Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Busy sewing again

I've been needing a little nudge to get into some sewing again. I think it's the wet cold weather slowing me down. I didn't know what I felt like doing until Ranette gave me a little nudge to get back to my Nearly Insane blocks. Thank you Ranette, it was just what I needed. They are not as distorted as they look, honestly, it's the angles.

Block 29 Block 9
Block 11
I have been busy hand quilting, mainly in the evenings and sometimes it takes me a little while and much wrestling of the quilt to see where I last finished. Here's my tip, tie a bright ribbon to a rust proof safety pin and pin where you finished last. Much easier to spot where you need to go back next time you pick it up.

34 comments:

Liz said...

What a great tip Janet, I'm always losing my spot, I'll be doing that tonight, thanks. I love the colours on your 'Insane' quilt, glad you've gone back to it, it should look great finished,
big hugs, lizzie

PatchworkRose said...

Hi Janet
so pleased you are back to your Nearly insane. Your blocks look wonderful. Will be keeping a weekly watch now :-) I try and make at least one a week. It is a challenge some weeks
Cheers Lynne

Unknown said...

Lovely Blocks...nice to hear you are back into it...I'm still trying...maybe Tomorrow...Thanks for the Great Tip will certainly be using that next time I Hand Quilt...
cheers

Carol said...

Wonderful blocks!

My Pink & Cream Cottage said...

Hi Janet have just found your blog & is always great to find a fellow Kiwi not to mention one that lives in NSW... Im up at Coffs so imagine it a tad warmer up here... love your blog & your patchwork, looking good there girl...

Hope your keeping warm...

Lyn xxx

Unknown said...

Great blocks! But I absolutely love your tip, very useful!

ranette said...

Just love those red & white NI blocks...so pretty!

Wonderful quilting stitches, just wonderful...in awe as always! :o)

Crispy said...

Love your new blocks, the fabrics in the first one are wonderful, gives it such movement!!

Great tip...I usually just leave my needle in and end up getting stuck once in a while, I may have to change my thinking to your idea.

Crispy

Betsy said...

Janet your blocks look perfect to me.
Thanks for the tip of the pin and ribbon on the quilt. I always lose my spot and this will definetly help.

Lori said...

A red and white Nearly Insane! Wow! It is really stunning!

QuiltedSimple said...

Love your Nearly Insane blocks. I need to get working on mine again. Love the red and white
Kris

Nedra said...

I admire your ability to hand quilt. I gave it a try with several different techniques, and it just didn't turn out well. Love the red and white!

Janet said...

Ditto. Your hand quilting is so even and dense. Wish I could watch your technique. Looking forward to seeing the layout of the red and white blocks.

Yvette said...

I love your Insane blocks and the fabric you chose for them.

Terrie Sandelin said...

Your insane blocks are just beautiful. I really love those deep reds and whites! Great tip on how to keep track of hand quilting, too.

Dolores said...

What a wonderful little tip. I must try it soon as I have a quilt that is waiting to be quilted.

Karen said...

Sometimes we do need a push to get going on a project. Are you hand piecing your blocks or by machine?

Carrie P. said...

OOOO, pretty blocks.
Great tip about the ribbon. Sometimes I spend several minutes try to find where I left off.

scrapworking said...

Love your tip...will have to make some up. I have tons of ribbon! Love the colors of your Insane blocks...good name too! Have a great day!

Doris said...

I'm doing Nearly Insane, too! Haven't blogged about it recently, but it's still a WIP...

Got my fabrics picked out for my Candied Hexagons!

Mary said...

Good tip about the safety pin.

I have the Nearly Insane book and have to say you are a brave woman using stripes! And making it look good, too. I really like the red and white versions I've seen.

Darlene said...

That's excellent tip - hopefully I will eventually hand quilt an entire quilt and will need that tip. :-)

Your NI blocks are wonderful. Glad you're sewing again.

Sherri said...

What a wonderful tip! And your red and white blocks look great!

Cathi said...

What a fabulous tip -- I can never find where I've stopped!
I love your red and white blocks!

Karen said...

Your Nearly Insane blocks are very nice. Wonderful tip. By the time I finely find the spot, I am too tired to quilt. :)

Janet said...

Your blocks look great! Are you making the whole quilt in red and white?Thanks for the handquilting tip!

Julia said...

Hi Janet. It been cold here too!
What a great tip, I'm always losing my spot.
I have seen a Nearly Insane quilt done all red and white and it looks awesome..your blocks look great.
Julia ♥

Kaaren said...

Janet, you were dreaming about all the wonderful things you're going to do on your 820, right? (wink)

There's just something about red and white quilts that make my heart beat just a little bit faster. Lovely!

Great hand quilting tip. Thanks! I usually leave my needle into my next stitch but many times I have to search for that as well.

RG said...

Hi Janet, that is a great tip to use isn't it? I know I do the same for machine quilting too.
Your hand quilting is beautiful and so are your blocks!
hugs
Robyn xx

Cathy said...

Love those blocks, will look great together. Thanks for the tip for keeping your place...great idea xo

Thimbleanna said...

Oooh, your hand quilting is so beautiful. I love handquilting and really should get back to it. It's been sadly neglected since I found blogs. ;-(

Browndirtcottage said...

Well I am sooo loving these blocks!
Your fabric choices are FAB.

*karendianne. said...

Great tip and what lovely blocks as well! I'm glad I stopped in. *karendianne.

Joan Heinrich Callaway said...

Oh, my! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your comments on my blog, because they led me to this -- your lovely blog. Your work is wonderful and I am typing at break neck speed so I can finish up and get back to your blog. Thank you to Cathy, too!