Nearly Insane Quilt - Update #4 March 2015



Removing English Paper Piecing templates

I expect some of you may be wondering what progress I am making with the Nearly Insane quilt.  As you can see here, I have had a go at removing the papers.  The tiny bits hidden under the seams have required the patience and precision of removing a splinter from a finger, but gradually progress is being made.  Suzi the cat knows it is going to be a long job, but is joining me for the long haul.


Suzi the cat offers moral support with the paper removal

Another dilemma that I have been dealing with is the border.  The original design has a zig zag border.  I don't think it is the most attractive edging, but in the spirit of keeping to the original I intend to put a zig zag border around my Nearly Insane quilt.  When I saw the Dear Jane exhibition in France, I noticed how the quilts without the original full scalloped border didn't look quite 'finished', and that has stuck with me.  Maybe I will do something different on my next Nearly Insane quilt ...

Nearly Insane Quilt - Solid Red Zig Zag Border

You may have noticed in some of my early 'reveals' that I showed the developing red zig zag border.  I had done almost one and half sides by the time the rest of the quilt was together, but when laid against it, it just looked TOO bold.


Nearly Insane Quilt - Red with White Zig Zag Border

So I started again, using some of my red with white fabrics for the zig zag.  Again, I had done nearly a side and it just looked wrong.  It looked TOO big.


Nearly Insane Quilt - Small Red with White Zig Zag Border

So having stitched over two sides of the border I then decided to actually read the instructions in the book and make the zig zag the smaller size that was suggested ....

We live. We learn.

I think is eligible for Slow Stitching Sunday ...

 

Miniature Block of the Month March 2015 - The Quilt Room

March Block - Quilt Room 2015 Miniature Quilt BOM

February was a short month this year.  Already March and another block has been released as part of The Quilt Room, Dorking FREE Miniature Block of the Month.  I will admit that I struggle with foundation piecing as I am easily confused by working on the reverse, flipping, reversing the colours etc. etc, but I do love the look of it.

Quilt Room 2015 Miniature Quilt BOM

They haven't stated how many there will be, but I assume it will continue up until the end of the year so that we have twelve blocks altogether.  So, in just three short months I have accumulated these delightful little blocks, which seems to be filling the void of the Nearly Insane blocks which I completed several months ago.

Miniature Block of the Month February 2015 - The Quilt Room



Miniature Block of the Month February 2015 - The Quilt Room

Here is the February edition of the Miniature Block of the Month FREE from the Quilt Room, Dorking.  I am really enjoying this BOM so far.  Just one block means I can usually get it done quite quickly during one evening after work.

Just like last month I have put the pattern into my Electric Quilt software and printed off the foundation patterns.  I am pleased with the colours of the 'Snowman Gatherings' fabrics I am using.  I haven't taken any of the papers out yet.  I love the firmness and stability it gives - it reminds me of the more refined finish you get with dressmaking when you add an interfacing.


Suzi the Cat on her Cat Mat

We have had some warm winter days here lately which makes for hard work if you are a cat.  Moving from room to room following the sun is exhausting!

Joining up with Feline Friday! and Crazy Mom Quilts.
 

Half Square Triangle (HST) Scrappy Quilt

Half Square Triangle Scrappy Quilt

You may recognise this quilt.  I have been admiring it here and here.  I decided it was time to have one of my own.  It is a Katherine Guerrier design from one of my favourite books, 'Scrap Quilt Sensation' .

Scrappy Triangle Quilt

I have had a pile of random charm squares which were given to me in my stash for some time.  They are not fabrics I particularly like, but it was hard to turn down the offer of free fabric at the time. I don't think things have changed. This is the sort of quilt you can hide these ugly fabrics in quite easily.  Just to make it interesting I also added some of my favourite fabrics too.  The need to get as much variety as possible allowed plenty of petting and stroking of the fabrics in my stash. I had many happy hours in my sewing room. 

Double pinning quilt seams

I think there are about 896 3" half square triangles in this quilt.  It is a surprisingly simple quilt to make, it is just the sheer quantity of square half square triangle blocks which need cutting, stitching and trimming which take up the time.  The finished size is about 84" x 96". Any half square triangle pattern really relies on accurate seam joins and I took time from the very beginning to double pin every seam to keep the seams in place as they went through the sewing machine. On the front (which is where it matters) they look as if they have behaved very well, but on the back there are a few which tried to go against the flow.


Half Square Triangle Scrap Quilt

Comparing it to the same quilts I have seen already, it is clear that the look of the quilt will depend on the DNA of your personal stash.  I struggled for large scale prints for contrast, and I struggled for murky dull fabrics to stand out against the brights, but I wasn't about to go shopping for this project.  The aim was too get rid of some scraps, but in the process I seem to have created a new set of scraps! He ho ...


Joining up with Scraptastic Tuesday! and the scrap fans at Crazy Mom Quilts, and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Minature Block of the Month January 2015 - The Quilt Room

January Miniature Block of the Month - Cross Canoes

If you read my last post you will see that back in November I had every intention of doing Bonnie Hunter's 2014 Mystery Quilt, Grand Illusion.  I had the fabric and everything.  Sadly I was just too busy and it just feels too late now.  I know that if I am joining in a mystery quilt or Block of the Month, I need to be sure that I have the time to complete them.  To satisfy my stitching itch, for 2015 the Quilt Room in Dorking, UK is running a FREE Miniature Block of the Month. Yes, just one miniature block a month.  I think I can manage that.  The blocks are released on the first Monday in the month on their website.  I assume that there will be twelve 4" blocks altogether and they are using a blue and white colour scheme.  To make life easy I am following the same colours using up a Snowman Gatherings Layer Cake that I have.  BTW, we did have a very light covering of snow here this morning ....


Cross Canoes Block - Foundation Piecing

The first block is a Cross Canoes block.  After all the Canoe blocks I have made for my Nearly Insane quilt, it was very familiar.  They are providing the patterns and instructions FREE online and if you are local to the shop in Dorking, they are providing fabric packs and support. 


Foundation Piecing - Cross Canoes Block 

I transferred the pattern into my Electric Quilt software and printed off the foundations papers. I love the sharp finish you get with paper foundation piecing, but I will admit that I find it quite scary, especially the bit when you flip the fabric and discover that you have not sewn it correctly! So far so good.

With the Cross Canoe block completed for January 2015 I feel that I am well on track. 

Joining up with other finishes at Crazy Mom Quilts!



Grand Illusion - Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2014 - Introduction

Fabric Selection - Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt 2014

It's that time again - Bonnie Hunter has launched her annual Mystery Quilt for 2014 - Grand Illusion.  She launched it way back in mid-October and caught me off-guard and it hasn't been until now that I have had the chance to put my mind to it.
 
This year I have decided to NOT do scrappy.  I need to make a quilt / pair of quilts in a particular colour scheme using warm greys and soft blues, so I have opted to use the mystery quilt as the pattern using the above fabrics.   It took a while to get to that decision - I should have taken a picture of my workroom - it was covered in fat quarters as I auditioned colours for the quilt. It's a mystery quilt, so I will be living on the edge to see if this colour scheme works.

The first part will be launched on Friday 28th November, only 10 days to go!

NB: Feb 2015 - This is as far as this one got, sadly I didn't get to join in for 2014, but only a few more months until 2015 is released!

Nearly Insane Quilt - Update #3 November

Nearly Insane Quilt - November 2014 update

It's hard to believe you can be exhausted from sitting hand stitching all day, but last night as I made the last few stitches to get my Nearly Insane quilt blocks together all I could think about was going to bed.  The construction of this has taken longer than anticipated, but as you will see from the picture all the blocks, sashing and cornerstones are together.  If you look back a few posts you may also be able to play 'spot the difference', as several of the blocks have been changed partially or completely.


English Paper Piecing - Nearly Insane Quilt

All the paper is still in and I imagine it will probably take me three months to remove all that!


Nearly Insane Quilt - November 2014 update


When I started this project I now realise I partly imagined that once I had reached this stage it would be done, but todays project is to start get the borders together and there is still quite a journey to go.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Update #2 September 2014

Nearly Insane Quilt Construction - September 2014

I thought it was time I gave you a bit of an update on the Nearly Insane Quilt.  Another row has been added, but otherwise construction progress is slow.  The reason for this is that I have been re-doing some of the blocks - some completely from the start, others pulled apart and changed.  Having done so many different blocks, I have learnt a lot along the way. You can see some below.  The original is on the left, the revised block on the right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am also in the process of re-doing Block 43.  You may remember that this block was the most difficult one.  Having done similar blocks I think I have worked out why I was having so many problems and why it was so wavy.  It is bang centre in the quilt, so it is SLOWLY being redone.

 

 

Katherine Guerrier Retrospective Quilt Exhibition, Wales, September 2014

'Stars and Scraps' Quilt by Katherine Guerrier 

All summer I have been trying to get to an exhibition of quilts 'Adventures in Colour' by Katherine Guerrier, author of one of my favourite quilting books 'Scrap Quilt Sensation'.  Today was the day.

'Triangle Directions' Quilt by Katherine Guerrier

As you will see from the photos, her work is all about colour.  Katherine has done workshops at my local quilt shop, Busy Bees Patchwork in Newport, Wales, and I saw several interpretations of her work on display in one of their exhibitions a few years ago. (BTW - Good news! Busy Bees Patchwork is up and running again, just around the corner from their old shop near Tredegar House (National Trust), they also have an online shop).


'Strictly Triangles' Quilt by Katherine Guerrier

I took a close up of one of my favourite quilts, 'Strictly Triangles' because it really shows the mix of scraps she includes in her scrap quilts.  I love this quilt.  It is made up from scrappy half square triangles.

'Strictly Triangles' Quilt by Katherine Guerrier

The exhibition is at the Rhondda Heritage Park (CF37 2NP) in Wales, and will be on until September 19th, 2014.  The exhibition is displayed upstairs next to the café, and entry is FREE. If you can't make it to the exhibition her book is great inspiration.

Zig Zag / Chevron Quilt - Kaffe Fassett, Philip Jacobs Fabrics

Zig Zag / Chevron Quilt - Kaffe Fassett Philip Jacobs, Westminster fabrics

A few weeks ago I shared my purchases from the Festival of Quilt 2014.  It included a bundle of Kaffe Fassett fabrics for 'a quilt' which I felt I needed to get out of my system.   Having seen the display of Kaffe Fassett quilts in Lampeter, Wales, last summer, I realised that his fabrics do most of the talking and piecing and quilting take a bit of a backseat. On closer inspection of the fabrics - not all the fabrics are Kaffe Fassett, some are by the fabric designer, Philip Jacobs, but all of them are the same style and tones, all produced by Westminster Fabrics.

8 inch squares for half square triangles

With all that in mind I opted for a simple strong design using just half square triangles in a zig zag layout.  No pattern, just a few rough calculations on the back of an envelope and off I went.  As you know, I usually work with quite small pieces, but for this Chevron Quilt I cut 'huge' 8 inch squares (50 blue, 50 pink), to make 100 half square triangles (HSTs).  I had about 9 different fabrics for each colour.  I had some fat quarters, some long quarters and some half metres.  I managed 4 squares from a fat quarter and 5 from a long quarter, with some smaller bits left over.  I did my best to straighten the fabric before I cut the squares, which I managed to do to my *own* standards.  Once cut I paired up the pink / blue squares and marked a diagonal as a guide for stitching. 

Half Square Triangles - Kaffe Fassett fabric

Stitching on the machine, I took my time to pin the pieces thoroughly to make sure the points met.  I even resisted giving each block a good press with the steam iron, which is my usual approach, allowing the blocks to ease into place. It all came together very quickly, which is in contrast to my Nearly Insane quilt which I have been working on since February 2013! 

Zig Zag / Chevron Quilt - Kaffe Fassett Philip Jacobs, Westminster fabrics


The finished quilt top is 72" x 72", and I think this has to be a first - I have actually made a quilt top in the same month as purchasing the fabric!  As you reach for your sunglasses, you can see the colours are quite exuberant, but with signs of autumn on the way a bit of exuberance maybe just what we all need.

Linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday and Crazy Mom Quilts