Nearly Insane Quilt - Cornerstones and Sashing

Cornerstone Sample, Nearly Insane Quilt

Now that I have started gathering a good set of blocks for the Nearly Insane Quilt, I have been putting my mind to the other elements in the quilt.  This past week the cornerstones and sashing have been the focus of my attention.  The original quilt has solid squares of colour at the point where four blocks meet on point, but with such little blocks, I felt it deserved something more delicate.

Crossed Canoes Block, Nearly Insane Quilt

Using my Electric Quilt 5 software, I searched for a block that would link the corners of the neighbouring blocks and came across this Crossed Canoe Block, which I have slightly adapted by making a completed square in the middle, rather than four triangles.  The cornerstones for the sashing, are just 2" square, and I will need to make 85 in total, plus a further 28 half blocks for the edge. I do like these little blocks, and imagine a quilt made of these, alternated with plain blocks?  As you can see I have only made one, so perhaps ask me about this idea once I have completed the other 84!

Nearly Insane Quilt Sashing 2" x 6", Unbleached Calico

For the sashing I have kept it simple, by just using the unbleached calico for the 2" by 6" strips.  I think there are about 196 of these to do, so I intend to do a few as I go along, rather than a load at the end.  So with the cornerstones, sashing, half blocks and full blocks, this is the layout of how the quilt will be set. 

Cornerstones, Sashing, Blocks Setting, Nearly Insane Quilt

Joining Up with Design Wall Monday! 

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!

Red and White Pinwheel Quilt - March Update

Hand Quilting the Red and White Pinwheel Quilt

Over the weekend I did lots of hand quilting on my Red and White Pinwheel Quilt.  At the moment, I am just stitiching around the pinwheels, but I did manage to complete that stage, at least.  It is slow because I am having to stitch along the edge of the seams, but I do love the way that hand stitching slowly calms down a quilt top.  I have a motif prepared waiting for the centres, but no plans for the borders or the edges.  I tend to let it evolve as I go along, ( ... in answer to Leanne's contemplation about Quilting Decisions, at Quilt Wangarei from New Zealand).

TOP TIP: You will see a scrap from 'A Morris Tapestry' by Barbara Brackman which I used in the Mini Hexi Mug Rug that I made, which I am using as a contrasting marker, to spot where I have I have left my needle. Finding the white thread on the white background can be challenging!

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

 

Happy International Quilt Day!

24 hours ago I didn't even know that there was an International Quilt Day, but thanks to the internet and all the quilting bloggers, word got out, even to the UK.
I have the weekend to myself this weekend, and planned to put some time into quilting my red and white pinwheel quilt (however much I would love to be making more Nearly Insane blocks!).  I thought I would plant myself in front of the television and sew - but what to watch?
Thanks to the shout out by Missy Shay, I learnt that The Quilt Show, hosted on the internet by Alex Anderson and Ricky Timms are broadcasting their shows for FREE over the International Quilt weekend celebrations.  After registering and entering my new log in, I have even managed to project the shows from my iPad on to the main television using our Apple TV - I am cookin' with gas!

So far I have seen Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr, Sue Garman, and Gina Perkes, as well as making some stitching progress on the red and white pinwheel quilt.  Besides a break to watch the first race in the Formula 1 Motor Racing from Australia, I will be watching the back catalogue of the Quilt Show and stitching.
Happy International Quilt Day!
 

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...

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 89

Block 89, Nearly Insane Quilt

This block was so simple, I can't even recall making it!  It just seemed to happen during the week in my snatched moments.  It was only 13 pieces, so it took no time at all.  I am using a calico for the sashing, so I am making an effort to include some calico in the blocks as well.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 13
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1" (25mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 1" (25mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm)TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Roc-Lon Unbleached MuslinMama Said Sew Tangled Threads in Apple Red, Sweetwater for Moda
Red with Whit Dots, Makower

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 33 and Spring Quilt Festival, Duxford

I had an urge to go to a Quilt Show at the weekend, as I will not be making my usual pilgrimage to Quilts UK in Malvern in May.  A quick search on the internet revealed that it was the 2013 Spring Quilt Festival in Duxford near Cambridge at the weekend.  Luckily it was based at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, so I was able to pursuade our weekend visitors to come along too, so they could look at aeroplanes whilst the rest of us looked at quilts.  A double bonus.  I got six hours in the car stitching, and I also got to replenish my red and cream stash for my Nearly Insane Quilt.
The show was a moderate size with exhibits from a few renowned quilters in the UK including some lovely whole cloth quilts by Sandie Lush, and some lovely colourful quilt by Gwenfai Rees Griffiths, including this 'Shades of the Sargasso Sea', based on the Storm at Sea quilt block pattern.


Gwenfai Rees Griffiths 'Shades of the Sargasso Sea'

One of the cutest quilts there was this 'Forget-Me-Not' by Judith Scott.

'Forget-Me-Not' Quilt by Judith Scott

In terms of vendors, there was a good selection, including Creative Grids which allowed me to purchase the large 15.5" square Ruler I have been 'needing' for a while - well since I realised I needed such a large ruler to square up blocks as large as those in the Easy Street Quilt.  Luckily, I checked their website before the show, and there was a discount coupon to download for use at the show - it would have been churlish not to use it. 

Creative Grids - Non slip 15½ Inch x 15½ Inch Square

I also got to spend my £10 voucher I had won from The Quilt Room in their Name a Quilt competition  - they also had a discount voucher on their website.  Red and cream fabrics were purchased and it fulfilled the spontaneous 'quilting fix' I felt I needed.
As for stitching, I managed to complete Block 33 of the Nearly Insane Quilt, and some other bits and pieces, during the journey, which means that all the blocks from the second draw are now complete.  

Block 33 Nearly Insane Quilt

This was another simple block, perhaps not my favourite pattern, but I do like the colours I have chosen.  When making the blocks you need to remember that they will be placed on point, and this influences how you use directional prints and other fabric choices.
Joining WIP Wednesday

NUMBER OF PIECES: 28
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1.5" (42mm) x 1.5" (42mm) x 2 5/16" (59m)
LARGEST PIECE: Square, 1 1/2" (37.5mm) x 1 1/2" (37.5mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Rural Jardin by French General (Leaf Trail Rouge) for ModaFa La La by French General (Floral L'Arbre De Noel Red 13587-11) for Moda
Tiny Flower Print (Unidentified)