Nearly Insane Project is Done!

 Good day and welcome to my blog!

I am reporting that a long term project with much work put into it is done done.  I worked on Nearly Insane blocks in 2010 and 2011, but then put them aside for a long time.  I unearthed the project recently, while looking for fabric for binding something else.  I counted the blocks, set them out, and found I could make a rectangular quilt with only a few half blocks to add.  This is not the full 90+ blocks of the full quilt.

I reported earlier too that the top was done, and while the center was flat, the borders definitely weren't.

Well, off to the local long arm quilter it went.  I picked a simple fan quilt pattern, to let the pieced blocks shine.  She promised to do her best.

Well, what came back was simply amazing.  The borders are nearly as flat as the center.

Laid out on the floor of my sewing space.  Nearly Insane fans will note that yes, it's a smaller quilt, and I did not do the zigzag border.  In the original quilt the sashing was more of a tan color.  I had enough of the pink for sashing and border, but not much left over!  The quilt is bound in the black of the inner border.  Here is a close-up:

I am so happy this is done.  This is a keeper.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Put your foot down at For the love of geese, Needle and Thread Thursday,  Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Nearly Insane top is done

 Good day and welcome to my blog.

I am happy to report that my Nearly Insane project is now a top.

I had just enough pink fabric for sashing and outer border with just a little leftover.  I am sorry to say the borders really are a little wavy - my quilt tops usually lie very flat, but not this one.

This is 59 blocks plus half blocks to fill in - smaller than the original project of 90 + total blocks and half-blocks.  Each block is 6 inches square, finished.

A closer look:

And even closer, showing my original black fabric for the cornerstones, now gone.  I bought new black fabric for the rest of the cornerstones and border.  There is enough for black binding too.  The two fabrics are very similar!

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Put your foot down at For the love of geese, Needle and Thread Thursday,  Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Excavated old UFO: A restart

 Hello and welcome to my blog entry this week.

I described in my previous post how I unearthed a length of reproduction double pink fabric for binding, and it reminded me of a long ago project.  Specifically, my Nearly Insane project, based on the book of the same name.  This book was inspired by a quilt from the late 1800's by Salinda Rupp.  I too was drawn in.  In 2011 and 2012 (by my blog entries)  I made a block a week, and followed along with a Yahoo group of ladies all working on this project.  Sadly, the group became inactive and has now disappeared with the demise of Yahoo groups.  But I still have my blocks, and I laid them out to see what I had:

Laid out on the floor, with some pink sashing already cut, and the carpet showing showing in between other blocks.  Each block finishes at 6 inches squares, and I had 59 blocks done (more than 90 in the original quilt).  For the most part I followed the original color scheme and used reproduction fabrics. The blocks I had were just perfect for a moderately sized top - no more blocks to make!  How did that happen?  I just had to make a few half blocks for the setting triangles around the edges.

Below, a close-up of blocks that have many pieces and were complicated to make:

Yes, that is why the project is called Nearly Insane!  Salinda, the original quiltmaker, was using up all her scraps it seems.  Now that I have excavated the blocks and the sashing fabric, and ordered more black fabric for the cornerstones, I shall get going on this.  

I do not plan on piecing the original zig zag border.  I am sure I can find something appropriate in my stash, or I may 'have' to buy more fabric.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Put your foot down at For the love of geese, Needle and Thread Thursday,  Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Nearly Insane block 49

But I am falling behind in the weekly challenge put on by our yahoo group!
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Oh no, a mistake!

A Nearly Insane block with an "oopsie" in it. I decided to forge on and finish the block.

I am sorry for ignoring this blog for almost a month!  This block has been done for awhile.  I am a bit embarrassed by it, but not so much that I didn't press on and call it done!
Colors are much as in the original quilt.
I hope everyone in the USA had a great Thanksgiving, and that you are enjoying the run-up to the holidays.  I am pretty busy right now and I have done only one more block since this one.  I'll try to scan it soon and add it to the blog.  But the Nearly Insane project has been going for over a year, amazingly enough!  I think I am about half way done.

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Nearly Insane block ?????

And if I knew the number of this block I would tell you...
Not too bad to construct.
Here is Tazzie's blog entry on her finished quilt - which looks great:
http://tazziequilts.blogspot.com/2011/11/its-so-exciting.html

Viridian
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Nearly Insane - block 31

A fun block to do, not too difficult.  Getting that little dot centered in the center piece was pure randomness, honest.

Viridian

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Block 89

Two half blocks.  In making the original quilt, Salinda Rupp set her blocks on point.  Which means half-blocks along the edges of the quilt, and quarter blocks in the corners.  There are 2 ways to do this: Make blocks, cut them in half diagonally (which Salinda apparently did) or carefully plan half blocks separately.  the book Nearly Insane helps you do this, and that's what I did with block 89 here.

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A recent Nearly Insane block.

Log Cabin Style.  One of the simpler Nearly Insane blocks - sorry I do not have the number.  I promise I'll look of the number for my next block.

Viridian


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Nearly Insane block 81

Love the pinks!  Viridian

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Nearly Insane: Block 62

Viridian


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Nearly Insane: block 56

I am having trouble getting the camera to interface with my new laptop, so this block was scanned.
In a way I wish these blocks had names, like the Dear Jane blocks.  They might be easier to keep straight.

viridian

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Next Nearly Insane Block

I have added lines to the paper piecing pattern, so that I can actually paper piece this.  I avoid set in corners and Y-seams as much as possible.  Again, I am sticking close to the colors in the original quilt.
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Block 10 - Nearly Insane

A bit electric, yes? The colors and prints are close to the original quilt by Salinda Rupp.
I enjoyed finding a place in this quilt for the red print in the center, one of my favorite reproduction turkey red fabrics.  the green fabric in the frame is a VERY close reproduction of a green fabric that seems to have been manufactured for 70 years or more!  I bought it at least 5 years ago or more, so I am sorry, I can't tell you where to get it.

Viridian


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Nearly Insane block 4

Block 4 in close to original colors.  I'll be linking this to Beverly's Pink Saturday meme.

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Nearly Insane Block # 46

This one turned out a little small and I added red strips to two sides to get it up to 6.5 inches, unfinished.  A bit electric!!!

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Next Nearly Insane block

This one is a little wonky.

 I think a few leftovers were thrown together for this one.


Viridian

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Nearly Insane block and Pink Saturday

Hey, who says that pink, red and blue don't go together?  Not Salinda Rupp, the maker of this quilt, back in 1870's Pennsylvania.  These colors are very close to those in the original quilt.

I am joining Beverly for Pink Saturday.




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Easy Nearly Insane block

You know every now and again even us Nearly Insaners need a break, and take on an easy block.

Viridian

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Back to some quilting content

I have been continuing on my Nearly Insane blocks, just neglecting to post them here.

Here is a bright zinger, in colors very close to the original quilt.  I redrew the inner part of the block to make it easier to piece, instead of struggling with Y-seams.  I'll have another block tomorrow.
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