Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 47

Block 47 Nearly Insane Quilt (Red and White)

Another  block completed.  I am really pleased with the colour choices I made for Block 47 of the Nearly Insane quilt, I think they are so pretty.  Not a difficult block, but yet again, no name. The more blocks I do, the more particular I am becoming about my colour choices and what contibution it will make to the overall quilt.

Sparky wearing Elizabethan Collar, helps with Block 47

I am really enjoyed sitting down and doing some hand piecing.  I have also had the company of Sparky whilst I cover my papers.  He is wearing a rather stylish 'Elizabethan Collar' (popularised by Elizabeth I, and Lady GaGa, no less!), as he has recently been to the V-E-T.  Sparky has always had 'special' eyes, so special that the V-E-T has decided to keep one for herself.  He is coping really well with his new monocular vision, and is much brighter than before his visit to the V-E-T.  He is keen to scratch the healing wound, so until we are confident it won't be harmed, the fashion accessory remains.  Nevertheless, his company is always welcome whilst I am sewing. Joining up with Feline Friday. 


NUMBER OF PIECES: 36
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1/2" (12.5mm) x 1/2" (12.5mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 1 3/8" (35mm) x 1 3/8" (42mm) x 2" (50mm)
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
Check The Bias Apple Red #5495-11 Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for  Moda
Tiny Flower Print (Unidentified)
 

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

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 71 Chimney Sweep / Album Block

The spring flowers are starting to show their faces, especially with the first few days of warm spring weather, so I thought I would capture the moment with Block 71 against some 'Tête-à-tête' in the garden.


Block 71 Nearly Insane Quilt, Spring 2013

For Block 71 of the Nearly Insane Quilt, I have used just two fabric colourways, both spots, to build up this block which is constructed similar to using bricks to build a wall. With the right colour choice, this cross pattern emerges, but I guess you could equally use different scraps for each piece, for a really scrappy looking quilt block, which would be fun.

This block has already escaped a few dodgy moments during its early life. Its little 'travel' bag slipped during a car journey and all the pieces fell out across the car. It was only when the block was together that I breathed a sign of relief, knowing I had not lost any. 


Suzi the Cat inspects Block 71, Nearly Insane Quilt

Then I took the block for Suzi to inspect.  She took particular interest in this one and was keen to test how robust it was.  Unfortunately, I had to step in before she was able to complete her quality control process.  She loves the crunch of the paper used in the English Paper Piecing method - perhaps a little too much. 

Suzi the Cat inspects Block 71

So far I don't seem to have reached the 'insanity' of this quilt - YET.  I know it is still to come, but this block was easy.

PS: Surely, THIS block must have a name!
( Edit: Sandie at has identified this block as an Album Block, which could be added to a quilt with space for signature.  A little further research has uncovered that it is also called 'Chimney Sweep' block. Thanks for your contribution)

NUMBER OF PIECES: 29
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1" (25mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 3 1/8" (77mm) x 1" (25mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:  Apple Red Snaps #5497 Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda
"Polka Party Petite" (Buttercream) "Lakehouse Dayz" Collection by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods (LH05037)

Joining up with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times and Connie over at Freemotion By the River to share my progress on my Nearly Insane Quilt.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Second Draw

These are the 6" blocks of the Nearly Insane Quilt which I have done so far, and with Block 55 under my belt, I am using some spare time at the weekend for the second draw, so that I can get the next set of packs ready for when I am travelling about. Using my Lucky Dip selection for deciding which blocks to do, the latest draw has pulled out

33 - 47 - 71 - 89

None of these are any of the REALLY insane blocks, so a chance for some steady progress.

I have also spent some time thinking about the sashing, cornerstones and borders.   I have pretty much decided to use a natural unbleached calico for the sashing, one which has a bit of texture in it.  I have a whole bolt of it, so it will save the expense of buying something new.  I have also decided to use the Minick and Simpson "Christmas Past" red spotty fabric  as the zig zag borders.  For some reason I was holding this back for some 'special' quilt in the future, but reason has got the better of me and I have decided that it is better to include in a quilt that is actually in the process of being made, and actually has a chance of being seen, than one that exists in my mind. The cornerstones are still not finalised.  I was thinking of using the same red spot, but think I will try something more subtle than a whole red square - maybe some piecing or applique. The aim is to build up the pieces of the border, sashing and cornerstones as I go, so there is nothing to stop me putting it together when I get to that point.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 55

My quilting progress has been limited this week, but I do have a finish to share.  Using my travel time on the train I have been working on Block 55 of my Nearly Insane quilt. It's amazing how much you can get done on just a short journey, but with these little pieces, one false move and they could be travelling the length of the country!

English Paper Piecing on the train

Its a quirky little block, and I quite like it, and I have learnt a few techniques and ideas which will be useful for future blocks. 

Block 55 Nearly Insane Quilt

Overall this block was not too difficult. Extra care was needed to make sure all the right pieces were in the right place. The striped pieces are asymmetrical, so you need to make sure you have got them the correct way around (I know because I had to unpick one!). Also, remembering that the blocks will be on point, I need to take extra care when cutting any directional fabric, to make sure everything is pointing in the right direction - my hearts seem to be all a flutter on this one.

Block 55 Nearly Insane - English Paper Piecing

I know that some future blocks are going to have over three times as many pieces as this block, but I think Block 55 is fairly unique in that the majority of the 46 pieces are all slightly different sizes.  To manage this, I numbered all the papers AND all the pieces of fabric, and for further control I used my Clover Wonder Clips to keep certain groups together.  BTW, I also noticed this week on the Keepsake Quilting website, that Clover are now making these clips in JUMBO SIZE.


Clover Wonder Clips

So that block marks the completion of the ones chosen in my first draw. Having done this first set, I have had time to think about how to combine my fabrics on forthcoming blocks.  I have also put some thought to the border, sashing and cornerstones. On the side bar there is a thumbnail of the quilt, created in Electric Quilt 5 software, which shows my progress so far.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 46
DIFFICULTY: 3/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1/2" (7.5mm) x 1/2" (7.5mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 1.5" (42mm) x 1.5" (42mm) x 2 5/16" (59m)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: Apple Red Text on Cream (#5490) "Mama Said Sew" Collection by Sweetwater for Moda
Songbird (C2863) by Carina Gardner for Riley Blake Designs
Hearts on Red (567-R5) Makower
Red Dots on White Fabric (Unidentified)
Scattered Red Stars on White (Unidentified)
Red and White Stripe (unidentified)

Celebrating this finish at Crazy Mom Quilts

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 41, Basket Block

Apple Patchwork Fabric - Nearly Insane Block 41

How cute is this apple fabric?  I recently picked it up as a remainder fat quarter at Country Threads in Bath.  It is not strictly the red and cream scope of my Nearly Insane Quilt, as it has a tiny bit of green and yellow in it, but I thought it would add some 'character'. 
Block 41 is a fairly traditional patchwork Basket Block, so I thought I would pair this up with the Minick and Simpson "Christmas Past" red spotty fabric that I have talked about in the past, to make this block an 'Apple Basket'. I have added a 10 pence coin to give some scale to the finished 6 inch block.


Block 41 - Traditional Basket Block, Nearly Insane Quilt

Here are the 31 paper pieces that make up this block, plus the handle of the basket which is an appliqued bias strip.

Block 41 Nearly Insane Quilt - Basket Block

You will see that during the construction of this English Paper Pieced block the incremental growth of the strip due to the fabric being wrapped around the paper, meant that I had to fit a 4 5/16" strip of half square triangles onto a 4" plain strip.

English Paper Piecing

The easiest way I have found to counter this is to level up the ends and start sewing (Stage 1).  By fixing the two pieces together at the beginning, you can then start to manipulate the two pieces, so that they are eventually a perfect match.

Stage 1

Once they are fixed by a few stitches, I then bend the two pieces around my fingers, with the longest edge on the outside.  Like a race track, the outer piece has to travel further than the inner piece, and with a bit of a 'jiggle', you can get them to line up (Stage 2).  For further accuracy, because the fabric is on paper, the paper can be folded in half, and I tend to use the sharp creases as markers to match up as you fit the two edges together.

Stage 2

Always check it as you are going along, unfolding the seam to adjust, giving it a tug here and there to ensure that there will be no overlap at the end (Stage 3).  It is easier to adjust just a few stitches that the full length of the seam.

Stage 3

At the end, the two edges of the pieces should be sewn together with no overlap.  As you can see from the picture below, the end result has a bit of a bend in it.  

English Paper Piecing - Block 41, Nearly Insane Quilt

Never fear.  In this situation I tend to give the joined piece a good steam with the iron.  Also, at the moment the pieces are being held rigid by the paper, once they are finally removed, the shape of the block will be fixed by the sashing, and it will then be able to relax and mould itself into place.  This technique works for me, but probably only because I am confident that the papers will keep the shapes accurate. I know there are some 'corkers' coming up where the half square triangles are half the size of these, and there are many more of them. I think I will just take each block at a time.


Basket Block 41, Nearly Insane Quilt

I built up the block for piecing into smaller blocks, but this was not before I had added the bias strip basket handle, which I appliqued onto the large triangle.  I make my bias binding using a cheap and clever technique I picked up at a Sandie Lush Applique Workshop at Busy Bees Patchwork in Newport.

Folding Bias Binding using a Pin and Ironing Board

I cut my bias strip 1" wide, for a 1/2" wide handle on my basket block handle.  To set the width of the bias strip, I secure a pin to the ironing board, with a 1/2" gap, which I then feed the folded bias strip through, pressing as I go.  By adjusting the pin you can make a bias strip of any width.

Attaching bias strip for handle

I sewed on the bias strip with the paper still inside, and following the line on the paper which was visible through the spotty fabric.  Then, when I sewed the two halves of the block together, I hid the ends of the strip in the seam. 
This seems like quite an epic post for this unassuming block, but once I worked out what I was doing, this block was not too bad.  I know this block also makes up some of the edge blocks, so down the line maybe I will have a 'Cherry basket' too!

With another block finished, this Friday I am joining up with Crazy Mom Quilts.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 31 + 1 (Handle)
DIFFICULTY: 5/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1" (25mm) x 1" (25mm) x 1 7/16"" (36mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 5" (127mm) x 5" (127mm) x 7 1/16"(180mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
"Christmas Past" (14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
Apple Fabric - unidentified
Red Dot on Cream - unidentified

Fabadashery Blog - 3 Month Anniversary Milestones

Have you seen my post "Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Quilt - Part 8 (nearly)"?  Reviewing my Blogger Stats recently, I noticed that it has had 2000 hits since it was posted in January.  This past week has been the 3 month anniversary since I started this patchwork and quilting blog, and along with the increase in traffic, a lot of things have happened.

The first event marking this weeks 3 Month celebrations was the arrival of a little parcel from the United States.  It was the Giveaway Prize that Suzi the Cat had won on Feline Friday at Sarah Did It!  Isn't she a clever cat - winning fabric for her owner!  This is the first Giveaway Prize we have won on the internet. These two pieces are from the 'Ivory Cats' Collection by Lesley Anne for Quilting Treasures, and look ideal for a future cat mat project. 


'Ivory Cats' by Lesley Anne, for Quilting Treasures, 2011

There is was also a bar of chocolate in the packet.  Yum Yum.  I was not the only winner though.  Enclosed in the parcel was a special homemade patchwork Cat Nip toy in a Zip Lock bag.  When I opened it I was over the moon for Suzi, not only was there the toy, but also the bag - she loves to chew on plastic.... 

Cat Nip Toy with yummy Zip Lock Bag

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3 - FRENZY!

Needless to say - Suzi is CRAZY for it, and loves having it rubbed all over her face. She says thanks especially to Pepper, Midge and Squeaky, the Stars of Feline Friday.  Also thanks to their Mum, Sarah for prompting me to sort out my 'No Reply Blogger' status - I hope everyone finds it easier now. 
The celebrations continued when I popped over to the Quilt Room blog.  Pam and Nicky Lintott have made their name through designing and publishing books on Jelly Rolls, Charm Packs, Layer Cakes and other pre-cut fabric bundles, and are in the process of pulling a new book together.  A few weeks ago they had a competition to name one of their quilts for their forthcoming book.   The name I submitted was 'Jet Stream Jewel', and the quilt name was chosen for a Runner's Up Prize!   Not only do I have a £10 voucher to spend on fabric, but they also hope to use the name for one of the other quilts featuring in their forthcoming book.  I can't wait to see it.

So a great Anniversry so far. The concept of blogging is not new to me, but it was Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Mystery Quilt over at Quiltville, which was one of the main motivators for getting me started on publishing a regular sewing blog. That whole experience of piecing a large quilt by machine, sharing the experience with people all over the world, and being part of the 'Mystery Quilt' phenomenom has been an exciting journey, and has allowed me to plug into the sewing world in a whole new way.

Up until now, most of my patchwork and quilting projects have been by hand, and so their progress is slow, which makes newsworthy moments few and far between - not ideal for an active blog. I am sure the hand stitchers and hand quilters out there can empathise with this.  Knowing that I need to put up a post regularly is a real motivator for keeping my sewing projects on track and making me focus on completing projects.  And most of all I enjoy it.

What have been the highlights of your blogging? I would love to hear about your adventures in the blogging world. 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 21

With the quick win of Block 91, I was eager to move on to the next Nearly Insane Quilt block, so made sure a few of my pre-prepared kits were packed in my bag before I left for work this week.  Block 21 was the next choice from my latest Nearly Insane Lucky Draw. During my lunch hours I was able to tack all the fabric around the paper pieces that I had cut out, and piece them together.  No problems with this block, as the construction was very straightforward, with just 25 pieces.  It felt like it came together in no time at all.  These fabrics are from the 'Mama Said Sew' Collection by Sweetwater for Moda.  This is the second block complete, and on my side bar I have added a picture of the whole quilt, so you can see my progress as I go along.

Block 21 Nearly Insane Quilt - English Paper Pieced

When I am at the early stages of a scrappy project, I am always keen to make sure I have a wide selection of fabrics, so you can imagine how excited I was when visiting Freemotion By the River today, to see that Connie is hosting a Giveaway, which is a charm pack, 'Ruby' by Bonnie and Camille for Moda.  This pretty fabric collection has a lovely fresh colour scheme, which includes some RED and WHITE fabrics ... I think I could give a good home to them.  Well, enough of that, or you all might enter.  To quickly change the subject, like all the others, this block does not have an official name, does anyone recognise it? 

Block 21 Nearly Insane Quilt - English Paper Pieced

NUMBER OF PIECES: 25
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1/2" (12.5mm) x 1/2" (12.5mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 2" (50mm) x 2" (50mm) x 2 13/16" (71mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
"Red Hoops" (5493-31), "Cream Hoops" (5493-12), "Apple Red on Cream Pinking Shears" (5498-31), "Cream on Apple Red Snaps" (5497-11) all the "Mama Said Sew" Collection by Sweetwater for Moda

Red and White Pinwheel Quilt - Hand Quilting

As I mentioned in a previous post, my hand pieced Nearly Insane Quilt is a portable project for when I am on the move.  If I have some quilting time at home, I am catching up on the backlog of quilts that need hand quilting. 


Suzi the Cat on the Red and White Pinwheel Quilt

This weekend, I have managed to put in quite a few hours of hand quilting to another of my red and white projects - my Red and White Pinwheel Quilt.

Hand Quilting Red and White Pinwheel Quilt

The top of the Red and White Pinwheel Quilt was English Paper Pieced (EPP), started in early 2009, and the top was completed in March 2011.  A bit of a quilting backlog has built up in the past few years, so I decided to do this one first as it is only a single quilt, and I thought it would get finished more quickly.  At the moment, I am simply outlining the red pinwheels, and I have designed a pattern for the centre of the blocks.  I am sure the remaining quilt pattern will evolve over time. I have managed to put in a good few hours of hand quilting, but it never seems to move on quite as quickly as you hope.
As I have moved my way around the quilt, outlining the red pinwheels, I have come across a few rogue paper templates, even though I thought I had removed the all the papers before I made up the quilt sandwich.  So in addition to quilting, I have had to unpick a few seams to extract the paper and then ladder stitch the seam together again.

Rogue paper templates !!!

Is there anyone else out there working on some hand quilting?

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 91

Nearly Insane Quilt Block 91, English Paper Piecing

With all the preparation to do the Nearly Insane Quilt, the anticipation for starting had built up into quite a big thing. I thought I would break myself in easily with attempting one of the edge half blocks, Block 91. Overall it did not take too much time.  The tacking can be done quite quickly, and this block came together really easily, in total just a couple of hours of hand sewing at most.

Block 91, Nearly Insane Quilt, Paper Templates

As a half block, it only had 18 pieces, and I was only using two different contrasting fabrics.  The little pieces seem very little, with the seams taking up more fabric than the actual piece on some.  It is tempting to have the seams in proportion to the piece, but you do need the full 1/4" to make the seams more secure. I believe there are much smaller pieces to come.

Nearly Insane Quilt Block 91, English Paper Piecing (Reverse)

As I am English Paper Piecing it, I have not removed the papers yet, and knowing me, I won't do that until the entire quilt (or at least the centre) is put together, so bear with the green tacking thread, I know it is going to become a close friend in the foreseeable future.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 18
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 5/8" (16mm) x 5/8" (16mm) x 7/8" (22mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle, 2.5" (63mm) x 1.25" (31mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
"Polka Party Petite" (Buttercream) "Lakehouse Dayz" Collection by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods (LH05037)
"Lazy Daisy Red" by "Mama Said Sew" Collection by Sweetwater for Moda (M 5494 21)