Sunday, September 3, 2017

Nearly Insane

And I just about did go Insane! The farmer put off hay making for a week so after I pieced as much as I could of 9-Patches & Baskets, I decided to work on Nearly Insane.


These blocks finish at 6" and there are 9 blocks in this diagonal row.

Back in July, before things got really busy, I had pieced these 4 blocks.

They weren't very complicated and went together easily.

Now the blocks that were pieced in August.


Another straight forward block. Sometimes it's hard for me to envision what the block will look like. I wish now I would have put the lighter fabric in the corners instead of the darker fabric but, it's too late. Unless there is a big problem, I don't redo blocks.


This was an easy block, simple to piece. She's just a quiet, simple, troublefree block. 


This block is interesting because the on point corners are at the edge of the block. It looks like I made a mistake because there is no seam allowance left. That's the way it is supposed to be. When the block is sewn into the row, the points are cut off. Look for this block in the picture of the flimsy at the end of the post.


This block is my favorite block of the row. I don't mind set in seams. Wouldn't this star look great as a center medallion in a larger quilt?


This block, #75, just about put me over the edge to Insanity! There were 185 pieces. I can't believe how many errors and mis-cuts I made with this block. It took me 3 days to piece her! She's finally finished and I know she's not perfect but I   don't care, she is NOT going to be remade. Finished is better than perfect.


The quilt top progress so far. Click on the picture to enlarge. I am making the quilt in two sections. The bottom two rows (right diagonal) are not attached to the to body. 

The corner pieces for the center row are pieced and ready to be attached after the the 2 sections are sewn together.

There are 4 more diagonal rows to piece. Each row decreases by 2 blocks so the next row will have 7 blocks. I'm hoping to have the center section pieced by the first of November.

Linking to - Quilting is More Fun than Housework, Show & Tell Monday With Bambi, Em's Scrapbag, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away, Quilter's MondayEsther's Wednesday WOW!, Sew Fresh Quilts, UFO ProgressMy Quilt Infatuation, Finished Or Not Friday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, TGIFF!, Finish It Up Friday, Show Off Saturday

34 comments:

Jamie Janow Elfert said...

LOVE this quilt....I have been having this on my "Bucket List" for a while now...I guess I better jump in. Thanks for the inspiration.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Those are some pretty amazing blocks! I love the blue and white with a bit of hellow every now and then. How many blocks are in the whole quilt?

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

your quilt is looking so great! yes #75 looks like a bad block when you think of how small the pieces are

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

Wow! Having made a couple of these insane blocks, I applaud you for sticking with it. It is looking great. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

gayle said...

It's gorgeous! And #75 really does look scary! Good for you for making it work!
(Hmmm... I wonder how this quilt would look in orange...)

Gretchen Weaver said...

There are a total of 98 blocks in the whole quilt. Once I get all the blocks in the center pieced, there's a crazy zig-zag border. I'm enjoying piecing these blocks most of the time.

Gretchen Weaver said...

You'll never know how it will look in orange until you start making the blocks! That's how you get sucked into new projects. I would like to see how it looks in orange too but I'm not doing it.

Julie in GA said...

Your Nearly Insane quilt looks incredible! I love the colors you are using. 185 pieces in one 6-inch block?! That is insane!

Jo said...

I love block 75. I wouldn't be re doing it either.. great job

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

So pretty and such dedication. to me this quilt is a candidate as a 2 or 3 color with a 4th color as a zinger like you have done. The blocks are small and so busy that the quilt becomes too busy for the eye. the quilt on the book cover is overpowering. Beautiful work Gretchen.

Jayne Honnold said...

Beautiful! I made 53 of these blocks and decided to stop. I plan to complete the top this month. The colors you've used in yours look great!

MelodyA said...

Wow, this quilt is going to be spectacular!!! it is just gorgeous, love the colors you have chose!! take care from Iowa

Lori said...

Oh man--you need a hug after that one block! HUG sent!

AnnieO said...

WOW! The blocks by themselves were impressive enough, but the flimsy is striking. Looks like your to do list is a lot shorter now.

Carrolyn V said...

Just love this quilt! The move diversity and busy the blocks, the more intellectual curiosity and interest. Nothing more boring than a quilt with same blocks......too traditional......and traditional doesn't necessarily mean BETTER. However your handquilted blue and white churndash is a true masterpiece and treasure! Some quilters need to expand their horizons. I am an old broad and did the traditional forever, now I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the sampler blocks....the smaller, the better and very complicated intricate ones like we see coming from Australia: Di Ford, Wendy Willliams, Jean Kingwell......just fun. I now piece and quilt for others.....and the young ones esp. love these.....not just the simply modern blocks. Quilting has a place for everyone. Hurray!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I do not have ( and most likely never will ) have the piecing skills to tackle something like this...

but I do greatly enjoy seeing you ( and others ) that have managed this.

Still...185 pieces for a single block...Gretchen it just blows me away :)

I am in awe :)

Karen said...

Your blue and yellow combo for the blocks has such a fresh look. You do such a good job piecing your blocks.

dutchcomfort said...

I admire all quilters who work on this quilt and I love the blue, white and yellow!

Glenda said...

SO lovely Gretchen the blue and white with touches of yellow remind me of Provence in the South of France I use to see these colours in fabrics in all the markets, so I all ways think of the South of France when I see them now. Would so love to make these blocks but I'm still slowly every now and then working on my DJ's LOL Hugs Glenda

Gretchen Weaver said...

You've traveled so much, what wonderful memories you must have. Thanks for sharing about the colors reminding you of Provence. Maybe I'll rename my NI to Provence, so much nicer than NI.

Gretchen Weaver said...

There was another block in this quilt that had like 245 pieces. That one didn't cause near the problems this block did. The problem was the zig zag in the center of the block. That angle was a very strange one and it really gave me problems. But it's over now and I was admiring the block last night. But I never want to make one like it again!

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Gretchen,
I just LOVE the colors in this quilt!! All the block variety - how wonderful. I would just stare at this quilt if it were on my (well, at some point I would get used to it, but not for a long time)! ~smile~ Roseanne

Jayne said...

This is turning out to be amazing! Insane is a very good title for it! I hope it doesn't put you over the edge before you finish...keep going!!

Lynette said...

Oh my word! That sawtooth border in an already-fussy block, and it's all SO LITTLE!! This is a really nice set of work on the quilt, though. I actually like the dark corners for that one block. And it's all downhill from here, with smaller and smaller rows. :) She's going to be a really, really lovely quilt!

Rhonda said...

I was admiring each of your beautiful blocks, then saw your project-in-progress and WOW! That will be stunning. Good luck finishing the last blocks.

Cheryll said...

It's looking gorgeous... and soooo worth it...xox

Gretchen Weaver said...

The best thing about piecing the blocks for this quilt is I get to see each block individually. When all the blocks are together in the center, you are rather overwhelmed and it is hard to see each block separately. Happy stitching!

Gretchen Weaver said...

I haven't looked at all the rest of the blocks in the quilt but I have looked at the ones in the next row. They all look fairly straightforward, no weird angles that I can see. Blessings!

Leanne Parsons said...

Wow! Individually the blocks are all beautiful, but when they are put together they are absolutely stunning! Thanks for linking to TGIFF :)

Gosia @ Quilts My Way said...

Wow !!! What a lovely work, Gretchen !!! Thank you for sharing !

Sandy Panagos said...

Oh my goodness. I'm speechless! Stunning!

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Kamila @ Work-With-Patches said...

Beautiful quilt! Great blocks and wonderful colors of fabrics :)
Greetings from Poland
Kamila

Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts said...

Such beautiful blocks, and they are so much smaller than they look individually!