EDIT: The pattern for this quilt is now available for sale at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Post-Office-Patchwork/1460320557527771
My Insanity Quilt is a hand-pieced project that is definitely of the long term variety. I started out very well and have done an awful lot but my interest is flagging a little.
With a total of more than 10,000 hexagons I feel that I’ve made great progress.
This picture shows most of the hexies that have been joined in some way. I still have a huge bag of loose coloured ones (over 1000) that will become part of the the multicoloured border. Another big bag of white ones (over 2000) to which I have to add a heck of a lot more.
The thin raspberry border took me an age to decide on but now after seeing it laid out like this I think I made a good choice, now to kick on and make the rest of them…
They look like little jewels when I see them all together, these are not placed in any particular order, I just grabbed them out of the bag and this is how it turned out.
I haven’t set myself any rules for placement of the colours other than I do not want to repeat any. Looking at these photos I can see a few duplicates (they will be unpicked and added to the borders.
Some of my girlfriends have amazing stashes of fabrics and they have been saving and giving me a lot of their scraps. I have not bought any of the coloured fabrics in this quilt, they are all from stash or scraps. I do not have gigantic hands, these little hexies are only half inch in size!
My ‘white’ fabrics are actually about 20 different fabrics. It really gives the ‘white’ some texture but is still very subtle. (It also stops me from going insane as I work my way through 5,000+ of these).
Due to sheer volume I have purchased several thousand tiny paper pieces from a great online store that I found – their service and prices are fantastic – paperpieces.com
I know that I will finish this quilt ‘one day’ and I am not going to feel guilty about that. I will pick it up and keep adding to it but if it takes a couple of years I’m totally OK with that.
Thanks for reading this far about the beautiful Insanity Quilt. It was designed by Rhonda Pearce and one day it will look similar to this one:
See you next time,
Sharon 🙂
The Projects of My Life... 
I agree – the raspberry was an excellent choice. It may be a looooong term project but it is SO going to be worth it!
Thanks Kirsty! Now come home!! 🙂
It certainly looks marvellous all set out like that.
You can see the potential quilt that it is going to be. 🙂
Wow, You’re amazing, really good, I love the quilt!
Thanks Margherita, it really is just a matter of ‘keep going’ with this one. It is a beautiful quilt. 🙂
I see why it is called the Insanity Quilt!! But it’s looking amazing – keep going!!
I think I can, I think I can… it will be worth it in then end 🙂
Thanks for looking.
Nice to know that I’m not the only mad girl around! 😉 It will be great when finished.
Thanks Jule, just have to keep going!! Will get there in the end 🙂
This quilt is going to be so beautiful! I really need to try a small hexagon project while resisting the urge to make a quilt like this myself.
Thanks Meg, I think you should do it! Maybe start with a cushion cover or something like that 🙂
I’m in awe and totally understand the effort that goes into this kind of thing. My mum is a quilter and I watched her work on one of these quilts over 10 yrs. It’s amazing xxx
Thanks Jodie, they aren’t quick projects but they are rewarding. 🙂
Oh my goodness….LOVE LOVE LOVE! I had thought about this quilt awhile back–I remember you originally posting about it early last year. I think you pointed me in the direction of where to find the pattern, but I cant’ remember of course! Where do I go to get it again? I spend so much time scrapbooking nowadays that it would be nice to have another project that’s different to do….and I just don’t have the space right now to lug out my sewing machine. I love the idea of hand piecing so much more!
Paper piecing is a great idea. I will email you.
Good work! I found the white/beige ones the worst
I am so so impressed! I don’t think I could ever take something like this on! It’s beautiful!
wow, I wish I had the patience to do this.
Hello! I absolutely love what you have done with this quilt so far! I have been trying to find this pattern forever! I simply cannot locate one online after repeatedly scouring the internet for it. Is there any way I can obtain a copy of the pattern from you? Can you share via email? I am happy to pay you for it even – just so much wanting to make this beautiful quilt! Thank You!
Hi Laurie, I have emailed you a copy of the pattern. Happy to share, the pattern is no longer available anywhere. S
Hi Laurie, I just discovered your blog and love your Hexagon Quilt. I’m new to Paper Piecing and am hooked. I too, if you may, would also love to have this pattern. It is beautiful.
Hi Kathy, I think you mean Sharon. I will email you a copy now. Cheers.
OOPS, sorry bout that. a Senior moment for me. Thank you for the pattern. I will continue to be a follower of your blog.
absolutely beautiful!! yes a lot of work but one day it will be done and you will love it. I am making a hexie quilt in something of the same layout but they are hand pieced and 1 inch using Inklingo for printing on fabric. what you are doing here is fantastic. Would it be possible to get the pattern from you as you say it is out of print?
Hello. Absolutely love your blog. You have inspired me to attempt something similar. I’m practicing my hexagons by making 2 placemats first to make sure I will stick with it. Could you email the pattern to me? What size hexzies are used & how much background fabric is needed?
Hi Sharon, love the quilt ….. Don’t suppose there is a chance I could get a copy of the pattern also ….. Have been looking for it and can’t seem to find it anywhere …..
Deb
Hi Deb, I’ve sent you a copy. Enjoy.
Arrived safe and sound thanks Sharon….. Have been doing half inch hexes for a while …. Might put them in this …. Now all I need is a project to put my quarter in hexes in to…….
HI.
Beautiful quilt. Enjoyed the pictures and the blog. Neither have discouraged me in the hope of making one of my own. Would you please share the pattern one more time? I can not find it any where. I have looked EVERYWHERE. A great project when I take my mom to doctor.
Hi Leslie, I have sent you a copy of what I have. Enjoy 🙂
Hi There, Love the Insanity quilt, I have just started mine..so your blog is an inspiration. regards Fay Cape Town South Africa
Thanks for the lovely comment. Good luck with your Insanity. 🙂
Just found your blog while looking for the pattern for the Insanity quilt. Do you know where I can get the pattern? I have been unable to find it anywhere!
Hi there, I know that the magazine the pattern was in is very hard to find. If you confirm your email for me I will send you a copy of the pattern. Cheers, Sharon
Hi Sharon. I am DELIGHTED to find your link as I too have done exactly the same layout for my quilt. Like you I have used scraps, (which I have retrieved from the bin which others have thrown out) for the diamond, flower and border, I have to confess that I bought a bold of fabric which I feel in love with of grey with tiny little reddest flowers. I started my quilt August 2009 and I’m now putting the multi coloured border on, then finish off with the three rows. I’m in no rush to have it finished as I judt loved doing it. It has raised many a great conversation in class, my travel on airplanes,trains etc. So I will follow your link with keen interest. Best Wishes . liz
Hi Liz,
It is a long term project, there is no way I could just stick with it – I really would go insane. It will get one day. I will post an update shortly.
S
The quilt is fabulous! How large are you cutting your fabric hexagons? They look like they are being cut much larger than the 1/2 template plus 1/4 inch seam allowance. I Like the idea. Also, I too would love a copy of the pattern. Thanks. Look forward to seeing your progress.
Hi Brenda, I am a little generous with the fabric hexagons – most of them are actually squares that I don’t bother to trim (I don’t mind the bulk, it makes a thicker quilt). I don’t have one with me to measure but I am pretty sure they are 1.5 inch squares. Will email you what I have.
Hi I love the colours in your quilt they just glow.
I have been making this quilt for over a year. I do not know how to make the edges even all around the quilt. do you halve the hexies to square them off. I still have a long way to go but will finish the quilt in the near future.
Hi Ellemae, I am a looooooong way off needing to finish the edges but what I will probably do is just use a thicker binding and sew it on the half way point of the hexagons. It will waste some but by that point I will just want it finished. I will see if I can find a link to any other ways of finishing it.
I just found your blog in searching Insanity Quilt. Your quilt is fabulous!! I’m looking for a portable project to take on an extended work trip, and was thinking about Insanity. I would love if you would email the pattern to me. Thank you so very much – and thank you for your great blog!!
Hi Dale, this project is perfect for carrying around. I have sent you a copy. 🙂
I too have spent the past several days trying to find a pattern for this am quilt. If it’s not too much of a bother, would you mind sending me a copy as well? Thanks in advance, it’s much appreciated 🙂
Hi Mary, The pattern is on it’s way 🙂
Hi Sharon…..
do u have any updated pics of your progress… would love to see them…. i am about to start La Passion …..
Deb
I love your quilt! It is amazing! Just beautiful! Where do you keep it laid out while you are (and aren’t) working on it? Could I please get a copy of the pattern? I would love to do this.
Hi Linda, this pattern is now available for sale by the owner at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Post-Office-Patchwork/1460320557527771
I’m working on my second hand stitched hexagon quilt. The first hexagon flower garden I made hasn’t been sandwiched, quilted or finished yet. I stopped so I could make one for me sister Jennie. I’ve had three different types of cancer with surgery for each one and my sister Jennie left her husband at home alone to come help me around the house and with doctor appointments, shopping, etc. while I recovered. I don’t know what I would have done without her. It’s awfully embarrassing when you have to get a shower and you can’t reach all of your lady parts, thank God my sister was there to help me. Anyhow, she saw the first quilt I made while she was here and said she would like to have a hand made quilt….soooo, that’s what I’m doing now. I’m almost done making the top, I did cheat and used 1 1/2 inch hexagons, I know I should have gone smaller but it took my 3 years to make my 1 inch top and I didn’t want her to have to wait that long. I’m 57 she is 67, just wanted to make sure we were both alive when the quilt if done, LOL….It’s a lot of fun. I curl up on my bed in the evening and sew, sew, sew all the while listening to the television. I’m making Jennie an english paper pieced grandmother’s flower garden quilt. My hex top was the first quilt I have ever made and now this will be my second. I’m not sure how I’m going to sandwich it and quilt it since I’ve never done anything like this before but, hey!, I’ve gotten this far and if I must say so myself my points are great and my rows look even. I got this idea from the computer, don’t remember the actual site, but there were lots of instructions and ideas. Anyhow, good luck with your quilt, it’s beautiful and is a wonderful idea for a third hand stitched quilt but I’m definitely going to finish both of these before I start another project. I don’t want to be one of those people who I’ve read about on different sites that have a couple dozen projects in the working and none of them are complete. Take care and again, good luck with your quilt…..Patti Mahoney, Baltimore, MD
Hi Sharon
I have just commenced my Insanity Quilt. have been addicited to hexies for yonks. However, I only have 17 or 18 cream half inch hexies made so far.
It looks from your photo that you have have used squares of fabric for your hexies? That is what I am doing as well. I have cut, lots of cream ones and have put a pile of fabrics aside to cut and sew for the diamonds and flowers. I want (and hope) I can make all of these different, I mean each daimand matching, but have 158 different ones.
My border is going to be shades of purple.
How is your quilt progressing?
(PS I live in Cloncurry, NW QLD)
Hi Sharon,
I’ve just found these comments after not being on my blog for the longest time. Sorry I didn’t back to you sooner.
My quilt is in limbo although I have done a lot of it. Have recently just taken out a huge mortgage which will keep me broke for a long time so I imagine a lot of my unfinished quilts will get done during this time.
I am also about to start the 1930’s Farmers Wife Quilt-along and will be blogging the blocks as I go.
There is a very active Facebook group for the Insanity Quilt, you have probably found that already.
Good luck with your quilt. 🙂
S