunities to cut in bulk, and each block is like doing a mini- quilt on its own.  I have mentioned that I am thinking of doing the Dear Jane quilt in the future, and I can see that that quilt has the same issue.


Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 23

This is another block where I have featured the Mama Said Sew fabric range.  When I first saw it over a year ago, it was the inspiration for the colour scheme of this quilt.  This block also features the red spotty fabric which is in the cornerstones and which make up the zigzag border.

BTW - One of my recent blog visitors who stopped by to comment was Cathy Daniel, an artist who creates patchwork-inspired homewares and handmade ceramics in the UK - she has a GIVEAWAY (closing 22nd March 2014) to get your hands on some of her lovely stuff.

NUMBER OF PIECES:  61
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square  3/8" (9mm) x 3/8" (9mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle  3" (74mm) x 2" (52mm) x 2" (52mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Red Hoops (5493-31) Mama Said Sew Collection by Sweetwater for Moda
Apple Red on Cream Sewing Guide Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5490 11
Christmas Past  (14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
Calico
                                                  

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 - Block 65

Block 65 - Nearly Insane Quilt

After the 243 pieces of the last block, it was great to whip this block of quickly. Nice big pieces, and easy to put together on the journey to work.  A pretty addition to the pile of sampler blocks that are accumulating.

I am trying to get as many of these blocks done as possible in the next few weeks, as Bonnie Hunter over at Quiltville is, as I write, putting together her 2013 Mystery Quilt, ready for its launch on Wednesday 23rd October.  I did the Easy Street Quilt last year, and had a ball, so the 2013 Mystery Quilt has been pencilled in my diary for quite a while.  Will any of you be joining in?


Midwinter Reds by Minick and Simpson, Moda, have arrived in the UK!

Also, I have been out and about today, and just happened to pop into a LQS, where there was a new display of Midwinter Reds by Minick and Simpson for Moda (did I mention that I met them both in the Spring ...).  This fabric line has been advertised for months and months in the quilt magazines.  It was due in the UK in September, and I have been checking online constantly, so it was a nice surprise to walk into the shop and see all the pre-cuts sitting waiting for me.  I have just bought a charm pack for now, so I can see if any prints in particular are going to need to join the Nearly Insane party.

To celebrate another finished block, I am joining up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Whoop Whoop Friday!

NUMBER OF PIECES: 41
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square 1/2" (12.5mm) x /2" (12.5mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Pointed Rectangle 2 1/8" (54mm) x 1 1/16" (27mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Cream Bias Check Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5495 11
Apple Red on Cream Sewing Guide Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5490 11Cream Pin Dot (Unidentified)
Red dot (unidentified)

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 37

Earlier this month , when I announced Draw 10, I put up a few different design options for Block 37.  With the votes in, the results were pretty evenly spread, and as I had the casting vote, like JoAnn and Lynette, I went for Option 3.
Isn't it pretty?

BTW - if you enjoy voting, don't forget to vote for Suzi, No.71, over at the Pets on Quilts Show before Saturday 24th August 2013. She would love your support!


Block 37, Nearly Insane Quilt

I have just added up the number of pieces in this 6" block and it comes to 97. For 97, this one was not too bad.  Naturally, it takes more time to cut 97 little bits, and sew them together, but now it is complete, it is my latest favourite.

Cutting patchwork pieces for Block 37, Nearly Insane Quilt

It has got some of those teeny weeny triangles in it, and some of those half inch strips, but for this project, I would much rather have a 97 piece block than a 20 piece block.  I don't think I have tipped over 100 yet - ask me how I feel about them when I get there ....


Foundation Piecing - Nearly Insane Quilt, Block 37

For the first time I have used some foundation piecing for the centre of the block.  I am finding that the little pieces in the middle of some of the blocks are bulky, so I thought if I foundation pieced them (by hand!), it would remove some of the bulk, and it has done the trick on this occasion.
As I said, this is my latest favourite.


NUMBER OF PIECES: 97
DIFFICULTY: 5/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1/2" (12.5mm) x 5/16" (9mm) x 5/16" (9mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 1 1/2" (38mm) x 1 1/16" (27mm) x 1 1/16" (27mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Calico
Cream Bias Check Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5495 11
Tangled Threads in Apple Red, Mama Said Sew, by Sweetwater for Moda
"Christmas Past" (14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda


 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 87

Block 87 - Nearly Insane Quilt Corner Block

I drew another corner block for the Nearly Insane Quilt.  As you may remember I have mixed it up a bit and changed a few edge blocks around, changing the original corner Block 92, for Block 87.  With just eight pieces, I almost did it in my sleep. It uses the 'Christmas Past' fabric by Minick and Simpson - did I say I met them in Nantes? ;)

Sometimes I think I should have approached the quilt like I would a jigsaw puzzle - seek out the corner pieces, then the edge pieces, then fill up the middle - leaving the sky until the end!

FABRICS: 
Christmas Past (#14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
Calico
Red and White Stripe (unidentified)

Oh La La! It's Minick and Simpson

Whilst I have been away in France, my hands have not been idle.  I have managed to complete some more of my little 2 inch cornerstone blocks for my Nearly Insane Quilt.  I have about 85 full size ones to do in total. I have done about 14 so far.

Cornerstones, red spotty fabric
 'Christmas Past' by Minick and Simpson

This has been made quite tolerable because I am using my favourite red spotty fabric 'Christmas Past' by Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson.  Have I mentioned it before?

BTW - It also just so happened that Polly and Laurie were actually at the "Pour l'Amour du Fil" (For the Love of Thread) show, in France, organised by the magazine Quiltmania.

Laurie Simpson and Polly Minick (with The Christmas Quilt)
Pour l'Amour du Fil, Nantes, France 2013

Naturally I had to visit their stand, and they were kind enough to humour me as I showed them my little 'Minick and Simpson' cornerstones squares. They were also kind enough to let me take this photo of them to record the moment - in front of 'The Christmas Quilt' by Laurie Simpson (handstitched, I believe), which features the red spotty fabric itself!
Quiltmania have published their book 'Quilts and Rugs' available from the Quiltmania website, which also features this quilt.

With all the quiet hand stitching I do, it's nice to have a little quilting thrill like this once in while.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 4

Block 4 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Another block completed for the Nearly Insane Quilt. Block 4 seems to be another Ohio Star 'variation'.  It was an easy block to construct, but choosing the colours for it seemed to take ages, and I am still not sure if I quite got it right.  It is amazing how much of your life you can waste on Electric Quilt!
On another note, whilst out and about at the weekend, I came across this card, which I just had to have  - I think it is a great ' Mission Statement' for my current project.


NUMBER OF PIECES: 33
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1 1/16" (27mm) x 6/8" (17mm) x 6/8" (17mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle 3" (76mm) x 2 1/8" (54mm) x 2 1/8" (54mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Gingham by The Henley Studio for Makower #920
Red Pinwheel Cream Apple Red Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5496 11
"Christmas Past" (14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
Kona Cotton (Solid Red) by Robert Kaufman

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 1

Block 1 of the Nearly Insane quilt came with a  difficult decision - what could I find small enough to illustrate to you how small some of the pieces in this block are?  In the end I have opted for rice (Basmati rice, rather than Long Grain, if you were wondering).  Yes, I think the insanity has started.  In the end it was not so much that the paper was small, but that the fabric I was covering it with, was at least three times as big.

Little Pieces and Rice  - Block 1 Nearly Insane

As I started to construct it, I had aimed to take a picture of the pieces laid out before they were sewn together, but with the pieces so small I was distracted by getting them sewn together lest they blew away ...  only once I had started did I remember to take the picture.  I started in the middle and worked my way outwards, trying to contain the size of each stage to keep the block at 6 inches. 


Block 1 Construction - Nearly Insane Quilt

As you can see, I had that 'bendy' problem again, which I dealt with in Block 41.  I used the same technique to get it together. On this occaision I have removed the papers from a few of the inner squares, just to get the centre together. Not only are the pieces little, but the fabric is also on the bias, so it does have a bit of a life of its own, but I have reigned it in with the full force of my steam iron, relying on the rigidity of the papers of the larger outer pieces to keep the shape.  

Block 1 Centre Pieces - Nearly Insane Quilt

Once the centre square was together, it came together quite easily.

Block 1 - Nearly Insane Quilt

I guess this is a fairly traditional block, and with the red and cream fabric choices I have made, I am quite pleased with it.  I believe those four tiny little triangles are just a taster of what is to come ....
And as it is Friday, we are joining up with Crazy Mom Quilts,and here is a gratuitous picture of a Suzi on the Butterfly Quilt, for Feline Friday.


Suzi the Cat on the Butterfly Quilt

NUMBER OF PIECES: 37
DIFFICULTY: 5/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 5/16" (8mm) x 5/16" (8mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 2 1/8" (54mm) x 2 1/8" (54mm) x 3" (76mm)TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
"Lazy Daisy Red" by "Mama Said Sew" Collection by Sweetwater for Moda (M 5494 21)
"Prairie Paisley II" by Minick and Simpson for Moda (14739 21)
"Christmas Past" (14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
Red and White Floral (Unidentified, purchased from The Shuttle)