Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 26

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 25

With Draw 25 of the Nearly Insane quilt complete, 88% of the full blocks are now done.  There are just 10 left to do.  The end really is in sight. I am starting to think about putting it together, removing the papers, and putting together the borders. I am also starting to worry about what I will have to blog about once they are all done!

Here is the next draw

5 - 52 - 82 - 87



Nearly Insane Quilt - Lucky Dip Bowl

You can see that there are literally just a few lone blocks waiting to be chosen - my little lucky draw bowl is almost empty! 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 70

Block 70 - Nearly Insane Quilt

I feel as if I have really started the countdown towards the end of the Nearly Insane Quilt blocks now. I am even thinking that my next update will be when they are all complete!  Over the past year all this experience has helped me fine tune my design skills using tone, and I have really gained specialist knowledge about red and white fabrics on the current market!

Block 70 - red and white fabrics

For Block 70 I have managed to squeeze eight different fabrics into the 6 inch square, covering all shades from dark to light (all listed at the bottom of this post) - a real exercise in tone.  Even so, now it is finished there are still changes I would make ...

English Paper Piecing - Nearly Insane Quilt

This is another star block, all done by English paper piecing.  I will admit that if I had been doing this project on the sewing machine there is no way I would have got this far.  As you know some of the pieces are really small, and I wouldn't have been able to even handle them under the machine.  EPP has made it a very pleasant journey. It doesn't just have to be hexies!


Block 70 - Nearly Insane Quilt

NUMBER OF PIECES:  53
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle 3/4" (20mm) x 9/16" (15mm) x 9/16" (15mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle 3" (76mm) x 2  1/8" (53mm) x 2  1/8" (53mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Polka Party III by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods (#03035)
Red Garden Pindot by Michael Miller Fabrics 
Spraytime (Scarlet) by Makower #2800-R06
Apple Line Red Swirl by Alice Kennedy for Timeless Treasures  # C5710
Homeschool Mini Mono Floral Red, LB Krueger for Windham Fabrics SKU# 35182-3
Cherry Sketch Basic Collection by Timeless Treasures #C8224
White floral on red (unknown)
Days Gone By Exclusively Quilters

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 54

Block 54 - Nearly Insane Quilt

I have been waiting for a block in my Nearly Insane quilt where I would have an excuse to use my red peppermint fabric again and Block 54 is the lucky one!  I do love a good novelty fabric.  Whilst they don't always reach the sales counter with me, I always take time in a quilt shop to check I am not missing anything special. I particularly like the food ones - do you have any that you look out for?



Pearlescent star fabric

Also, as it was a star block, I felt it was appropriate to use a new pearlescent star fabric that has joined my fabric stash.  It makes a change from calico, and I am hoping that when the whole quilt is finished the little dots of shimmer will add to the overall effect.


Block 54 - Nearly Insane Quilt

BTW - I have added a search button for my blog on the sidebar.  I think it is mainly for me to keep track of these blocks - better late than never!

Another block, another Whoop Whoop!.  Also joining Crazy Mom Quilts!

NUMBER OF PIECES:  41
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle 3/4" (20mm) x 9/16" (15mm) x 9/16" (15mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle 3" (76mm) x 2  1/8" (53mm) x 2  1/8" (53mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Holiday Treats Red Packed Peppermints, Timeless Treasures
Red Garden Pindot by Michael Miller Fabrics 
Spraytime (Scarlet) by Makower #2800-R06
Days Gone By Exclusively Quilters

Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Block 97

Edge Block 97 - Nearly Insane Quilt

There are 24 edge blocks in total for the Nearly Insane Quilt, as well as the additional corner blocks, and now that Edge Block 97 is complete there are only 2 left to complete.  They don't take long, and throughout this journey I have always seen them as an easy win.  In fact the very first block I did back in February 2013 was an edge block, to ease me in gently.


Edge Blocks - Nearly Insane Quilt

It feels like a while since we had an edge block showcase, so here are the most recent ones that I have done.

Joining up with Slow Stitching Sunday!

NUMBER OF PIECES:  15
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square  3/4" (18mm) x 3/4" (18mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square  1 1/2" (38mm) x 1 1/2" (138mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Tried and True Raindrops Garnet(04273) by Nanacy Halvorsen, Benartex
Quilter's Memory", Stof Quilter's Basics #4517-118
Kimono Ditzy 843, The Henley Studio, Makower
Counting Sheep BTR 6296 Cherry, Blank Textiles
Mini flower on red (unidentified)
Calico
   

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 75

Block 75 - Nearly Insane Quilt

I think this is the last of the blocks with a gazillion pieces - well, 153 this time.  As I have said before, these complex mega-piece 6" blocks have been my favourite throughout the Nearly Insane Quilt journey - I am almost sad to think that this is the last one.  When I am doing these complex blocks the pattern builds up as you add each stage. It makes me want to embark on a medallion quilt - maybe that could be the next project?

Block 75 Centre - Nearly Insane Quilt

This is the centre of the block.  The cornerstones are just 1/4" square - tiny!  As the border is also only 1/4" wide, I fussy cut a Pinking Shear stripe from my Mama Said Sew collection to add a bit of interest.  Fussy cutting is becoming a more familiar feature in my patchwork these days.

Block 75 Original pattern

This is a photo of the original pattern in Liz Lois Nearly Insane Quilt pattern book.  You may have noticed that I have made a few changes to the original block.  I have altered the direction of the half square triangles ... and the shape of the triangles ... and the squares in the middle ... and have added some some cornerstones. I'm really pleased with the result.

Block 75 visits Caerhays Castle, Cornwall

With so many pieces, it has taken a while to complete the block, so Block 75 is one of the more well-travelled blocks.  Here you can see it visiting Caerhays Castle in Cornwall, as I managed to complete a few more miles on the Cornish coastal path with my sister over the Bank Holiday weekend.

It's Friday today, so time to link up with Crazy Mom Quilts for a Friday Finish, and a Whoop Whoop!


NUMBER OF PIECES:  153
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square 1/4" (6mm) x 1/4" (6mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle 1 5/8" (42m) x 1" (26mm) x 1" (26mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Polka Party III by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods (#03035)
Red Garden Pindot by Michael Miller Fabrics 
Spraytime (Scarlet) by Makower #2800-R06
Cherry Sketch Basic Collection by Timeless Treasures #C8224
Red pindot on cream (unidentified)
Pinking Shears Cream Apple Red, Mama Said Sew, Sweetwater, Moda
Redwork Rendevous by Alex Anderson for P and B Textiles
Tried and True Raindrops Garnet(04273) by Nanacy Halvorsen, Benartex

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 25

Nearly Insane Quilt Blocks, 26, 44, 15 - Draw 24

What a set of fine specimens! The sunny spring days have allowed for a photoshoot outside in the vegetable plot.  With a further three blocks done there are only a few  more blocks to be done.  I am still keeping to my lucky draw system and the next blocks have been drawn 

54 - 70 - 75 - 91

 

Keeping rotary cutter blades safe

I am off to prepare the pieces of fabric for the next blocks.  As a treat I have put a new blade into my rotary cutter.  It is difficult to know what to do with the 'blunt' blade, so my solution is to mark it with a permanent marker and put it back in the box, so that when the time comes they can all be disposed of safely together.