Welcome! This blog is for fans of the 'Nearly Insane' quilt created in the 1870's by Salinda Rupp. If you would like to purchase a copy of the book by Liz Lois with the patterns, check with your local quilt store, or visit the Nearly Insane website.

If you would like to contribute to this blog, leave a comment and we can get back to you with permissions.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Block 93 - Tazzie

Here is my block 93. It's the only NI action I've seen all weekend. Lucky for me, tomorrow is a day off too, so I'll be able to get a look at another block or two.

I really like the faux crazy quilt fabric in the outer triangles. I will have to get a little more of it into the quilt before I'm done.

This is my 55th block, and I have a feeling there may be a few I've neglected to share here. I'll check them all out when I get the chance and see which ones I've missed. Happy stitching everyone!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Block 23 & 41 - Tazzie

Isn't it amazing how fast a week can go? I truly cannot account for my time these past few days, I'm sure work and small people have a lot to do with it :-)

Here are a couple of my recent blocks. The pink one was the last one I needed to add the fifth row to my quilt top.

This is block 23 - love the pink fabric. The thin red pieces were fun to work with - seam allowances were so important. Even being a little bit out meant the strips looked too small or large. I did unpick a couple of pieces for accuracy.

This basket is block 41 - and it was fun to have a bit of applique to play with. I love needle turn applique, so that was the technique I used. I was fretting that the triangles weren't lined up well enough in the basket, but it doesn't really show so much. Overall it's a very cute block.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Block 35 & 95 - Tazzie

Raise your hand if you thought I'd be able to resist making another block or two over this weekend? No-one? Well, you'd be right. I made up four, and here are two of them:

First up is block 95 - Isn't it fun how the two sides of this block bear no resemblance to each other. I found the cute orange print among the wonderful scraps of fabric Donna stealthily gave to me while I stayed with her in the US. I really love it!

And here is block 35 - I quickly made it up this afternoon. A little more of the orange fabric, and some other favourite prints. I don't think the orange will be making another appearance in the quilt - I think I've used all the precious scrap up now.

Do you see the four blue pieces there? The pattern on the fabric and the way it was cut, and then I've put similar pieces on each side of the block. I didn't realise until I photographed the block that the print had worked out like that. I'd prefer to have one of each piece on each side, but they're staying, and it can be another of the quirks in my quilt :-)

I'll share the other two blocks a little later on. And though I really need to get busy making lunches for tomorrow and doing some last minute tidying, I'm really dying to get back in the sewing room. I'll resist - tomorrow is another day!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Four Rows - Tazzie

Here's a little peek of the first four rows of my NI top (minus two triangles) sewn together.

I'm utterly addicted to this quilt, and don't want to work on anything else. It's going to be hard to force myself to work on other projects this weekend.

Love, love, loving it!!

Block 22 - Tazzie

Wow! This was one fiddly block to put together. It's block 22, and it has 133 pieces.

Not hard at all, just small pieces, lots of points and at times bulky intersections. How glad I am to check this one off the list!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Block 89 - Tazzie

Here is block 89 I made today. I've been making the tri's up as I have the chance to, so I can get busy putting more rows together. It's really fun seeing the quilt top progress (even though I've only done three rows so far).

I've been putting some blue in a few of the blocks even though there doesn't seem to be much in the original quilt. And though I thought I'd use a blue fabric for my cornerstones, I've ended up using a cute purple fabric. Perhaps I'll use the blue for the zig-zag border. At least I don't have to be making any decisions like that for a while!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Block #96 - Ann

I've now finished 10 blocks, so that's 10% of the blocks done! This is the first of the half blocks, and they were actually easier than I thought they'd be.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Block 92 - Tazzie

I had an inclination to start putting together a corner of my NI quilt. This necessitated the making of the actual corner. So, I made block 92 :-)

I've put a little of the quilt together, and I'm currently working on another triangle so I can finish a row. My Turning 4-T quilt is desperately needing my attention ... but I'm unable to tear myself away from this one. Send help!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Block 16 - Tazzie

As promised, here is my block 16. I've used up some of my scraps and little pieces for this block - and I have so many to use!

I've made block 1 through to 17 now, and a lot of blocks scattered through the rest of the quilt from challenges etc. The next one I should tackle is block 18, but I honestly don't think I'm ready to take that one on just yet. It's very scary looking!

Also, I have some magazine work I need to get busy on, so my NI block production may slow down for a little while. I don't think I'll be able to go cold turkey though - these blocks are entirely addictive! I'll check back in soon :-)

**Late edit: I have since changed out the blue fabric for a different one, as I found while putting a row together, that the block diagonally next to it had the very same fabric in it.**

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Block 17 - Tazzie

Here is a busy one - block 17 - it has 109 pieces! Once again I decided to just wing it and rotary cut and piece it, rather than foundation piece it for accuracy like I'm normally tempted to do. I'm really pleased with how it went together - I'm developing a very intimate relationship with the 1/4" seam on my sewing machine :-)

Although the corners look like they're wonky, they're not really - the sides of the block are kind of sitting up due to the large number of seams on the back (ohh, and my lack of photography skills also). This one will look just wonderful when it's in the quilt.

I think I'll tackle block 16 next, it's delightfully haphazard looking ... yes, that's it ... haphazard! :-)

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Block 49 - Tazzie

Here is my block 49. I'm so proud of myself for getting this one done. It was fiddly! Can you believe this baby has 100 pieces? That's a lot for a 6" block.

I wasn't super happy with how the centre area of the block was drawn up in the book, so I ruled it up again - I think it's much neater. And if I were to make this block again, I'd probably use a higher contrast green in the middle area. However, I'm still really pleased with how the block has worked up, and I'm thrilled to have finished it.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Block 15 - Tazzie

Here is my block 15. Marginally easier than the last block I made, but not nearly as difficult as the block I'm making right now (block 49).

Block 15 has been a fun one to make, as most of the fabrics were stealthily given to me by my friend from the USA - Donna. She stashed a paper bag of fabric with my luggage while Linda and I were staying with her. I saw the bag, and knowing it wasn't mine, put it with Linda's luggage. She then returned it. I found it again and put it with Linda's bags. This happened a few times before they finally revealed that the bag was for me. It was so funny at the time :-)

Heading back to the sewing room now - time to battle on with the next block.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Block 31 - Tazzie

Block 31 - Another easy block to ease me back into this project. The yellow fabric is one of my new ones, and the blue/green is a Dear Jane print.

I just rotary cut and pieced this block - no freezer paper required :-) I was a little nervous that my points wouldn't be up to par, but they'll be just fine.

Next time I'll make up a harder one, I promise :-)

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Block 21 - Tazzie

I'm back from my travels in the USA. I had the very best time, and managed to fit in a serious amount of shopping and fun. And I also have to say, I am very happy to finally be back playing with my sewing machine :-)

I so enjoyed seeing Barbara's block 21 the other day, I thought it would be a nice one to make up for my first effort back in the sewing room.

I have selected fabrics from my scrap box for this one, but I'm going to be excited to dig into the new fabrics I've purchased while away. I found a great many yellows and cheddars to add to the stash, along with many other reproduction fabrics.

I'm not sure which block I'll make next, but I'll check back in soon :-)