Day 11 - Twelve Days of Sewing at Fabadashery

Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt scraps

In the aftermath of completing my Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt top , I have started to tidy up.  Here are the scraps that I have collected over the past six weeks as we prepared each block.  I am thinking of making some small strip blocks and putting them together for another cat mat, similar to the one I did last year after completing the Easy Street Mystery quilt.

30's Playtime (Moda) & Quilters Basics (Stof)

Whilst very little actual sewing has happened, I have been busy preparing some Nearly Insane blocks.  It seems quite a while since I had a day on my Electric Quilt software, planning, designing and cutting out.  Since then, a few more red and white fabrics have slipped into my stash.  I have seen this red flowery fabric from the Chloe's Closet 30's Playtime range by Moda, as part of Jelly Rolls and Charm Packs, and I finally found it at Cowslips Workshops as yardage.  As a latecomer to the Nearly Insane party, the random draws will ensure that this fabric gets mixed up nicely with the previous blocks.  The other fine red stripe is a Stof Quilters Basic.

1/4 inch seam allowances - even on the smallest of pieces

BTW, I have also had a query asking how big my seam allowances are on some of the smaller pieces.  I hope this picture illustrates that they still need a 1/4 inch seam, even though the seams are more than the fabric that will be visible.  Once I have covered the template, I usually trim off any excess dog ears.

I have also spent a bit of time catching up on everyone else's blogs.  Lots of quilters have reviewed their quilting year, and set up plans for 2014.  My plan is to just keep going and fit in as much stitching as I possibly can. BUT Oh dear...  I found some eye candy.  At the Fabric and Flowers blog I saw a lovely medallion quilt, Midnight at the Oasis, a Jen Kingwell pattern published in the July / August 2013 Quiltmania magazine.  I have seen it before, but I decided that I really fancy doing this one. 


Suzi taking a well earned rest after the Celtic Solstice marathon

And here is today's photo of Suzi.  She hasn't done any sewing either, but she is at least sitting on a quilt.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 78

Block 78, Nearly Insane Quilt

After my recent 120 piece block, the next one I have chosen to do only has 9 pieces in it.  You would think 9 pieces was easy, but I found that with this particular pattern I spent a lot of time trying to choose fabrics that would show it to its best.  Also I have done a very similar one already, Nearly Insane Block 13, so I wanted to make it look different. 
Originally , I had a plain calico centre square, but once it was together it looked insipid, so I unpicked it, and fussy cut one of the Red Hoops from the Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater collection.  For 9 pieces I can't believe the mental strain it has caused!


Red and Cream quilting fabric.  Do you recognise it?

Also there is a new pretty fabric in this block.  I don't have information on what it was called, but I have a faint memory of it have a school related title in the collection.  Does anyone recognise it?

I picked it up at Patchwork Direct, near Bakewell in Derbyshire, when I was away a few weeks ago.  The shop is housed in an 1928 Wesleyan Reform Methodist Church, and had a great choice of fabrics, particularly the Kona Japanese fabrics.  I thought I was very restrained just to come away with a fat quarter of this fabric.

Linking up with Connie at Freemotion By the River

NUMBER OF PIECES: 9
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square,1  1/2" (37mm) x 1 1/2" (37mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 7/8" (22mm) x 6" (151mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Red and White Scandinavian Snowflake Fabric
Somerset Shirtings c 1890 by Julie Hendrickson and Nancy Gere, Windham Fabrics # 35205
Red Daisy Fabric (unidentified)
Red Hoops (5493-31) Mama Said Sew Collection by Sweetwater for Moda

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 6, Ohio Star Variation





Block 6 , Nearly Insane Quilt, Ohio Star Variation



Here is another Ohio Star variation representing Block 6 of the Nearly Insane Quilt.  It feels like deja vu.

 

Only 21 pieces in this one, which classifies it as EASY. As I do most of my stitching whilst travelling, these 'easy' blocks do not take too much of my concentration, and there are some that I don't even remember doing, as they come together so quickly - this is one of them.    I know the next one has a few more pieces ...

 

I have used a Scandinavian style fabric in the centre, where the pattern looks like it has been pieced, to add a bit of complexity to this block.

 

150th Anniversary Dear Jane Quilt Bag

Since my trip to the 150th Anniversary Dear Jane Quilt Exhibition in Nantes, France, in April, my Dear Jane bag has been my storage of choice for the fabrics I am using for the Nearly Insane Quilt.  It is lovely and big, and they have been piled in and piled out many times.  The bag is also inspiration for perhaps the next project ....

NUMBER OF PIECES: 21
DIFFICULTY: 1 /10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1/2" (12.5mm) x 1/2" (12.5mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square 2.5" (63mm) x 2.5" (63mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Red and White Scandinavian Snowflake Fabric 
Red and White Floral (Unidentified, purchased from The Shuttle)
Prairie Paisley by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
White on Cream swirl print (unidentified)

Linking Up with WIP Freshly Pieced

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 36

Here is another Nearly Insane Quilt block which I completed whilst on holiday in the USA. And yes, I did stand out in the 100F heat of Death Valley to take this picture for you ...


Nearly Insane Block 36 - Death Valley, California, USA

I am not sure whether this is the most attractive block, but I really enjoyed doing it.  It went together nicely, and I enjoyed the challenge of choosing the fabrics.  The central square has a diagonal direction, so it was a bit tricky to find fabric combinations that would work with this pattern, but I think I got there in the end. In contrast to Death Valley, I took the picture below when we returned to the UK - yes, summer has arrived and the garden was verdant and blooming.


Nearly Insane Quilt Block 36

This block has 78 pieces, and that seems to be about the right number for a block to turn out nicely, with large enough, even size pieces to keep it interesting.  There are some to come which will have at least twice as many.  To be honest, when there are less than say, twenty five pieces, I find them a bit boring


NUMBER OF PIECES: 78
DIFFICULTY: 4/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle 1 1 1/16" (46mm) x 3/4" (19mm)  x3/4" (19mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle 2 1/8" (53mm) x 1 1/2" (38mm)  x 1 1/2" (38mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
"Christmas Past" (14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
"Days Gone By" Exclusively Quilters
White on cream sprig print (unknown)
Red with white pindot (unknown)

Joining up with Design Wall Monday!

Celebrating Hand Quilting and Laura Ashley 60th Anniversary



Red and White Pinwheel Quilt
Laura Ashley Red Spotty fabric

Over at Celebrate Hand Quilting they are hosting a blog hop this week.  It is well worth a look, as hand quilters all over the world are sharing their love for hand quilting.  I am not part of the Blog Hop, but I thought I would take this opportunity to show you my current hand quilting.
This is my current hand quilting project, my Red and White Pinwheel quilt, and on the reverse it is backed with a red spotty cotton lawn that I bought in the Laura Ashley sale many, many years ago.


Vintage Laura Ashley fabrics 1980s - 1990s

If you delve into my everyday fabric stash (as opposed to my quilting fabric stash), you will find that it is largely made up from lengths of Laura Ashley dressmaking fabric purchased in the sales back in the 1980s and 1990s.  In those days the Laura Ashley Sale used to be a phenomenon, with people queuing around the block to get in.  I know -  I stood in the queue!  I always used to make a bee-line for the dressmaking fabrics, which were either Seconds or left overs from a print run which had been used to make last seasons dresses. Most of it was a lovely cotton lawn, very similar to the Liberty Lawn fabrics, but at a fraction of the price at £1.99 a metre. In those days I used to make loads of colourful summer shorts and trousers out of the fabric, and used to wear them until they were threadbear. Some of the fabrics you see here are old Laura Ashley skirts. I even have a set of the patchwork kits in my stash. Happy Days!

Today I have just heard that Laura Ashley are putting on a pop-up exhibition of their vintage clothes, celebrating 60 years, on 13th and 14th June 2013, in  London.  As it is on for such a short time, tickets are limited.  Not sure if I will manage to get up to London, but it would be great to see.

Also, between 13th July - 26th August 2013, the Museum of Costume in Bath, UK, is holding an exhibition alongside their normal display of historical costume, "Laura Ashley - The Romantic Heroine", which features the Romantic Style which she influenced during the 1970s.  It's a great costume museum, with a collection on par with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

If you have nostalgic memories of Laura Ashley, Ann Rippin has a blog, and has a strong interest in how Laura Ashley fabric touched everyday lives and their patchwork and quilting, and there may be an opportunity to get involved in her research.
 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 57

I must have tried about 50 different fabric combinations for Block 57 for my Nearly Insane Quilt, using my Electric Quilt software - probably the time it would have taken to make the block in the first place.  There is another Ohio Star in there somewhere if you look closely.
In the end I have used the same pretty Apple fabric that I used for the Basket Block, Block 41, along with some French General fabric and a red daisy print, 'Kimono Ditzy' which I haven't had the chance to use yet.
It was easy to put together as most of the pieces were similar sizes and shapes, I just had to take care that everything was put in the right place.
Another block finished, ready for Draw 6.
Linking with Finish Up Friday!

NUMBER OF PIECES: 45
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1" (25mm) x 1" (25mm) x 1 3/8" (36mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square 1 3/8" (36mm) x 1 3/18" (36mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Kimono Ditzy (843) by Henley Studio, Makower UK
French General Favourites - Pearl  for Moda #13526 14
Apple Fabric - unidentified

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 62

Block 62 - Nearly Insane Quilt, with Cornerstones and Sashing

Here is Block 62 of the Nearly Insane Quilt, which I finished stitching last night.  For this picture I have set it against the cornerstones and sashing, just to give you an idea of how it will look when it is complete in the whole quilt.  I have used this block to showcase my Mama Said Sew Moda fabric, and a very fine red and cream zig zag fabric which looks more pink from a distance.

It was not the easiest of blocks to do.  There is a lot of BIAS going on in this block - thank heavens for the paper templates.  I am hoping that once I get the sashing on, it will hold it all in place.  Some of the triangular 'looking' pieces are actually quadrilaterals, and not asymmetrical.  This meant I had to be extra careful to make sure everything was the right way around, so I carefully laid them out in separate piles.  But Sparky came to help, and suddenly all my five little piles of English Paper Pieces disappeared! 

Where was the rest of the block?

 

 

It's great to have help, but Sparky seems to be magnetically attracted to my patchwork block pieces, and saw them as a nice change from his usual resting place - the television remote control!

Anyway, today is 17th of the month, so it is Help for Hexi-Aholics over at Sarah Did It!  Strictly I don't have any Hexi projects on the go, but with all my English Paper Piecing, I think I can make a valid contribution - especially if I showcase my 'Hexi Table'!  (OK, strictly an octagon, but I KNOW they won't be fussy).  If you have any long standing Hexi Projects, pop over there and share it.

 

'Hexi' Octagonal Wooden Table

NUMBER OF PIECES: 52
DIFFICULTY: 6/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 3/4" (19mm) x 3/4" (19mm) x 1 1/16" (27mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square 1 3/16" (36mm) x 1 3/16" (36mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Reunion Cherry Sally's Skirt by Sweetwater for Moda #5473
Kona Cotton (Solid Red) by Robert Kaufman
Tangled Threads in Apple Red, Mama Said Sew, by Sweetwater for Moda
Tangled Threads in Apple Red on Cream, Mama Said Sew, by Sweetwater for Moda

Linking up with Freshly Pieced too!

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

Spring Quilt Festval, Exeter, April 2013

At the weekend I popped down to Exeter, in Devon, to attend the Spring Quilt Festival, where I met up with my mother, to enjoy the Quilt Show.  We did a workshop with the textile artist Vineta Cable, I looked at Long Arm Quilting options, and as usual, we did our best to prop up the economy by supporting our local patchwork and quilting shops.

It is not a big show, but sometimes the smaller shows give you the opportunity to take more time to enjoy the individual quilts.  Below is a detail of one my favourites, which featured scrappy patched apples and pears, and was part of a display by Kernow Quilters.  I love the scrap fabrics used for the fruit.

Up the Old Apples and Pears' Quilt - Kernow Quilters

Another one I liked was a simple pictorial quilt hanging, depicting the harbour at Mevagissey in Cornwall, by Di Wells.  Simple, but very evocative of the Cornish coast.


Mevagissey by Di Wells, Kernow Quilters

Otherwise, I think I was quite restrained - just a few red and white fat quarters from Stof, purchased from a new vendor, Clarris, who I understand will be opening a new patchwork and quilting shop in Winchcombe, near Cheltenham, in the very near future.  These fabrics have been added to the stash, ready to be used in some of the Nearly Insane blocks in the very near future.


Red and White Fabrics - Quilters Basics, Stof

 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 30

Block 30 - Nearly Insane Quilt

What I am enjoying most about the Nearly Insane Quilt, is that there is no time to get bored with repeating the same block, as each one presents a fresh challenge.  When planning this block I was going to change the direction of the HSTs, but once I remembered that the block would be on point, I changed my mind back.  I really like the use of stripes on this one.

I am really pleased that I loaded all my fabrics on to the Electric Quilt software, as it allows me to indulge in choosing the fabrics for each patchwork block.  The software has really worked well with this project because of this,  and I get to use it at least once a week.  Before, my experience of it was limited to designing a quilt, and then spending the next year making it!

PS: I have just done a really SILLY thing. I measured the finished size of the block.  It has turned out 6" x 6 3/16"  - that is a problem for another day!

NUMBER OF PIECES: 34
DIFFICULTY: 4/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle,3/4" (19mm) x 3/4" (19mm) x 1 1/16" (27mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 1/2" (12.5mm) x 6" (152mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Roc-Lon Unbleached Muslin
Kona Cotton (Solid Red) by Robert Kaufman
Red with White Dots, Makower
Weekend Rail Stripe Red by Swirly Girl Designs, for Michael Miller # 45533
Red pattern with white dot (unidentified)

Joining up with Connie at Freemotion by the River

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 11

Block 11 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Another block has been completed towards the Nearly Insane Quilt. This is basically a log cabin block, and perhaps easier to do if using foundation piecing, but I thought I would give it a go using English Paper Piecing. I know that there are some very similar blocks to come. On this occasion, I think, yes, it would be easier foundation pieced, as I had to squeeze the block together to make sure it finished up at 6 inches.  Also, the red spotty fabric on the very edge is only 1/4 inch wide, so with the two 1/4 inch seams it is already 3 layers thick.  Hopefully I will have forgotton this by the time I decide to quilt it!  In the centre I have used up some strips from some Moda Candy Bars, the Bliss Collection by Bonnie and Camille, using up some more of my red / cream odds and ends.  When I started this quilt, I was thinking I wanted it to look controlled and use just a fixed set of fabrics, but the more blocks I do the more fabrics I want to include, mixing in a wider range of reds. Scrappy is this weeks theme.


Sparky the Cat helping with fabric choices

When I was cutting out Block 11, I had the company of Sparky in the sewing room.  He was happy just to sit and watch. Being older and wiser than Suzi, Sparky knows to keep his tail close to himself when the Rotary Cutter is out.  By managing to fit in a picture of one of the cats, I think we deserve a link with Feline Friday.

Another set of blocks done for Draw 3, time to reach for my Lucky Dip Bowl for Draw 4!  You can see my progress on the right sidebar.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 24
DIFFICULTY: 3/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Rectangle 1/4" (6mm) x 5 1/2" (139mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square 1" (25mm) X 1" (25mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Roc-Lon Unbleached Muslin
Designer Beads (Red) Freespirit for Westminster Fibers
Check The Bias Apple Red #5495-11 Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda
Red Dot on Cream - unidentified
Hearts on Red (567-R5) Makower
Bliss by Bonnie and Camille for Moda

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 12

Block 12 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Introducing Block 12. I like this one.  I will confess that I have slightly altered this block, by reducing the number of pieces in the edge strips, to make the pattern the same on each side. Like Block 92, it was the symmetry issue.   If anyone is following this Nearly Insane Quilt journey for an 'exact' representation, they need to be aware that I like to make my own mark - and I am finding that the urge is growing! 

Initially, I was struggling with the fabric choice with Block 12 until I made the pattern alterations, and then decided to mix it up a bit by using the different red and white charm squares for the centre of the block - the ones which I pulled out from my fabric stash in my original fabric selection.


Red and White Charm Squares - Nearly Insane Quilt

They are only 1 1/2" squares, and I wasn't sure how I was going to incorporate them when I started the project, but I think Block 12 in the Nearly Insane Quilt is perfect place for them.  They were a neat fit over the bits of paper for the English Paper Piecing, and add a scrappy look to the block.  Against the French General fabric, I think they look really cute. 

3/4 " Red Charm Squares, with French General Fabric, Moda

I have recently been quilting my red and white pinwheel quilt, and although I like the quilt a lot, looking at just the plain red and the plain white has been a touch boring. It has really made me realise that my heart is with scrappy quilts. In fact, as I laid out these squares, which are only 3/4" square, my mind did wander to the idea of doing a whole patchwork quilt in this layout, in a similar vein to my Single Irish Chain Charm Quilt, but with just 3/4" squares.  It would be a simple quilt, but wouldn't it be lovely, especially in the red and white colourway?

NUMBER OF PIECES: 36
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 3/4" (17mm) x 3/4" (17mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 1 1/2" (37.5mm) x 1 1/4" (32.5mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Mix - White on Red Charm Squares
White dot on Cream (purchased from The Shuttle)
White Floral on Red (purchased from The Shuttle)
French General Favourites - Pearl  for Moda #13526 14

Joining up with Finish it Up Friday!

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 92

As I mentioned before, Block 92 is meant to be one of the four corner blocks.  Now ... I looked at it for quite a while.  Basically, the block is not symmetrical when divided into four, so when it sits on the corner, any fabric combinations look uneven.  For me, this will NOT do - I don't think Sparky was sleeping easy either.

Sparky  the Cat with Block 92 (revised)

So, I have made an executive decision, usurping both Salinda Rupp and Liz Lois, the creators of the Nearly Insane Quilt, to make Block 92 a half edge block, and will use Block 87 as the corner block (... please remind me of this when it gets drawn).  I think Block 92 looks much nicer as a half block. 

Block 92 - Nearly Insane Quilt

There were two very tiny pieces in this block, and many of you have raised concern about the problems these little paper piecing bits may be causing me.  What I have found is that once I have secured the little piece to another, it soon becomes a bigger piece, so it is no longer a problem.  With such small sides this process takes a matter of seconds, and the problem is soon resolved.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 24
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1/2" (13mm) x 1/2" (13mm) x 3/4" (19mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square 1 1/4" (32mm) x 1 1/4" (32mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Roc-Lon Unbleached Muslin
Quilter's Memory, Stof Quilter's Basics #4517-11
Hearts on Red (567-R5) Makower
Apple Line Red Swirl by Alice Kennedy for Timeless Treasures  #c5710

 

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)
 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Third Draw

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 33, 47, 71, 89

Here are Blocks 33, 47, 71, 89 complete from the Second Draw.  It is about a month ago that I made the First Draw for my Nearly Insane Quilt, and I am comfortable with the progress I am making.  I have also started thinking about the cornerstones and sashing, which I will report on in a later post.  The latest draw has turned out

1 - 11 - 12 - 92

92 is one of the four corner blocks.  The others don't look quite as straightforward as the previous ones, but yet again, none of the REALLY insane blocks - YET. 

Time to make my fabric selections, and set my little travel packs up...

Single Irish Chain Charm Quilt

As I am at the beginning of my Nearly Insane Quilt journey, I thought I would share another of my completed hand pieced, hand quilted marathons with you.  This is my Irish Chain Charm Quilt. It is hand pieced, using the English Paper Piecing method, and hand quilted.



Single Irish Chain Quilt

The start of my patchwork and quilting journey started when I inherited a fabric stash from a friend.  Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of fabric and thread in my life, just not the 100% cottons used for patchwork and quilting.  Some of the little gems in the collection were bags of  small charm squares, which were less than 2" square. 

Fabric Charm Squares, 1" - 2" square

I believe they were from the era before the internet and online fabric databases, when mail order shops would send out small samples for customers to select their quilt colours from.  These little pieces intrigued me, and quietly laid down the gauntlet 'find a project to use us in'.  An Irish Chain quilt was the solution.  Also, we were expecting the arrival of a camper van, so I decided to make a quilt for use in the van.



Single Irish Chain Patchwork Quilt

Obviously the size of the charm squares put a limit on the size of my shapes, so each small square was 1" big.  I made up the English paper piecing templates using the Table function in MS Word, where I could set the size of the cells to be 1" x 1", print them off and cut them out.  From the charm packs I selected the deep and warm toned charm squares, which have a jewel like effect, and sought out a light background fabric that would add a subtle texture.  I had already started to cover these little squares with the charm fabrics on the train to work, before I found a suitable background fabric.  In the end I chose a little tan, tone on tone sprig print, "Bound to the Prairie" #9195 by Kansas Troubles for Moda (some of you may be familiar with it - it was the neutral in my 2012 Easy Street Mystery Quilt).  It also matched the woodwork in the camper van perfectly.

Single Irish Chain Quilt - Ideal for a Camper Van!

I remember pouring the squares out onto the shop counter to match up this co-ordinating fabric as the assistant looked at me in disbelief, commenting ,"You do know there is an easier way of doing this, don't you?" Yes, there might have been, but at the time carrying a sewing machine on the train each day was not an option! This portable hand piecing project went with me everywhere, and often or not, a stray square would turn up in the boot of the car, down the side of the sofa - I often wonder how many got left on the train...


Irish Chain Patchwork Quilt

The Single Irish Chain pattern is made up from a 9-patch, alternating the background fabric and the main fabric.  In this case, the 1" squares made up a 9-patch 3" x 3", and that was the same size as the alternating 3" x 3" background fabric square.

Detail of hand pieced 9 patch block, Irish Chain Quilt

The quilt is hand quilted, firstly by quilting around the coloured squares, and then by adding a further cross-hatch pattern in the centre.  The border is also cross-hatched.  On this particular quilt, I think this simple quilting pattern works well with the Irish Chain quilt.


Scrappy Border - Irish Chain Quilt

To add to the scrappy nature of the quilt I decided to make up the binding from further scraps, which are also 3" long.  The background fabric was also part of the Kansas Trouble, 'Back to the Prairie' range.  Up close it is a very pretty print, and although it disguises the quilting stitches on the back nicely, from a distance the colours tend to blend into a muddy colour.  I used a small piece to make a quilt label using my Husqvarna Designer 1 Embroidery Machine, using Isacord embroidery thread.  I didn't use a strong contrasting thread, as I prefer a more subtle label, but it does the trick.


Quilt Label - Single Irish Chain Quilt

This quilt tends to live in the camper van, getting used regularly if we head off on a trip during the winter months.  I love spotting all the different fabrics as I am cosied up in bed!

There are still plenty of these charm squares in my fabric collection, any ideas for the next project?

Joining up with Crazy Mom Quilts.

Statistics
Dimensions: 150cm x 178cm (approx 5ft x 6ft)
Blocks: 3” x 3”
Piecing Method: English Paper Piecing. Hand Pieced
Quilting Method: Hand Quilted
Dates: Autumn 2006(?) – March 2009

Competition Entries:
2009 Traditional Quilts, Quilts UK , Malvern