Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

Over the past few years bringing in the New Year has meant just one thing - Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt!  Thank you, thank you, thank you Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville for all your work and generosity.  It has provided me with so much pleasure.  This year I have been working in softer colours than my usual choice and already it is looking like a quilt that is going to blend in to the household quite comfortably.

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

As suspected Bonnie released the BIG REVEAL for her Allietare Mystery Quilt for 2015 on New Years Day.  As we are at the end of the road for this quilt, the choice of colours I could use from my scraps for my cutting was limited, but it has just about worked out OK.


Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6 Block

We had two blocks to work on.  With all the work from the previous stages all the pieces were there ready to go.  What I really love about Bonnie's instructions are the details about pressing.  Just knowing which way to press your seam makes such a difference when trying to get accurate points on your seams and the overall look of your quilt.

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

For some reason the second block seemed easier to put together (probably because there were less of them!).


Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

As you can see I have all the blocks together.  With my fabric colour choice the quilt is looking remarkably like an Italian marble floor.  I had hoped to have the borders on for the Monday Link Up, but after several auditions the combinations were not really working.  The Italian floor idea has stuck and after a good night's sleep, my design juices have been flowing and I think I have come up with a solution which I am off to work on now.  Watch this space!

I know how hard I have been working on this quilt over the past few days, so congratulations to everyone who has made it to the Monday Link Up!

To see my journey, see the links below or visit my Pinterest page

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5
Part 6 - Quilting
Part 6 - Finished

 

Nearly Insane Edge Block 88 - Basket Block

Block 88 - Basket Block, Nearly Insane Quilt

You may remember that one of the first blocks that I did for my Nearly Insane Quilt was a whole Basket Block, Block 41.  That was an Apple Basket, this one is a Flower Basket, well, at least half of one. On that post, I showed you how I put it together, and how I made the bias strip for the handle. 

There is the other half of this block yet to do in the future, please remind me that I need to do the reverse of this one, as it will be on the opposite edge of the quilt ....

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:
Somerset Shirtings c 1890 by Julie Hendrickson and Nancy Gere, Windham Fabrics # 35205
Memories (Hearts), Stof 
Red Sprig on Cream (Unidentified)

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 80

Since Block 12  I have wanted to make more of the Nearly Insane blocks scrappy.  As soon as I saw Block 80, I knew it was a perfect candidate.  The design has lots of small pieces in it and I have started to accumulate a jar of red and cream scraps which are so small that they are only going to find homes in certain blocks. 

Sweet jar scrap storage

Whilst my motives may be honourable, when it came to cutting the seventy two 'scrappy' pieces for this little 6" block, it took a lot longer than most, and on that day I did not get as much preparation done for my Nearly Insane blocks as I had hoped, so it feels as if it has been hanging around for a while.

Block 80, Nearly Insane Quilt, visiting California

I finally have had time to finish it during my Road Trip to the USA, and here it is on display our pitch at Turlock Lake Campsite, California.  This was fun, and quite easy to put together, and I think it is my latest favourite.  Remembering that these blocks are only 6" square, I think that this is a really cute block - imagine a whole quilt of these with some sashing in between - it would look great.


NUMBER OF PIECES: 72
DIFFICULTY: 4/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 3/8" (9.5mm) x 3/8" (9.5mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle 1 7/8" (46mm) x 1 1/4" (32mm)  x 1 1/4" (32mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Scrap variety

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 40

Block 40, Nearly Insane Quilt

Presenting Block 40 of the Salinda Rupp / Liz Lois 'Nearly Insane' Quilt.  
This was a relatively straightforward one.  It has some of the largest pieces I have come across so far in this project,  so I took the opportunity to use a red and white Scandinavian fabric I have in my stash. 

Block 40, Nearly Insane Quilt

The pattern has diamonds with snowflakes in it, rather than exact squares, and I have been having trouble incorporating it into any of the other blocks, because the pattern is too big for the tiny pieces.  With a bit of fussy cutting, I think it has turned out nicely.  This is quite a simple block - does anyone have a name for it?

PS: I can't wait to get that green tacking thread out!

NUMBER OF PIECES: 21
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1 1/16" (28mm) x 3/4" (19mm) x 3/4" (19mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 3" (76mm) x 1 1.2" (38mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Calico
Red and White Scandinavian Snowflake Fabric 
Red Dot on Cream - unidentified

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 7

Here are the latest blocks chosen for my Random Lucky Dip draw, which I use to determine which blocks I will do next in the Nearly Insane Quilt.

36 - 40 - 48 - 92

When I draw my Lucky Dip, I usually go straight to Liz Lois 'Nearly Insane' book, to see what they look like - how 'insane' are they going to be?

'Nearly Insane' Block Pattern book, by Liz Lois

Then I move onto my Electric Quilt software, where I have already drafted out each block - and then I play.  There are so many combinations which I could choose from, I am almost glad I am sticking to  just red and cream!  

Working on Blocks in EQ5

If there is a colour combination that I like, I either save it in my EQ Sketchbook, or simply take a picture of the computer screen on my iPad.  This allows me to compare the different options more instinctively, and once I am making up the block it acts as a quick reference for which fabrics should go where.
One of the reasons I am doing the project in batches, is so that I can get the fabric cut and prepared when I have more time at the weekend, in preparation for 'found moments' during my week, when I am usually working.

Electric Quilt Software Templates

To include in the travel pack, I print off a full size Paper Template for cutting up into templates for each of the pieces, and a smaller Pattern Template sheet, as an indicator of which block I am making.  On the Fabric Template, Electric Quilt has its own indicators for each piece, but before I cut up the Paper Templates for my English Paper Piecing, I often mark which piece belongs to each fabric.  I have also found that if some of the pieces are asymmetrical, it is important to indicate which side is the front.  Once all this is done, I am set to go!


Nearly Insane English Paper Piecing Travel Packs

As I make each draw, I am finding that fabric ‘fashions’ change quite quickly in my workroom.  Sometimes I want modern, sometimes traditional, sometimes I want it busy, sometimes more subdued.  Sometimes the blocks have a greater red influence, others a cream / white influence.  I think under the circumstances, my Lucky Dip works well, as each batch tends to have its own flavour, and by choosing the blocks randomly, they will eventually get mixed up together, rather than rows of what was in vogue at a certain time of making the quilt.  In contrast to my original thoughts, any attempts to make this a sophisticated, and refined quilt have slowly been going out the window, and I am more focussed on using as many fabrics as I can in the quilt. Scrappy is the name of the game!

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 5

Here is the block selection for Draw 5. Again, nothing too bad here - when will those 'insane' blocks make themselves known?
 

10 - 57 - 62 - 87

 

Nearly Insane Blocks 4, 30, 61 with Spring Polyanthus

Above are the set of blocks from my Nearly Insane Quilt Draw 4, Block 4, 30, and 61 .  I thought I would showcase my blocks against our Spring polyanthus. We have had a few warmer days this week, and I just managed to take this picture before the rain started again.  My posts have got a bit out of sync, due to having more time to sew, and less time to update my blog, but I think with this post I have pulled it all back into order.



Nearly Insane Quilt, English Paper Piecing

I have started to gather a good pile of blocks, along with other bits and pieces for the Nearly Insane Quilt, but overall, it only represents about 17% of the total.  As you can see, I have made good headway with the pile of sashing strips, but the cornerstones are falling slightly behind.   So this is a review of my 'Design Wall', and so joining up with Patchwork Times today.

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 95

Edge Blocks - Nearly Insane Quilt

I thought I would give the Nearly Insane Edge blocks a little showcase of their own in this post.  As you can see four are now complete, including Block 95, which is the latest to the collection.

Block 95 is one of the edge triangles for the Nearly Insane Quilt.  I admit I have 'innovated' with this one (AGAIN!).  I was struggling to make the centre work, so I have adapted to make my own design, which involved more pieces.  Is this cheating?  (Note: I have just checked in Liz Lois book to see HOW much I have cheated.  It looks like I have innovated on the little nine patch too.)   There seem to be some Chinese whispers between the book, the Electric Quilt software, and me actually making it.  It works for me, and the Scarlet Spraytime is REALLY red and adds some punch to this one!

NUMBER OF PIECES: 26
DIFFICULTY: 3/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1/2" (12.5mm) x 1/2" (12.5mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Strip 1/2" (12.5mm) x 6 " (152mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Pom Pom de Paris by French General for Moda #13575-13,
Spraytime (Scarlet) by Makower #2800-R06

 

Nearly Insane Quilt - March 2013

Nearly Insane Quilt, Progress March 2013

Since February 2013 when I started on the Nearly Insane Quilt journey, I have been drip feeding you progress on my work, so as an Easter treat I thought I would share with you an update of the overall progress.
All the tacking stitches and paper templates are still in place, which makes the overall look at the moment a bit strange, but I know when I finally sew all the components together, it will transform the work I have done so far.  I am always tempted in the back of my mind to sew a few together, or remove the papers, but ultimately I see it as the incentive for completing the first stage of making the blocks.  It is also fun playing with the bits and pieces, like I have done here, to get a taste of what the overall quilt will look like in the future. 
You will know from my Random Draws, that this is not the final layout of the blocks, the actual layout can be seen in a very small format on my sidebar.
The completion statistics so far:

10 Blocks

3 Side blocks

7 Cornerstones

25 Sashes

 

Thanks to everyone who takes time to stop and comment.
Joining up with Patchwork TImes.