2016 Festival of Quilts - Nearly Insane Quilt by Frances Meredith

Nearly Insane Quilt, Frances Meredith 2016

It is almost a year since I showed you my completed Nearly Insane quilt top, so I thought it was time for an update.  You may be able to see from the photo that it is now quilted, bound and ready for a trip out.

If you are heading to the 2016 Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, UK, 11th-14th August, my Nearly Insane Quilt will be hanging amongst the Traditional Quilts, No: 564. 

Enjoy!

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C5 Eye of the Cyclone

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C5 Eye of the Cyclone

Here is another circle Dear Jane block, C5 Eye of the Cyclone. 
I become so familiar with those brown tacking stitches that I forget that my photos may not have the finesse of some of the top Instagram craft bloggers.  I like to keep them in for as long as possible as I never know how long a project is going to last.  Visitors often ask to see how I am getting along and it means pulling them out and putting them away again several times, which would take its toll on a poor little Dear Jane block without the paper still in it.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 24  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B2 Sweet Tater Pie

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B2 Sweet Tater Pie

If the arc of a circle is not too sharp, EPP is a great technique to get a good circle.  Dear Jane block B2 Sweet Tater Pie worked out fine - good enough to eat.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 16  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 41 - B2, C5, F1, F2

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 40 - A8, D13, G5, J12

I am approaching my 1 year anniversary with my Dear Jane quilt and am pleased with my progress so far.  Draw 40 was quite an easy round with some lovely green fabrics.

Draw 41
B2 - Sweet Tater Pie
C5 - Eye of the Cyclone
F1 - Big Top
F2 - Kaleidoscope

This Draw will also be in Green

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G5 Poof

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G5 Poof

This latest Draw has been an odd little set.  This is Dear Jane block G5 Poof, which I completed by English Paper Piecing the background square and then adding the applique shape on the top. I clearly fussy cut the centre piece, but the message didn't quite get through to the appliquer. Nevertheless, I quite like the jaunty position.

Suzi the Cat

As I thought,  the controversy of the Dear Jane J12 Basket block provided some insightful comments and was an opportunity for you to share your love of Basket blocks.  I don't think a Basket block quilt is one which will ever reach the top of my To-Do list.

Also this week you may have seen over at The Objects of Design there has been a MASSIVE fabric giveaway - not without its own controversy.  Suzi hopes this photo puts things straight.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces:  9 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J12 Rebecca's Basket

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J12 Rebecca's Basket

It seems that all sampler quilts have an obligatory basket block in them.  I did baskets in my Nearly Insane quilt.  This is Dear Jane block J12 Rebecca's Basket.  I think there is some dispute throughout the Dear Jane world about the orientation of this block in the final quilt.  In the original it is on its side, but I think it will be hard for me to  follow that particular convention.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and applique
Pieces: 9  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D13 Field of Dreams

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D13 Field of Dreams

And you thought Dear Jane block A8 Florence Nightingale was easy, look at D13 Field of Dreams, just 5 pieces.  I think this block has to be the one with the least pieces in it.
On the original quilt the final step is to embroider your name and the number of pieces you have used, so keeping track of this is important.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 5  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A8 Florence Nightingale

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A8 Florence Nightingale

I am having a bit of a run on easy Dear Jane blocks.  This is Dear Jane block A8, Florence Nightingale, with just 11 pieces.  Back onto the greens, which always seems to please me.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 11  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 40 - A8, D13, G5, J12

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 39 - D7, J4, K6, K8

I clearly had a plan when I started this Dear Jane project.  These crosses will be placed strategically throughout the final quilt.  I am not sure where yet and I haven't started to put the blocks together yet.  It will have to wait until all 225 are done.  There are 56 Draws altogether, so Draw 40 indicates that I am 70 % of the way through.

Moving onwards,
Draw 40
A8 - Florence Nightingale
D13 - Field of Dreams
G5 - Poof
J12 - Rebecca's Basket

This Draw will be in Green

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K6 Ann's Folly

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K6 Ann's Folly

Another day, another Dear Jane block.  Here is K6 Ann's Folly which is the last in this set.
I am steadfastly using my English Paper piecing method, but over at The Objects of Design you can see a masterclass in doing these little 4.5" blocks by machine.
 
Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K8 Springbrook Park

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K8 Springbrook Park

Dear Jane block, K8 Springbrook Park has a few more pieces than the previous two cross type blocks from the Dear Jane quilt.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 23 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J4 Adelaine's Apron Strings

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J4 Adelaine's Apron Strings

Last week I had a busy week finishing off projects or at least moving them onto the next stage.  Thank goodness this draw is offering up some easy blocks - just 7 pieces in this one J4 Adelaine's Apron Strings.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 7 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D7 Meeting Place

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D7 Meeting Place

You may notice that the next few blocks are a variation on a theme, namely crosses.  This Dear Jane block D7 Meeting Place was exceptionally simple to do and quickly ticked off the list.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 9 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 39 - D7, J4, K6, K8

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 38 - Border Triangles TR3, TR11, BR3, BR11

I have been busy trying to finish some outstanding UFO's in my project cupboard, the ones that really only need half a day on them to actually be finished and have been added to my To DO list daily for the past year.  Meanwhile I will tyr in fit in these Dear Jane blocks - I definitely do not want that to become a UFO.

Draw 39
D7 - Meeting Palce
J4 - Adelaine's Apron Strings
K6 - Ann's Folly
K8 - Springbrook Park

This Draw will be in YELLOW

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR11 Phoenix

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR11 Phoenix

Here is the final purple Dear Jane border triangle for this Draw, TR11 Phoenix.  I have enjoyed working with the purples

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 24 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR11 Tartan

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR11 Tartan

Summer has arrived in the UK.  It is always a surprise when it does.  We spend the year (or more) longing for it and then when it comes we are wholly unprepared and cease to function properly.  Not to worry, it should be over by the weekend.

This is Dear Jane border triangle BR11 Tartan.  I have always liked a purple tartan, so this worked out well.

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR11 Tartan

A day of Dear Jane block prepping is due.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel on this project and am in the mood to cut all the remaining blocks if the heat lets me. 

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 32 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR3 Checkerboard

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR3 Checkerboard

Here is Dear Jane border triangle, TR3 Checkerboard in purple fabrics.

I have been doing my Dear Jane blocks for 11 months now and good progress has been made by steadily working through each block and not taking my eye off the ball.  There are plenty of sewing distractions and other projects I am very tempted by, but Dear Jane is always at the forefront.  I have an afternoon of hand sewing (slow Stitching) planned watching the Tour de France cyclists sweat it out in the French countryside.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 26 pieces

Joining up with Slow Stitching Sunday

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR3 Attic Window

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR3 Attic Window

Back onto the purple border blocks.  The purples are pretty and this little border block shows them off to their best.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 17 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 38 - Border Triangles TR3, TR11, BR3, BR11

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 37, A11, G4, J10, M9

Dear Jane block J10 Chieko's Calia Lily proved very popular from this draw, with all those appliqued melons.

The next Draw brings on more Dear Jane border triangles - bring them on!

Draw 38
TR3 - Checkerboard
TR11 - Phoenix
BR3 - Attic Window
BR11 - Tartan

This draw will be in PURPLE.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M9 Fan Dance

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M9 Fan Dance

I tried to use my striped fabric in this Dear Jane block, M9 Fan Dance for effect, but without enough contrast, I don't think I quite pulled it off.
Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 28 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J10 Chieko's Calla Lily

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J10 Chieko's Calla Lily

I completed this little 4.5" Dear Jane block, J10 Cheiko's Calla Lily, over a few days.  My love for applique waxes and wanes depending on the size of the pieces and these were on the edge of being tiresome.  Notch them up an inch and I think I might have enjoyed them a bit more.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 21 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G4 Shutter Bug

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G4 Shutter Bug

My hands have been busy over the past few weeks on these Dear Jane quilt blocks.  I am getting to the point where I recognise most blocks when I see a Dear Jane quilt photo in a book or in a show, so there can't be many more to go.

This is Dear Jane block G4 Shutter Bug, a square within a square, within a square, within a square, within a square ....

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 29 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A11 Pebble's Protest

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A11 Pebble's Protest

Dear Jane block A11 Pebble's Protest was completed as I watched the results of the EU Referendum vote come in on the telly.  Perhaps not the best choice as there are 37 pieces, which is a lot for a 4.5" square block and it was one of the more complicated ones to put together, especially at 3am in the morning. 
Despite all that, A11 Pebble's Protest is a block you can be a bit more creative with regarding your fabric choice and placement. I rather like it.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 37 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 37, A11, G4, J10, M9

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 36 - Border Triangles TR5, TR9, BR5, BR9

When I see another set of border triangles done I am always quite relieved to know I don't have to do them at the end.  They are no more difficult than the blocks and sometimes a lot easier than the blocks, but come with their own 'mental block'.  The green blocks have been some of my favourites in this project.

Draw 37
A11 - Pebble's Protest
G4 - Shutter Bug
J10 - Cheiko's Calia Lily
M9 - Fan Dance

This Draw is in RED.

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR9 Sue's Garden

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR9 Sue's Garden

I guess there are a few different ways to approach Dear Jane border block, BR9 Sue's Garden.  I made up the fans individually and then appliqued them onto the background.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 17 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR5 Gay's Glory

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block BR5 Gay's Glory

Zoom in and you will see that the diamonds in this Dear Jane block, BR5 Gay's Glory, are not symmetrical and so misplacement might lead to a weird looking triangle that plagues you for the rest of the construction. Important numbering of each piece was required and lots of concentration. 

Sometimes I wonder how serious I am getting over this quilt.

The fabric placement I used aimed to emphasise the neutral zig zag pattern, but looking at it again on the screen, a switch in the fabrics would make the block look a bit like the famous 'Gherkin' building in the City of London.  

Dear Jane Quilt - Electric Quilt design wall, June 2016

I don't see any Dear Jane milestones coming up in the near future to justify a progress report, so I thought I would just show my updated electronic Dear Jane Design Wall.

Joining up with Design Wall Monday.
Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 39  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR5 Michigan Dunes

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR5 Michigan Dunes

Have you ever called someone by another name for a long time only to realise they aren't actually called that name?  How embarrassing. I admit that I am guilty of that and the worst is that I often still can't remember their real name because you have associated the wrong name to them for so long.

I am guilty of the same with Dear Jane Border Triangle, TR5 Michigan Dunes, which I have persistently confused with block RR1 Tennessee Valley which I showed you a few days ago.  I am sure geographically the mix up would cause a detour of several hours on a US road trip.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 21 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR9 Needlepoint

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block TR9 Needlepoint

Only nine pieces in this border block, TR9 Needlepoint.  I tried to make it more interesting by fussy cutting the fabric, but it isn't making much impact.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 9 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 36 - Border Triangles TR5, TR9, BR5, BR9

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 35 - LR1, LR13, RR1, RR13

There are going to be about 56 draws for this Dear Jane quilt and Draw 36 represents about 62% of the way through.  With Draw 35 complete I have done 137 blocks, with progress recorded as a visual update on the sidebar and a building collection of these sets of four on my Dear Jane Pinterest page.

Today the UK is voting to decide whether we remain or leave Europe.  Either way I expect the Dear Jane quilt project to continue.

Draw 36 Border Triangles
TR5 - Michigan Dunes
TR9 - Needlepoint
BR5 - Gay's Glory
BR9 - Sue's Garden

This Draw will be in GREEN.

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR13 Watermelon

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR13 Watermelon

I think all these border triangles will look fine once they are in place on the quilt, but individually I think some them look a bit weird.  This is LR13 Watermelon with a combination of English Paper Piecing and Applique.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 22 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR1 Tennessee Valley

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR1 Tennessee Valley

This was the easiest Dear Jane Triangle border block from this round, RR1 Tennessee Valley and I thank it for that.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR1 Nancee's Fantasy

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR1 Nancee's Fantasy

This one is quite complicated to construct.  I added another seam and you definitely need to plan ahead before you stitch it together.

I have been doing some other sewing today - mending trouser pockets for my husband.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 30  pieces