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 - Draw 12

Draw 11 - Nearly Insane Quilt Blocks, 6,17, 42

Here are the completed Nearly Insane blocks from Draw 11.  These three blocks, 6, 17 and 42 add up to 250 pieces in all, with one block just 21 pieces, another 120.  I think it is the variety that keeps you sane!

Draw 12, has pulled out the next blocks as

7 - 78 - 83 - 93

Nearly Insane - English Paper Piecing Travel Packs

I have been getting my house in order with regards my Nearly Insane Quilt progress.  In my 6 Month Progress Report, I mentioned a few outstanding issues with regard the outer edge cornerstones, and the zig zag border.  Well action has been taken, and as you may be able to see I have not only cut out the pieces for all these, and put them into their travel bags, but I have also already prepared the next four blocks.  At 'work' I think all this reviewing would qualify as 'professional reflective practice'.

Old Cutting Mat

All this activity with the rotary cutter has been vastly improved with the introduction of a new cutting mat.  For quite a while I have been having problems cutting my fabric.  I thought a new blade in the rotary cutter would do the trick, but no.    The reason for the trouble was that the mat has been used so much that there are vast crevasses missing from it, so blade was skipping on those sections. I had to admit to myself that my old mat had passed it best.

New Cutting Mat

So at the NEC Festival of Quilts, I invested in a new cutting mat, and everything is working like a dream. 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 42

Block 42, Nearly Insane Quilt

Gradually the number of pieces in each draw seem to be increasing.  Last time, the most pieces in these 6" blocks was 110, Block 42 has 120 pieces.  It was easier to do that its neighbour, Block 43, which had 100 pieces and got 9/10 for difficulty. It took time to do, but the finished result is worth it.  I like the colour combinations, with the dark, medium and light fabrics, and the complex pattern which makes the block look more interesting. I hope you appreciate all my matching points - I spend a lot of time coaxing the little bits together.

Suzi the Cat - My Nearly Insane Helper

Fortunately, I had Suzi the Cat helping with the cutting - she helped me cut out the 56 little cream triangles for this block.


120 pieces in a 6 inch block - Nearly Insane Quilt

In fact, there were lots of components in this block: 32 different flying geese units, Ohio Stars, 4-patch's, and I used 5 different fabrics, so there was quite a lot to check as I went along.   The components reminded me of Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Quilt which I did last Christmas, which then got me thinking, maybe  I could make a miniature Easy Street Quilt using English Paper piecing ..... insane.

Block 42 Reverse - Nearly Insane Quilt

Moving on, here you can see the reverse of the block as I was giving it a good press with the steam iron. I am not too concerned that it will distort because of the paper, and this block, in particular, has a lovely malleable feel to it with all the paper pieces still in it.

Another great addition to the overall Nearly Insane Quilt.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 120
DIFFICULTY: 5/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1/2" (32m) x 1/2" (32mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square 1/2" (13mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Designer Beads (Red) Freespirit for Westminster Fibers
Quilters Basics, Stof
Polka Party III by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods #03035
Apple Line Red Swirl by Alice Kennedy for Timeless Treasures  #C5710
Cherry Sketch Basic Collection by Timeless Treasures #C8224

Joining Up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts
 

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 - Edge Block 97 and Cornerstones

Nearly Insane Edge Block 97

The Nearly Insane Quilt is set on point, so along with the blocks there are these triangular blocks which go around the edge. These edge blocks are no where near as complicated the main blocks in the quilt, so they get done quite quickly.  Also, most of them are repeated twice.  However, I did have a bit of a hitch this time around.  Although they look VERY similar, the triangles done in the Bias Check, are a slightly different size (on my pattern), but I didn't find that out until I had sewn them on.  So then I unpicked it ....

2" Canoe Block Cornerstones

Also the 6 Month Progress Report allowed me to review areas that needed attention, which made me realise that I was lagging behind on my cornerstones and sashings, so I have spent a bit of time catching up on these.  Now have 30 cornerstones done and 75 sashing strips complete.  I am not sure how many NEED to be done, but I do know I printed enough paper templates, so I am just working through them. I also started to take out the inner paper pieces from the cornerstones - I can see that is going to be quite a time consuming job in the future.

It is time to do some more fabric cutting for these.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 15
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 3/4" (18mm) x 13/4" (18mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square 1.5" (38mm) x 1.5" (38mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Cream Bias Check Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5495 11
Redwork Rendevous by Alex Anderson for P&B Textiles
Red Pin Dot (Unidentified)
Cream Pin Dot (Unidentified)

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 17

Block 17, Nearly Insane Quilt

Block 17 from the Nearly Insane Quilt is a very satisfying one.  The pattern is symmetrical, the pieces are evenly distributed, and I like the visual effect is has.  It also has 109 pieces, which I think is the most pieces I have done so far for one of these 6" blocks.  It was the August Bank Holiday this weekend in UK, and so I had a bit of time to just sit down and sew, which meant I could get this one finished.


Block 17 - Close Up, Nearly Insane Quilt

One of the quandaries of doing a red and white quilt, is deciding whether to stitch in red thread or white thread, particularly when the two colour are sitting directly next to each other in the quilt.  I tend to use the red thread the most, as it appears to blend into the white, whereas the white appears to pop out from the red fabric.  Naturally, the aim is not to see the stitches at all .... 

These blocks are going to look great without all that green tacking thread!

NUMBER OF PIECES: 109
DIFFICULTY: 5/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 11/16" (18mm) x 1/2" (12.5mm) x 1/2" (12.5mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square, 1" (2.5mm) x 1" (2.5mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Calico
Friendship (Tonal Red) by Howard Marcus for MODA (Collections For a Cause) # 46130
Red Sprig print (unidentified)






 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 11

Here are the latest contributions to the Nearly Insane Quilt production line, posing for a group photograph, Blocks 37, 63, 67 and 96. 

When they are put next to each other, you can see the variety of reds that I have used - some warm, some cool.  As with most scrappy quilts adventures I have been on, when you focus in and see the blocks like this, their tones can seem quite different and odd, but once the whole thing is put together they tend to blend together.  To help it along, I am increasingly trying to incorporate the cream calico fabric I am using on the sashing, and the reds from the cornerstones, to bring in some unity.


Cream Bias Check, Mama Said Sew, Sweetwater, Moda

You can also see that I have gone a bit crazy on the Mama Said Sew Cream Bias Check, this time around.  As I do each draw there is often a fabric which is flavour of the month, which is why my random draws are working so well.  If I did it in order, the fabrics would show up like strata on a rock face! ... the draws mix them up well.
So here are the latest blocks

6 - 17 - 42 - 97

I have started to design and cut out the fabric for these, and some of them are quite complex, with lots of pieces - not a problem, just more time consuming to do.

Pies and Tarts - In A Quilt Sandwich!

Pies and Tarts Quilt, with navy background

It is a month since I finished hand quilting the Red and White Pinwheel Quilt, so yesterday I decided it was time to prepare the next quilt waiting in the queue.  Back in January, I told you about how I had finished the top to my Pies and Tarts Quilt. Yes, it has been hand stitched, and this time, the English Paper Pieced Pies and Tarts have been appliqued onto the navy background.  It was quilt sandwich time!


Millefiore GP92, Kaffe Fassett for Rowan

I am backing the quilt with a Kaffe Fassett fabric, Millefiore GP92, which is nice and busy to hide the quilting stitches, and also because of the circular patterns mirroring the circles on the front. It's a bit deeper in colour in actual life v. internet.


Quilters Dream Poly Batting - Midnight Black

In the middle of the sandwich I am using Midnight Black Quilters Dream Poly.  One of the first quilts I ever made was a small Wedding Ring Quilt, in navy and Japanese fabrics.  I had hand stitched it and had put a 100% cotton wadding in the middle.  Once I started the quilting, I realised to my horror that every stitch pulled out a beard of white cotton onto the navy top. I had to abandon the hand quilting and do it on the machine.  I was not happy, but the lesson was learnt - dark fabrics need a dark wadding.

Making a Quilt Sandwich - Laying the Top onto the Wadding

This is a double quilt, 75" x 75" square, so I knew it was going to take the best part of the day to baste.  Over the years I have done a few of these, and my technique improves slightly each time.  Having unpacked the batting, I unfolded it and let it 'relax' overnight.  Then, the first stage is quite simple, you just need to lay the quilt top onto the batting, smoothing it out, so it as flat as a pancake.


Making a Quilt Sandwich - Rolling Quilt and Wadding onto a tube

Using a long tube, I roll just the top and the wadding onto it, making sure any wrinkles are smoothed out, and then put it aside.


Fixing the quilt backing to the floor with masking tape

Now for the backing.  I lay the backing onto the floor face down, and using masking tape, fix the backing fabric to the floor, making it a taut as possible.  This stage will save you hours of trying to line up the three layers.


Making the Quilt Sandwich

Once fixed, line up the roll with the quilt top and wadding, and unroll. Easy Peasy! All you need to do now is fix them together ...

I had toyed with using the quilters safety pins, I even bought some.  But being realistic, when you are hand quilting, you really don't know how long the quilt is going to be in this state - it could be years, so I opted for the tried and true basting it together with tacking stitches.

Pies and Tarts Quilt, Brights on Navy

The task was an opportunity to admire all the colour combinations I had chosen from my stash for the Pies and Tarts Quilt. I love the quilt, and I enjoyed making it.



Sparky the cat on the Pies and Tarts Quilt

It took the majority of the day to get this done.  My fingers hurt.  My whole body hurts from sitting on the floor. But it was nice to have some moral support from Sparky, the cat, and the good news is that I even have the quilting pattern planned ready to get stitching over the winter months!

Linking with Freemotion By the River and WIP Wednesday!
 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Block 96

Edge Block 96, Nearly Insane Quilt

I have got a bit of a spotty theme going on with this Nearly Insane Edge Block, as there are dots on all the fabrics, including the cream, which is that pearlescent Polka Party III, I have raved about before.  I am also using these pretty flowers by Stof for the first time, which have a dotty centre.

I have done another version for the Edge Block 96 before, back in May.  

On another note, for the past week there has been a Hexie Queen Blog Hop going on in Blogland.  As you know, I am a keen English Paper Piecer, but not necessarily hexagons.  One of the 'Hexie Queens' was Lixie, who gave my blog a 'Shout Out', so to reciprocate the kindness, I am highlighting her FREE Lixie Charm Pouch Tutorial (PDF), which she offered when she was Hexie Queen, a handy little bag for special little things.

That's all for now ...

NUMBER OF PIECES: 14
DIFFICULTY: 2/10SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 11/16" (18mm) x 1/2" (12mm) x 1/2" (12mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 1 1/2" (32mm) x 3 1/2" (54mm) x 2 1/8" (89mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRIC: Polka Party III by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods (#03035)
Quilters Basics White/Red Small Flowers, Stof
Designer Beads (Red) Freespirit for Westminster Fibers

Clover Clamshell Accessories Case

Clover Clamshell Accessories Case

I am still enjoying doing a few small projects, for a quick quilting thrill.  Today I am sharing my Clover Clamshell Accessory Case.  This is a neat little purse which opens and shuts by squeezing the ends.  It shuts quite firmly, so it is ideal for carrying small pieces of jewellery when you are away. When I was fabric shopping in the USA at Cottonwood Quilts, Hutchinson, Kansas, there was a sample on the counter of one of these, which looked so cute that I had to throw one of the kits in to my purchases that day.

Clover Clamshell Accessories Case - Small, Medium, Large

The template kits for these little cases are sold by Clover.  They come in three sizes: small, medium and large.  In the kit are the instructions, three heavier weight plastic outer templates, and three lighter plastic inner templates.  I have to admit, that when I bought it I expected it to be a template which you could copy and use again, but they are sold as the actual templates, or forms.  With a bit of research I have discovered that plastic covers from notebooks, and various weights of acetate sold at stationers will do a similar job.  Like a clamshell, the case snaps shut with the flex in the plastic, so getting the right weight is quite important.


Cutting Fabric for Clover Clamshell Forms

The fabric needs to be cut around the templates with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, as the seam is gathered taut around the form template, and the inner which is slightly smaller.

Sticking wadding to plastic templates - Clover Clamshell Case

To add softness to both the inner and outer plastic forms, you stick on some wadding.  Luckily, I had just trimmed a quilt, and these little bits were just the job.  Being patient, I left them overnight to dry, and then trimmed them exactly the next day.


Lacing fabric around Clover Clamshell Plastic Templates

Next, you stitch a running stitch around the edge of each piece of fabric, with a long, strong thread, which will allow you to put in the template (wadding facing down on the back of the fabric) and gather the seam allowance around it.  Without cutting the thread, you then need to lace the seams together to make the fabric taut around the form. It is a bit fiddly at the points, but don't fret too much, as it won't be seen.

Stitching the outer and inner templates together, with the help of Clover Wonder Clips

With the inners and outers covered, pair them up, wrong sides together.  With the wadding, gathers and plastic, they are quite bulky, so using these little Clover Clips is a neat way to keep them in place whilst you sew them together.  Match up your thread, and using your neatest ladder stitching, fix the inner to the outer, so they become a single side.


Squeeze Opening - Clam Shell Accessories Case

The final shape is like a three-sided rugby ball, so the three flat sides need to be manipulated and sewn to become three-dimensional.  The first two sides are easy enough, but the third, in particular,needs good stitching as it is being done under tension and will have to sustain that tension during its lifetime.The fabric I have chosen for the outside is a jade Ginkgo Tonals by Kona Bay Fabrics, and the inside is a matching colour with a subtle metallic dot.


Clover Clamshell Accessories Case for Jewellery

Joining up with Whoop Whoop Friday! and Crazy Mom Quilts.