Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 60

Block 60, Nearly Insane Quilt

These Nearly Insane Quilt blocks are only 6 inches square, which is not a particularly large block, but naturally, the more pieces, the more complex - for me, the more interesting.  Block 60 only has 17 pieces in it, so it went together easily.  With less pieces, it usually means there are larger pieces, and I always try to showcase some of the larger prints in my stash for these blocks. This time I have used the "Apple Snaps" Mama Said Sew Collection by Sweetwater.


Somerset Shirtings c 1890 by Windham Fabrics

One of the other fabrics I have used in this block is a traditional design from the 1890s, Somerset  Shirtings by Windham Fabrics, which I picked up from the Cotton and Chocolate Quilt Company in California, USA.  It is a  tiny little red motif on a cream background - perfect for my Nearly Insane quilt, and I think you might be seeing it a lot more in the forthcoming blocks as it goes so well with everything.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 17
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 7/8" (23mm) x 7/8" (3mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle 4 1/4" (108mm) x 3" (75mm)  x 3 (75mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Cream Pinking Shears (5498-22) "Mama Said Sew" Collection by Sweetwater for Moda
Quilters Basics Red and White, StofSomerset Shirtings c 1890 by Julie Hendrickson and Nancy Gere, Windham Fabrics # 35205
Cream on Apple Red Snaps (5497-11)  "Mama Said Sew" Collection by Sweetwater for Moda


 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 72

Block 72 Nearly Insane Quilt

I am very pleased with how Block 72 of my Nearly Insane quilt has come out.  I like the mix of tiny prints I have used, and they way they have a subtle tonal graduation. 
As you may have realised, I am doing the Nearly Insane quilt using the English Paper Piecing method (EPP), and like covering hexagons, covering the papers is the first stage of the process.  It is pretty mindless work, which is great to do if you want to keep your hands busy whilst watching TV, or travelling.  You can see that I am tacking it with green thread, which I like to leave in until I have got the whole quilt together.


Block 72, English Paper Piecing Nearly Insane Quilt

I am very aware that when you see images on the internet, it can be difficult to gauge its actual size.  The completed block above is 6 inches (15 cm square), or the size of a very large slice of bread. With the pieces laid out, you may be able to make out some of the tiny pieces I am working with.  In this block there are some strips only 1/4 inch wide, and some more of those little triangles in the centre.

Miniature Pinwheel Block, Nearly Insane Quilt

At the centre of the block is a tiny 1 inch square pinwheel, which grows and grows, until it becomes this very attractive 3 inch block, below, which has 24 pieces in it.  I must admit at this stage, I was really smitten with it, and was imagining making a whole quilt made up of 3 inch blocks. This Nearly Insane Quilt is right up my street, as I love working on these small complex blocks.


Centre 3 inch block, Nearly Insane Block 72

I know the Dear Jane quilt has 4 inch blocks, but does anyone know of any other sampler quilts which are made up of small pieced blocks?

NB #1: Just a note on this block.  In Liz Lois book, the size of the edge strips are irregular widths, which is how the Salinda Rupp quilt is made - I have tidied it up in my Electric Quilt software, making my own contribution to the design! 
NB #2: Just checked again, and I seem to have created the centre pinwheel too, which was originally a tiny four-patch

NUMBER OF PIECES:  56
DIFFICULTY: 4/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle,11/16" (18mm) x 1/2" (13mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square, 1 1/2" (38mm) x 1 1/2" (38mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Quilters Basics Red and White, Stof
Somerset Shirtings c 1890 by Julie Hendrickson and Nancy Gere, Windham Fabrics # 35205
"Polka Party III" by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods (#03035)Tiny Red Sprig print (unidentified)

 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 64, Cornwall Coastal Path

Cornish Coastal Path, Coverack - Nearly Insane Quilt

Yes, I know, it's been a few days.  Here in the UK we are experiencing SUMMER (we haven't had one of those for a couple of years) and it just so happened that I had planned a few days away this week, walking some of the coastal path in Cornwall.  My sister and I have been walking the whole Cornish Coastal Path, and are about 75% complete.  However, there has been a 6 year gap since our last stint, so we made the effort this week to make some progress, and we have managed to walk from Coverack to Porthscatho. Beautiful weather, beautiful scenery, Cornwall at its best.
BTW - In the far, far, far distance of this picture, across the English Channel, you may even be able to see the cyclists on the 10th Stage of the Tour de France in St Malo, Brittany.... then again, maybe not.


Nearly Insane Quilt, Block 64

Walking aside, the journey down to Cornwall allowed me to catch up on some Nearly Insane Quilt blocks, and here you can see Block 64. With the hand quilting I am currently doing, progress on piecing has been less of a priority, and the poor Nearly Insane quilt blocks have taken a back seat, so I was pleased to have some travelling time to catch up. 

I have done this one scrappy again, and it is very similar to Block 80, except that the centre pattern is different.  I think I might have changed the direction of the HST's on the border, from the original pattern, and that meant the borders had to be sewn in a certain direction, which meant a bit of unpicking ... but it was soon resolved.  Only 53 pieces in this little 6 inch block, so not too bad.  I really like the scrappy blocks, as they help to blend all the different reds I am using in the quilt, and with this block complete, all the blocks from Draw 8 are done.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 53
DIFFICULTY: 4/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1/2" (13mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle 1 3/4" (45mm) x 1 1/4" (32mm)  x 1 1/4" (32mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:  Scrap variety

Joining up with Crazy Mom Quilts

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 9

 

Red and Cream Nearly Insane Quilt - July 2013

This is my Nearly Insane zone in my workroom.  It is just a shelf where I am stacking up the blocks, sashing and cornerstones, ready for when I want to pull them out and play with them. In this picture the pile doesn't look that big - oh dear.  Back in January I was meant to be sorting out my workroom, which I did start, but I have been too keen to get involved in actual projects, rather than redesign my room.  Perhaps once the quilt is quilted ....
Anyway, I seem to have caught up with myself on my Nearly Insane blocks, so it is time for the next Draw.  Here are the Blocks

 9 - 60 - 72 - 88

Block 9 seems to be a variation on Block 64 (which I am currently doing) and Block 80 , which I have done in scrappy fabrics, maybe this one deserves a new approach?  Also Block 88 is an edge block, but the same one as Block 41, the Basket Block, so it will be fun to choose different fabrics for that one.

Nearly Insane Quilt Edge Blocks - Block 92

Suzi the cat helps out with the hand quilting

It's that time of year. It reminds me of the days when I would be sitting doing revision for exams.  The sun would be out, you would be working to a revision schedule, and your life seemed paralysed, knowing that every waking moment HAD to be dedicated to doing what you could to prepare for the looming examinations.  To add to the pain, ALL you could do is  think about all the things you will do once the exams were out of the way!
This time around I am hand quilting a quilt for a show.  The delivery deadline is one month away, and every spare moment is focussed on sewing, and even just a few stitches a day will bring it closer to its completion.  I have noticed, as I surf the internet, that I am not the only one in this predicament. As you can see, I am getting a lot of help from Suzi, who can't wait until it is back from the show and in full circulation. All I REALLY want to be doing is more of my Nearly Insane Quilt, or to use the fabric, and to do some of the small projects I brought back from my trip to the USA, but this self-imposed deadline has taken over my LIFE!

Nearly Insane Quilt Edge and Corner Blocks

Nonetheless, I have used my usual tactic of taking the train to work to get my Nearly Insane Quilt blocks done (... the quilt is too big to take on the train!).  For a quick win I have focussed on an edge block, Block 92, which was originally meant to be the corner blocks.  In the top picture you can compare Block 92 (top), to the corner blocks Block 87 (bottom), ( ... I think I might choose another block to do the final two corners, just to mix it up a bit).  This block was done on my train journey and during my lunch break, whilst I sat outside in the sun by the canal.  I'm not sure that I quite got the fabric choice right, but it soon came together.

Nearly Insane Quilt Block 92 (Edge Block)

This block was simple enough, but you may overlook that it had two little TINY pieces in it, very similar to the ones in Block 1.  In small groups these tiny pieces look harmless, but I am starting to be on the lookout for the blocks where they appear in greater numbers.

So it is back to quilting. However, this weekend is offering up some good television entertainment, which is VERY good for quilting.  We have the start of the Tour de France, the British Formula 1 Grand Prix, and even the new series of Top Gear.  I hope to get a lot done.

Joining up with  Crazy Mom Quilts AND Feline Friday!

NUMBER OF PIECES: 24
DIFFICULTY: 4/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 3/84 (1.9mm) x 1 1/16" (27cm) x 1 1/16" (27mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square 1 1/4" (32m) x 1 1/4" (32m)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Rural Jardin by French General (Leaf Trail Rouge) for Moda
Quilters Basics (Memory) Stof
"Polka Party III" by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods (#03035)
 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 90

Nearly Insane Quilt Block 90

Here is one of the completed edge blocks, Block 90, for the Nearly Insane Quilt that I am currently hand piecing using the English Paper Piecing method.  Only ten pieces, so it took no time at all. It uses that fun apple fabric again.

With my random draws, it ensures that I am doing the Nearly Insane Quilt components in equal quantities, at each stage.  It usually means 3 full blocks, 1 edge block, 7 sashing pieces, and 3 cornerstones.  The blocks are always different and interesting to do, and offer a new challenge, but the cornerstones (which I chose to do ...) are a bit more repetitive and fiddly.  Each one has 9 pieces, and there are 95 in total.  In this little stack of the 23 which I have completed, it adds up to 207 pieces alone.


Canoe block Cornerstones - Nearly Insane Quilt

I am also meant to be doing a zig zag border as well, but I am dithering whether is should be a red zig zag, or a cream zig zag, and I am not sure whether I will decide until the main top has been put together.

Don't even ask how I am going to quilt it - that is WAY OFF!


NUMBER OF PIECES: 10
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 3/8" (9.5mm) x 3/8" (9.5mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle 4 1/8" (107mm) x 3" (76mm)  x 3" (76mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
"Polka Party Petite" (Buttercream) "Lakehouse Dayz" Collection by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods (LH05037)
"Friendship" (Tonal Red) by Howard Marcus for MODA (Collections For a Cause) # 46130
Tried and True Raindrops Garnet(04273) by Nanacy Halvorsen, Benartex
Apple Fabric - unidentified

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 28

There was a point when I thought the next Nearly Insane block would never get finished.  As you may know, all my stitching time at home is currently dedicated to hand quilting the red and white pinwheel quilt, which has left little room for the Nearly Insane blocks.  After finishing so many blocks whist on holiday in the USA, I was beginning to get withdrawal symptoms.  However, by adjusting my travel plans over the past week, I have managed to finish the next block on the train to work.

Block 28 Nearly Insane Quilt

This is Block 28.  I really like it - but I seem to be saying that about all the blocks these days!  I think I particularly like this one because I have included stripes.  Whenever stripes are added to a block / quilt,  I think they add a dynamism and pizazz, like no other pattern, and I really like it.

The little half square triangles (HST's), in the centre, are about 3/4 inch square, and not too insane for me to handle, so even if a whole block was made up of these little HST's, that would be 128 pieces in a 6 inch block.  However, the most pieces in any one block is 229...

In Liz Lois book she mentions how after doing her first block for this quilt, she was hooked, and that she just had to do more.  I know exactly how she feels.  SHE reckoned it was better than chocolate ( .... however, I think my long-standing relationship with chocolate has been established far too long to be challenged).

Sparky the Cat with Nearly Insane Quilt Block 28, June 2013

We have had a few hot days here in the UK, and Sparky has been enjoying the warmth on his old bones, and kindly offered to pose with the new block outside.

 

NUMBER OF PIECES: 53
DIFFICULTY: 3/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle 7/8" (22mm) x 3/4" (19mm) x 3/4" (19mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square 1 3/8" (35mm) x 1 3/8" (35mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
"Berry Falling Snow" by Kate Spain for Moda #27127-11
"Quilter's Memory" Stof Quilter's Basics #4517-118
"Polka Party III" by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods (#03035)
Red and White Stripe (purchased from Hobbycraft)

This one needs a Whoop Whoop!, a Finish Up Friday, and a Feline Friday link.

California, USA Road Trip #2 - Quilt Shop Hops

Before we headed off to the USA, I did a little research on Quilt Shops beforehand, which focussed on a few key resources

1. Quilt Shop Heaven - an internet Resource which lists Quilt Shops by State, as well as information on Shop Hops
2. Quilt Shops of the Central Coast , California (Shop Hop, May-June 2013), including quilt shops north of Los Angeles (Ventura, Carpinteria, Orcutt, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo)
3. Shop Hop By the Bay, California (Shop Hop 19th-23rd June 2013) includes quilt shops south of San Francisco (Pacific Grove, Cupertino, Morgan Hill, San Mateo, Scotts Valley), Yes, it's this weekend!
4. Central Kansas Quilt Shop Hop, Kansas (Shop Hop 4th-6th October 2013) includes Hutchinson, Wichita, Yoder, Severy

My timing was such that I didn't actually manage to do any of the official Shop Hops, but along with my loyal friend - the Tom Tom (GPS), the local quilt shop information was invaluable.  I think we visited about 20 shops in all, and I thought I would share with you some of my favourites.

I found that it is really hard to focus on what you want to buy unless you have a project in mind, in fact it can be overwhelming - let's face it, you would buy the whole shop if your could! At first, I did not have a plan, but then I bought a few Quilt Magazines and found inspiration from some of the quilts and colour schemes, which gave me some purposeful direction and excuse to buy more fabric!  I guess it is the same as any other Quilt Shop Hop.

Cotton and Chocolate Quilt Company, Thousand Oaks, California

Cotton and Chocolate Quilt Company, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
As a taster, this was the first shop we visited as we drove out of Los Angeles. A really great, varied selection and really friendly assistants.  They had lots of cute kits, which is nice to see, especially if you just want a small project, as well as a great book selection.  At this stage I just added some Red and cream fabrics for my Nearly Insane Quilt, as they stocked the Somerset Shirtings range, from Wyndham Fabrics, which I had only seen on the Internet. This shop set the bar high, for the rest of the journey!

Hand Quilting Progress - Red and White Pinwheel Quilt

Marking cross-hatching for hand quilting
on Red and White Pinwheel Quilt

My Nearly Insane quilt activity seems to have been put on the back burner for the time being.  Instead, I am currently trying to catch up with my hand quilting back log, which as you can see is STILL the Red and White Pinwheel Quilt.  As you can also see, I am still using the Wipe Off Fabric Marker, which I am finding works well.  What I have found is that you need to remove it with a wet cloth rather than a damp cloth - it is the water that removes the blue mark. So far, so good.
To get this one moving, I needed a deadline, so I have entered the quilt in a show, and now I am frantically quilting to get it done.  Mind you, the pace I am going could not be mistaken for 'frantic', as there is a lot of stitching for what seems like meagre progress.  The overall plan is not fully worked out, and the more I do, the more I feel I need to do, as well as the binding, plus the hanging tab, and the quilt label.  I can see myself stitching, just minutes before I hand it over!

Book: "Quilt It!" by Barbara Chainey

I would not say I am an expert at hand quilting, and don't feel that I have quite mastered how to choose a quilt patterns for particular quilts, but one book I find really useful is Barbara Chainey's 'Quilt It', as it gives loads of suggestions, especially for pieced work, rather than patterns for whole cloths.  I have designed some motifs of my own for this quilt, plus a lot of outline quilting, and at the moment I am working on some cross-hatching. 
It will get done.

Joining Up with Design Wall Monday! and Slow Stitching Sunday.
 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 48, Hand Stitching on the Move

Block 48, Nearly Insane Quilt

I stitched this Nearly Insane quilt block waiting in airports and on the flight back from my holiday in the USA to London, UK.  People are often amazed when I say I hand stitch most of my quilts, such as my Butterfly Quilt, my Pies and Tarts Quilt, and my Single Irish Chain Quilt, but with a project like this, I actually look forward to time waiting for planes, trains and appointments, as I know I am going to get a whole load of stitching done.  Yes, with my stitching nearby I am even happy for a flight delay! On the other hand, if I needed to find a chunk of time to sit at the sewing machine at home, I would find it more difficult.


Travel Stitching Projects - English Paper Piecing

If you don't have a portable hand stitching project on the go, I would recommend that you get a project together.  Don't have any expectations of how long it is going to take you, just enjoy the process, you will be amazed at how much you can achieve.  Hexagons are a really popular starting point, and over at Sarah Did It! on the 17th of each month there is a Hexi -aholics Link Up, if you are looking for some company.

Hand stitching aside - I have found that I am really enjoying doing the Nearly Insane blocks with stars in them and in the back of my mind I have a few 'Star Quilt' projects I am thinking about doing.   You can see my ever growing 'ideas' collection by visiting my Pinterest page (the button is on my sidebar).

BTW: In many of my blocks I am using cream fabrics which have a white print on them - you can just about make out the swirls in the corner of this block.  There are loads of these on the market, but do they have a special name?

So that is Block 48.
Joining Up with Finish it off Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts (PS: Don't forget to visit That's Sew Julie, where she is sharing a lovely Bonnie and Camille quilt she has made and also has a Jelly Roll Giveaway!)

NUMBER OF PIECES: 29
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle 1 1/16" (27mm) x 3/4" (19mm)  x 3/4" (19mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square, 1 3/4" (45mm) x 1 3/4" (45 mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
"Friendship" (Tonal Red) by Howard Marcus for MODA (Collections For a Cause) # 46130
"Days Gone By" Exclusively Quilters (Cherry Print)
"Days Gone By" Exclusively Quilters (Rose Print)
White of cream swirl print