From time to time, I like to get a little insane. . . Or Nearly Insane. This is actual the title of a book by Liz Lois. Inside the book is a collection of about 100 or so block diagrams--nothing else, not instructions or measurements, just the diagram. I purchased the book years ago on a road trip that involved a stop at a quilt shop. (As most good road trips do)
Just for fun, I pulled out the book again last week (or perhaps it was the week before). I'm making the blocks in order.
These are blocks 19, 20, and 21, along with the crazy, erm, I mean Nearly Insane book tucked in the back.
I'm using my growing collection of absolutely decadent Liberty prints to make the blocks.
Liberties can be finicky little prints that don't necessarily read a single color. I have found that choosing a Liberty or two as a sorta focus for each block, then adding solids or solid-reading prints showcases the Liberties best.
Block 22 is a little problematic.
The center measurements are normal, if small, sizes. The borders of flying geese are the issue. Six flying geese have to fit into a space that is 1-1/4" wide by 3-1/2" long.
Don't bother doing the math. These silly gooses aren't the usual 1:2 proportions.
If you've been following along for a while, then you know, I'll do almost anything to avoid doing paper-piecing, which would be the most obvious solutions to these off-kilter geese.
Instead, I employed some of the techniques I use to create unique templates for each of The FLOCK bird block kits each month (trade secret!).
You can see my freezer paper templates at the bottom of this photo. And also some of the weird geese coming together nicely on the left side.
For each of these 'insane' block spurts, I make a handful of blocks then put them away for a while and let the project rest until my next itch to be 'insane.' Usually, I'm motivated to let the project rest after a particularly challenging block. While 22 (above) isn't so bad. It has a lot of pieces (did I mention that these blocks finish to 6" square?) But things get pretty whacko for the next three blocks.
The spurt may be ending or my insanity may continue. Hard to tell.
Stay tuned!
Puffy Pin Cushion #37
Another pinwheel block. There are 2 more of these pinwheel pin cushions left in the to-do stack.
The one I'm saving for the very last features a bird-feet print. I may keep that one for myself.
Holy Crow . . . 3 puffies to go!
Make your own four-patch pin cushions. For the step-by-step tutorial, jump over to the blog and scroll down to the first Puffy Fours post from March 5. That's when I started, about the same time the world was shutting down. And that'll bring you to the beginning of the four-part tutorial.
Happy Stitching!
Joan Ford
Head Hummingbird
I’m making french cookies today too. Using a hand held Gauffrette iron.. takes for ever but they are soooo good.
I had to look that up! They look just like pizzelles! The time-consuming ones are the most special, aren’t they. And the most yummy! Merry, merry!
Is this where I would ask a question? I was wondering if there are any youtube or podcast tutorials available for The Flock members
Hi Rosemary, I don’t have YouTube videos, but I do have some detailed tutorials on the website for the FLOCK block. You have to be logged in to see them. Once logged in, go to The FLOCK tab on the website, then the drop down menu will have a few detailed step by step tutorials with photograhps. If you’re in the facebook group, there are few facebook live videos with detailed demos. They’re a bit older, but still pertinent. You might have to scroll a bit to find them. Let me know if you need help.