Sunday 13 April 2014

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 51

Block 51 - Nearly Insane Quilt
Block 51 - Nearly Insane Quilt
This is Block 51.  Does anyone know its proper name?  I think I saw it called something related to anvils or hammers, but seem to have lost the reference.

Block 51 - Nearly Insane Quilt construction
Block 51 - Nearly Insane Quilt construction
For those of you who are doing (or thinking of doing the Nearly Insane quilt), you need to be a bit careful when putting this one together.  There is in an inner border, and the pieces on the corner are not symmetrical, with one having a 1/8" edge which needs to be accommodated.  I wondered why the bits weren't fitting ....
Red and white patchwork fabrics - Nearly Insane Quilt
Red and white patchwork fabrics - Nearly Insane Quilt
It has seven different fabrics in it.  It has some 'neutral' calico, which flows through most of the blocks, some medium tones and some solid reds.  It pretty much has it all, and each fabric plays its role to make this block look balanced.
Electric Quilt 5 Software
Electric Quilt 5 Software
More and more, I am spending a lot more time on choosing the fabrics for my blocks, and playing around with ideas in Electric Quilt.  Not all of my earlier blocks are pleasing me and I am determined to get the remaining ones spot on first time.  I must say that my Electric Quilt software has been a perfect partner for this project.  With each new block I have needed to return to the software to audition fabric combinations, and through this repetition, I have really become comfortable with it.  My previous experience of using it had been designing a quilt over a few hours, printing out the details, and then not returning to the software until I had finished hand piecing the quilt, months (or even years!) later.  It was because of this irregular use that I never chose to upgrade to Electric Quilt 7.

Also, I have just spent a bit of time tidying up my Inbox, and I was taken back by all the kind and supportive comments that many of you have made about my Nearly Insane quilt blocks since I started my journey over a year ago.  From this end the creative juices don't always flow when I am writing about 'another' red and white, English paper pieced, hand sewn quilt block.  Thanks for sticking with me - we are heading for the home straight!

Joining up with Slow Stitching Sunday and EPP Link Party.

NUMBER OF PIECES:  41
DIFFICULTY: 3/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Rectangle 1" (25mm) x 7/16" (12mm)

LARGEST PIECE: Square 1 3/8" (35mm) x 1 3/8" (35mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Bear Essentials by P & B Textiles
Christmas Past  (#14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
Hearts on Red (567-R5) Makower
Little Spots Red, Pierres Famous Travelling Circus, Michael Miller
Red pindot on cream (unidentified)

Calico

9 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous quilt this will be. I agree sometimes it is hard to blog about the next block in a quilt that takes a bit of time to do. I love red and white quilts and never tire of seeing one in progress.

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  2. This is an amazing quilt ( I have seen others and just marvel at anyone that can make such a thing...just as I marvel at seeing your blocks :)

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  3. This is beautiful, I've never seen the Nearly Insane quilt but I'll look it up now.
    I love your colour scheme.

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  4. I just design on paper with colored pencils or pencil and sketch different shapes to represent patterns of fabrics I will use... have yet to try a computer based design program... glad you like yours and your quilt block there rocks! Very nice way to audition for hand stitching too :) Kathi

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  5. I just continue to love this quilt you are making - I love how you share the process

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  6. Oh my goodness...such tiny pieces to make into a puzzle! ENjoy your hand stitching!

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  7. Looks lovely, looking forward to seeing this quilt coming together

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  8. what a cute block - I am off now to discover what the Nearly Insane quilt is!!

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  9. You mentioned auditioning fabrics in EQ. Did you scan in the fabrics (I have yet to figure out how to do that), you were able to load the fabric lines from the vendors or are you using similar fabrics? I think this might improve some of my class info if I could make the handouts with the same fabrics in the actual quilt. TIA!

    BTW - upgrade to EQ7! While it's the only version I have ever used, it's 2 levels above where you are now and I think after the Insane project you have earned it!

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