Barb2018

I recently saw a thread about crazy quilts and now I've got the itch to do one. It'll be way in the future and I'll be able to use lots of my stash, but I can't get my brain wrapped around how to do some things.
1) Do I need to make the blocks on a foundation? What are the benefits of making a block on a foundation? Will it be significantly stiffer if I make a block on a foundation square? Must a foundation be fabric or can wash away stabilizer be used?
2) Once the squares are sewn together, how is a crazy quilt quilted? I'm at a loss.....I've seen oodles of YouTube videos about block construction but almost nothing about what to do after that.
3) I'm interested in learning about crazy quilts done using my DSM and it's decorative stitches AND using a pattern for my embroidery machine. Are there any good books out there that describe crazy quilt construction and techniques for both methods? I've seen patterns by Molly Mine that look very good and I'd like to know if anyone has used them.

Manalto

I'm interested in the responses too. Barb, I've only seen one authentic antique crazy quilt and it was an impressive combination of rich fabrics (a lot of velvet) and intricate handwork. Dazzling!

hobbykat1955

I interfaced the bk of different fabrics before cutting. I then cheated as I often do, and used paper piece blocks for design. Then I used my emb machine, did some hand stitches, buttons, beads.

dublb

The original Crazy quilts were made by the nobility. Those women were so limited in what they could do that most of 'em did a lotta hand work. They did have access to left over rich fabrics. Like velvet, silk, brocade..... These fabrics don't play well together when sewing 'em together. That is why ya need a fabric foundation. Now if ya decide to make yours outta just cotton there would be no reason to have a foundation.
They were so heavy that they weren't quilted & didn't have any batting. Just a backing & then were tied. They were for display only.

Tartan

There are some great Crazy quilt block patterns if you want to make a easy pieced block and then decorate it with embroidery stitches. If you want to use random scraps, you can do that on foundation of some kind or not, completely up to you. The benefit of using a foundation is the blocks usually lay flatter and you have a size to cover. Antique crazy quilts were not usually done in block form but worked as a whole top. Find a method you will enjoy and go for it!

mic-pa

I have the rulers called "Scrap Crazy" by Creative Grids and have made several quilts with them . Just finished one using up my Christmas fabric scraps. no foundation needed, and they are a lot of fun.

sash

I put off making a crazy quilt for years before I finally decided to try one. I had lots and lots and lots of strings I had been collecting and scraps so finally decided I would try it. Watched You Tube a lot and may have sort of settled on the one by Jenny of Missouri Star Quilting (really don't remember now). I bought some of those deli sheets (from Sam's) and cut out squares and used these for my foundations and then squared the blocks to the size I wanted. After it was all sewn together and actually into a quilt I stitched each seam with a decorative stitch (took a while, but I did it, that's the way I quilted it). I did not want to embellish it at all for I like "comfort quilts". It is not a quilt show quilt but you know it has turned out to be one of my favorites.

grammasharon

Would love over to look at the machine embroidery group just can’t find it. Appreciate your help.

JanieW

next project - Crazy Quilt

Macybaby

I started out by downloading the "patterns" from the web. I am only using them for general fabric placement as I'm going larger. But they are numbered for placement so I don't have to figure that out. Edited to add - site is Pintagle - I know I found one page that had all 100 of the blocks in one spot, but I don't know where it is or if it's still there. You can find them one at a time with each completed block. - OK I found it , I looked up "I dropped my button box" and there it was!

https://pintangle.com/faq-pages/cq-details/



Then I take muslin and trace basic where I want the fabric to go.



I usually use washable school glue to hold the first piece in place, just a few dabs so it stays put. Then I fold over and finger crease the seam line and lay the second piece on top.



I do it the same way I do paper pecing, except that I don't remove the paper, and sometimes have to remove a bit of stitching for trimming the overlap.

After sewing, I trim the seam to about 1/4" with scissors, (Do Not Trim The Muslin). THen I finger crease the next seam and repeat.




Since I am doing this 100% machine stitching (Using a lot of those fancy stitches that we normally have no use for). I will do that as I"m working as that way the ends are "under" the overlapping peices. I am also putting in lace and trims (most of it is vintage)





I did another similar, but didn't use fancy stitching and tehn quilted it "extending" the lace to the adjacent blocks.



I had a fabric with well spaced butterflies - and fussy cut them to use one in each block.