Day 9 - Twelve Days of Sewing at Fabadashery

Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt 2013 - Block Layout

As I said yesterday, a lot of my sewing time at the moment is being taken up with Bonnie Hunter's 2013 Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt.  Whilst I took a bit of a break from sewing today, I still managed to layout the blocks on the floor, and start to put them together.  It is happening quite quickly, but still a way to go.  At least you get to see a bit of a REVEAL of the final look.


Nearly Insane Quilt - English Paper Piecing

Whilst out and about today, I managed to prepare some of my English paper piecing templates for the next Nearly Insane block. All this was done whilst travelling in the car, and am pleased with the progress on this.  Over Christmas, this project has kept a steady pace, but as always, you wish it was going quicker.

Suzi hasn't much time for sewing today as the weather outside is wild and windy.  There are so many noises and sudden movements going on that she has found a spot to keep an eye on developments. See other busy cats at Feline Friday at Sarah Did It!

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 12

Draw 11 - Nearly Insane Quilt Blocks, 6,17, 42

Here are the completed Nearly Insane blocks from Draw 11.  These three blocks, 6, 17 and 42 add up to 250 pieces in all, with one block just 21 pieces, another 120.  I think it is the variety that keeps you sane!

Draw 12, has pulled out the next blocks as

7 - 78 - 83 - 93

Nearly Insane - English Paper Piecing Travel Packs

I have been getting my house in order with regards my Nearly Insane Quilt progress.  In my 6 Month Progress Report, I mentioned a few outstanding issues with regard the outer edge cornerstones, and the zig zag border.  Well action has been taken, and as you may be able to see I have not only cut out the pieces for all these, and put them into their travel bags, but I have also already prepared the next four blocks.  At 'work' I think all this reviewing would qualify as 'professional reflective practice'.

Old Cutting Mat

All this activity with the rotary cutter has been vastly improved with the introduction of a new cutting mat.  For quite a while I have been having problems cutting my fabric.  I thought a new blade in the rotary cutter would do the trick, but no.    The reason for the trouble was that the mat has been used so much that there are vast crevasses missing from it, so blade was skipping on those sections. I had to admit to myself that my old mat had passed it best.

New Cutting Mat

So at the NEC Festival of Quilts, I invested in a new cutting mat, and everything is working like a dream. 

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

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 7

Here are the latest blocks chosen for my Random Lucky Dip draw, which I use to determine which blocks I will do next in the Nearly Insane Quilt.

36 - 40 - 48 - 92

When I draw my Lucky Dip, I usually go straight to Liz Lois 'Nearly Insane' book, to see what they look like - how 'insane' are they going to be?

'Nearly Insane' Block Pattern book, by Liz Lois

Then I move onto my Electric Quilt software, where I have already drafted out each block - and then I play.  There are so many combinations which I could choose from, I am almost glad I am sticking to  just red and cream!  

Working on Blocks in EQ5

If there is a colour combination that I like, I either save it in my EQ Sketchbook, or simply take a picture of the computer screen on my iPad.  This allows me to compare the different options more instinctively, and once I am making up the block it acts as a quick reference for which fabrics should go where.
One of the reasons I am doing the project in batches, is so that I can get the fabric cut and prepared when I have more time at the weekend, in preparation for 'found moments' during my week, when I am usually working.

Electric Quilt Software Templates

To include in the travel pack, I print off a full size Paper Template for cutting up into templates for each of the pieces, and a smaller Pattern Template sheet, as an indicator of which block I am making.  On the Fabric Template, Electric Quilt has its own indicators for each piece, but before I cut up the Paper Templates for my English Paper Piecing, I often mark which piece belongs to each fabric.  I have also found that if some of the pieces are asymmetrical, it is important to indicate which side is the front.  Once all this is done, I am set to go!


Nearly Insane English Paper Piecing Travel Packs

As I make each draw, I am finding that fabric ‘fashions’ change quite quickly in my workroom.  Sometimes I want modern, sometimes traditional, sometimes I want it busy, sometimes more subdued.  Sometimes the blocks have a greater red influence, others a cream / white influence.  I think under the circumstances, my Lucky Dip works well, as each batch tends to have its own flavour, and by choosing the blocks randomly, they will eventually get mixed up together, rather than rows of what was in vogue at a certain time of making the quilt.  In contrast to my original thoughts, any attempts to make this a sophisticated, and refined quilt have slowly been going out the window, and I am more focussed on using as many fabrics as I can in the quilt. Scrappy is the name of the game!

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 5

Here is the block selection for Draw 5. Again, nothing too bad here - when will those 'insane' blocks make themselves known?
 

10 - 57 - 62 - 87

 

Nearly Insane Blocks 4, 30, 61 with Spring Polyanthus

Above are the set of blocks from my Nearly Insane Quilt Draw 4, Block 4, 30, and 61 .  I thought I would showcase my blocks against our Spring polyanthus. We have had a few warmer days this week, and I just managed to take this picture before the rain started again.  My posts have got a bit out of sync, due to having more time to sew, and less time to update my blog, but I think with this post I have pulled it all back into order.



Nearly Insane Quilt, English Paper Piecing

I have started to gather a good pile of blocks, along with other bits and pieces for the Nearly Insane Quilt, but overall, it only represents about 17% of the total.  As you can see, I have made good headway with the pile of sashing strips, but the cornerstones are falling slightly behind.   So this is a review of my 'Design Wall', and so joining up with Patchwork Times today.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 89

Block 89, Nearly Insane Quilt

This block was so simple, I can't even recall making it!  It just seemed to happen during the week in my snatched moments.  It was only 13 pieces, so it took no time at all.  I am using a calico for the sashing, so I am making an effort to include some calico in the blocks as well.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 13
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1" (25mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 1" (25mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm)TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Roc-Lon Unbleached MuslinMama Said Sew Tangled Threads in Apple Red, Sweetwater for Moda
Red with Whit Dots, Makower

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 33 and Spring Quilt Festival, Duxford

I had an urge to go to a Quilt Show at the weekend, as I will not be making my usual pilgrimage to Quilts UK in Malvern in May.  A quick search on the internet revealed that it was the 2013 Spring Quilt Festival in Duxford near Cambridge at the weekend.  Luckily it was based at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, so I was able to pursuade our weekend visitors to come along too, so they could look at aeroplanes whilst the rest of us looked at quilts.  A double bonus.  I got six hours in the car stitching, and I also got to replenish my red and cream stash for my Nearly Insane Quilt.
The show was a moderate size with exhibits from a few renowned quilters in the UK including some lovely whole cloth quilts by Sandie Lush, and some lovely colourful quilt by Gwenfai Rees Griffiths, including this 'Shades of the Sargasso Sea', based on the Storm at Sea quilt block pattern.


Gwenfai Rees Griffiths 'Shades of the Sargasso Sea'

One of the cutest quilts there was this 'Forget-Me-Not' by Judith Scott.

'Forget-Me-Not' Quilt by Judith Scott

In terms of vendors, there was a good selection, including Creative Grids which allowed me to purchase the large 15.5" square Ruler I have been 'needing' for a while - well since I realised I needed such a large ruler to square up blocks as large as those in the Easy Street Quilt.  Luckily, I checked their website before the show, and there was a discount coupon to download for use at the show - it would have been churlish not to use it. 

Creative Grids - Non slip 15½ Inch x 15½ Inch Square

I also got to spend my £10 voucher I had won from The Quilt Room in their Name a Quilt competition  - they also had a discount voucher on their website.  Red and cream fabrics were purchased and it fulfilled the spontaneous 'quilting fix' I felt I needed.
As for stitching, I managed to complete Block 33 of the Nearly Insane Quilt, and some other bits and pieces, during the journey, which means that all the blocks from the second draw are now complete.  

Block 33 Nearly Insane Quilt

This was another simple block, perhaps not my favourite pattern, but I do like the colours I have chosen.  When making the blocks you need to remember that they will be placed on point, and this influences how you use directional prints and other fabric choices.
Joining WIP Wednesday

NUMBER OF PIECES: 28
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1.5" (42mm) x 1.5" (42mm) x 2 5/16" (59m)
LARGEST PIECE: Square, 1 1/2" (37.5mm) x 1 1/2" (37.5mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Rural Jardin by French General (Leaf Trail Rouge) for ModaFa La La by French General (Floral L'Arbre De Noel Red 13587-11) for Moda
Tiny Flower Print (Unidentified)
 

Single Irish Chain Charm Quilt

As I am at the beginning of my Nearly Insane Quilt journey, I thought I would share another of my completed hand pieced, hand quilted marathons with you.  This is my Irish Chain Charm Quilt. It is hand pieced, using the English Paper Piecing method, and hand quilted.



Single Irish Chain Quilt

The start of my patchwork and quilting journey started when I inherited a fabric stash from a friend.  Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of fabric and thread in my life, just not the 100% cottons used for patchwork and quilting.  Some of the little gems in the collection were bags of  small charm squares, which were less than 2" square. 

Fabric Charm Squares, 1" - 2" square

I believe they were from the era before the internet and online fabric databases, when mail order shops would send out small samples for customers to select their quilt colours from.  These little pieces intrigued me, and quietly laid down the gauntlet 'find a project to use us in'.  An Irish Chain quilt was the solution.  Also, we were expecting the arrival of a camper van, so I decided to make a quilt for use in the van.



Single Irish Chain Patchwork Quilt

Obviously the size of the charm squares put a limit on the size of my shapes, so each small square was 1" big.  I made up the English paper piecing templates using the Table function in MS Word, where I could set the size of the cells to be 1" x 1", print them off and cut them out.  From the charm packs I selected the deep and warm toned charm squares, which have a jewel like effect, and sought out a light background fabric that would add a subtle texture.  I had already started to cover these little squares with the charm fabrics on the train to work, before I found a suitable background fabric.  In the end I chose a little tan, tone on tone sprig print, "Bound to the Prairie" #9195 by Kansas Troubles for Moda (some of you may be familiar with it - it was the neutral in my 2012 Easy Street Mystery Quilt).  It also matched the woodwork in the camper van perfectly.

Single Irish Chain Quilt - Ideal for a Camper Van!

I remember pouring the squares out onto the shop counter to match up this co-ordinating fabric as the assistant looked at me in disbelief, commenting ,"You do know there is an easier way of doing this, don't you?" Yes, there might have been, but at the time carrying a sewing machine on the train each day was not an option! This portable hand piecing project went with me everywhere, and often or not, a stray square would turn up in the boot of the car, down the side of the sofa - I often wonder how many got left on the train...


Irish Chain Patchwork Quilt

The Single Irish Chain pattern is made up from a 9-patch, alternating the background fabric and the main fabric.  In this case, the 1" squares made up a 9-patch 3" x 3", and that was the same size as the alternating 3" x 3" background fabric square.

Detail of hand pieced 9 patch block, Irish Chain Quilt

The quilt is hand quilted, firstly by quilting around the coloured squares, and then by adding a further cross-hatch pattern in the centre.  The border is also cross-hatched.  On this particular quilt, I think this simple quilting pattern works well with the Irish Chain quilt.


Scrappy Border - Irish Chain Quilt

To add to the scrappy nature of the quilt I decided to make up the binding from further scraps, which are also 3" long.  The background fabric was also part of the Kansas Trouble, 'Back to the Prairie' range.  Up close it is a very pretty print, and although it disguises the quilting stitches on the back nicely, from a distance the colours tend to blend into a muddy colour.  I used a small piece to make a quilt label using my Husqvarna Designer 1 Embroidery Machine, using Isacord embroidery thread.  I didn't use a strong contrasting thread, as I prefer a more subtle label, but it does the trick.


Quilt Label - Single Irish Chain Quilt

This quilt tends to live in the camper van, getting used regularly if we head off on a trip during the winter months.  I love spotting all the different fabrics as I am cosied up in bed!

There are still plenty of these charm squares in my fabric collection, any ideas for the next project?

Joining up with Crazy Mom Quilts.

Statistics
Dimensions: 150cm x 178cm (approx 5ft x 6ft)
Blocks: 3” x 3”
Piecing Method: English Paper Piecing. Hand Pieced
Quilting Method: Hand Quilted
Dates: Autumn 2006(?) – March 2009

Competition Entries:
2009 Traditional Quilts, Quilts UK , Malvern

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 71 Chimney Sweep / Album Block

The spring flowers are starting to show their faces, especially with the first few days of warm spring weather, so I thought I would capture the moment with Block 71 against some 'Tête-à-tête' in the garden.


Block 71 Nearly Insane Quilt, Spring 2013

For Block 71 of the Nearly Insane Quilt, I have used just two fabric colourways, both spots, to build up this block which is constructed similar to using bricks to build a wall. With the right colour choice, this cross pattern emerges, but I guess you could equally use different scraps for each piece, for a really scrappy looking quilt block, which would be fun.

This block has already escaped a few dodgy moments during its early life. Its little 'travel' bag slipped during a car journey and all the pieces fell out across the car. It was only when the block was together that I breathed a sign of relief, knowing I had not lost any. 


Suzi the Cat inspects Block 71, Nearly Insane Quilt

Then I took the block for Suzi to inspect.  She took particular interest in this one and was keen to test how robust it was.  Unfortunately, I had to step in before she was able to complete her quality control process.  She loves the crunch of the paper used in the English Paper Piecing method - perhaps a little too much. 

Suzi the Cat inspects Block 71

So far I don't seem to have reached the 'insanity' of this quilt - YET.  I know it is still to come, but this block was easy.

PS: Surely, THIS block must have a name!
( Edit: Sandie at has identified this block as an Album Block, which could be added to a quilt with space for signature.  A little further research has uncovered that it is also called 'Chimney Sweep' block. Thanks for your contribution)

NUMBER OF PIECES: 29
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1" (25mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 3 1/8" (77mm) x 1" (25mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:  Apple Red Snaps #5497 Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda
"Polka Party Petite" (Buttercream) "Lakehouse Dayz" Collection by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods (LH05037)

Joining up with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times and Connie over at Freemotion By the River to share my progress on my Nearly Insane Quilt.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 41, Basket Block

Apple Patchwork Fabric - Nearly Insane Block 41

How cute is this apple fabric?  I recently picked it up as a remainder fat quarter at Country Threads in Bath.  It is not strictly the red and cream scope of my Nearly Insane Quilt, as it has a tiny bit of green and yellow in it, but I thought it would add some 'character'. 
Block 41 is a fairly traditional patchwork Basket Block, so I thought I would pair this up with the Minick and Simpson "Christmas Past" red spotty fabric that I have talked about in the past, to make this block an 'Apple Basket'. I have added a 10 pence coin to give some scale to the finished 6 inch block.


Block 41 - Traditional Basket Block, Nearly Insane Quilt

Here are the 31 paper pieces that make up this block, plus the handle of the basket which is an appliqued bias strip.

Block 41 Nearly Insane Quilt - Basket Block

You will see that during the construction of this English Paper Pieced block the incremental growth of the strip due to the fabric being wrapped around the paper, meant that I had to fit a 4 5/16" strip of half square triangles onto a 4" plain strip.

English Paper Piecing

The easiest way I have found to counter this is to level up the ends and start sewing (Stage 1).  By fixing the two pieces together at the beginning, you can then start to manipulate the two pieces, so that they are eventually a perfect match.

Stage 1

Once they are fixed by a few stitches, I then bend the two pieces around my fingers, with the longest edge on the outside.  Like a race track, the outer piece has to travel further than the inner piece, and with a bit of a 'jiggle', you can get them to line up (Stage 2).  For further accuracy, because the fabric is on paper, the paper can be folded in half, and I tend to use the sharp creases as markers to match up as you fit the two edges together.

Stage 2

Always check it as you are going along, unfolding the seam to adjust, giving it a tug here and there to ensure that there will be no overlap at the end (Stage 3).  It is easier to adjust just a few stitches that the full length of the seam.

Stage 3

At the end, the two edges of the pieces should be sewn together with no overlap.  As you can see from the picture below, the end result has a bit of a bend in it.  

English Paper Piecing - Block 41, Nearly Insane Quilt

Never fear.  In this situation I tend to give the joined piece a good steam with the iron.  Also, at the moment the pieces are being held rigid by the paper, once they are finally removed, the shape of the block will be fixed by the sashing, and it will then be able to relax and mould itself into place.  This technique works for me, but probably only because I am confident that the papers will keep the shapes accurate. I know there are some 'corkers' coming up where the half square triangles are half the size of these, and there are many more of them. I think I will just take each block at a time.


Basket Block 41, Nearly Insane Quilt

I built up the block for piecing into smaller blocks, but this was not before I had added the bias strip basket handle, which I appliqued onto the large triangle.  I make my bias binding using a cheap and clever technique I picked up at a Sandie Lush Applique Workshop at Busy Bees Patchwork in Newport.

Folding Bias Binding using a Pin and Ironing Board

I cut my bias strip 1" wide, for a 1/2" wide handle on my basket block handle.  To set the width of the bias strip, I secure a pin to the ironing board, with a 1/2" gap, which I then feed the folded bias strip through, pressing as I go.  By adjusting the pin you can make a bias strip of any width.

Attaching bias strip for handle

I sewed on the bias strip with the paper still inside, and following the line on the paper which was visible through the spotty fabric.  Then, when I sewed the two halves of the block together, I hid the ends of the strip in the seam. 
This seems like quite an epic post for this unassuming block, but once I worked out what I was doing, this block was not too bad.  I know this block also makes up some of the edge blocks, so down the line maybe I will have a 'Cherry basket' too!

With another block finished, this Friday I am joining up with Crazy Mom Quilts.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 31 + 1 (Handle)
DIFFICULTY: 5/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1" (25mm) x 1" (25mm) x 1 7/16"" (36mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 5" (127mm) x 5" (127mm) x 7 1/16"(180mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
"Christmas Past" (14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
Apple Fabric - unidentified
Red Dot on Cream - unidentified

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 21

With the quick win of Block 91, I was eager to move on to the next Nearly Insane Quilt block, so made sure a few of my pre-prepared kits were packed in my bag before I left for work this week.  Block 21 was the next choice from my latest Nearly Insane Lucky Draw. During my lunch hours I was able to tack all the fabric around the paper pieces that I had cut out, and piece them together.  No problems with this block, as the construction was very straightforward, with just 25 pieces.  It felt like it came together in no time at all.  These fabrics are from the 'Mama Said Sew' Collection by Sweetwater for Moda.  This is the second block complete, and on my side bar I have added a picture of the whole quilt, so you can see my progress as I go along.

Block 21 Nearly Insane Quilt - English Paper Pieced

When I am at the early stages of a scrappy project, I am always keen to make sure I have a wide selection of fabrics, so you can imagine how excited I was when visiting Freemotion By the River today, to see that Connie is hosting a Giveaway, which is a charm pack, 'Ruby' by Bonnie and Camille for Moda.  This pretty fabric collection has a lovely fresh colour scheme, which includes some RED and WHITE fabrics ... I think I could give a good home to them.  Well, enough of that, or you all might enter.  To quickly change the subject, like all the others, this block does not have an official name, does anyone recognise it? 

Block 21 Nearly Insane Quilt - English Paper Pieced

NUMBER OF PIECES: 25
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1/2" (12.5mm) x 1/2" (12.5mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 2" (50mm) x 2" (50mm) x 2 13/16" (71mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
"Red Hoops" (5493-31), "Cream Hoops" (5493-12), "Apple Red on Cream Pinking Shears" (5498-31), "Cream on Apple Red Snaps" (5497-11) all the "Mama Said Sew" Collection by Sweetwater for Moda

Red and White Pinwheel Quilt - Hand Quilting

As I mentioned in a previous post, my hand pieced Nearly Insane Quilt is a portable project for when I am on the move.  If I have some quilting time at home, I am catching up on the backlog of quilts that need hand quilting. 


Suzi the Cat on the Red and White Pinwheel Quilt

This weekend, I have managed to put in quite a few hours of hand quilting to another of my red and white projects - my Red and White Pinwheel Quilt.

Hand Quilting Red and White Pinwheel Quilt

The top of the Red and White Pinwheel Quilt was English Paper Pieced (EPP), started in early 2009, and the top was completed in March 2011.  A bit of a quilting backlog has built up in the past few years, so I decided to do this one first as it is only a single quilt, and I thought it would get finished more quickly.  At the moment, I am simply outlining the red pinwheels, and I have designed a pattern for the centre of the blocks.  I am sure the remaining quilt pattern will evolve over time. I have managed to put in a good few hours of hand quilting, but it never seems to move on quite as quickly as you hope.
As I have moved my way around the quilt, outlining the red pinwheels, I have come across a few rogue paper templates, even though I thought I had removed the all the papers before I made up the quilt sandwich.  So in addition to quilting, I have had to unpick a few seams to extract the paper and then ladder stitch the seam together again.

Rogue paper templates !!!

Is there anyone else out there working on some hand quilting?

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 91

Nearly Insane Quilt Block 91, English Paper Piecing

With all the preparation to do the Nearly Insane Quilt, the anticipation for starting had built up into quite a big thing. I thought I would break myself in easily with attempting one of the edge half blocks, Block 91. Overall it did not take too much time.  The tacking can be done quite quickly, and this block came together really easily, in total just a couple of hours of hand sewing at most.

Block 91, Nearly Insane Quilt, Paper Templates

As a half block, it only had 18 pieces, and I was only using two different contrasting fabrics.  The little pieces seem very little, with the seams taking up more fabric than the actual piece on some.  It is tempting to have the seams in proportion to the piece, but you do need the full 1/4" to make the seams more secure. I believe there are much smaller pieces to come.

Nearly Insane Quilt Block 91, English Paper Piecing (Reverse)

As I am English Paper Piecing it, I have not removed the papers yet, and knowing me, I won't do that until the entire quilt (or at least the centre) is put together, so bear with the green tacking thread, I know it is going to become a close friend in the foreseeable future.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 18
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 5/8" (16mm) x 5/8" (16mm) x 7/8" (22mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle, 2.5" (63mm) x 1.25" (31mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
"Polka Party Petite" (Buttercream) "Lakehouse Dayz" Collection by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods (LH05037)
"Lazy Daisy Red" by "Mama Said Sew" Collection by Sweetwater for Moda (M 5494 21)