I use foundation big square papers from Missouri Star, makes my life easier. I do the flip and sew method for each square. Some Iron Scrap quilters sew small pieces of scraps together to make a long strip and then cut the strip the length and width they want to cover the paper.

As you suggested, a true old fashioned crazy quilt was done as one continuous piece of "made" fabric. Working on an old sheet would give you a stabilizer to help make sure that you keep it nice and flat as you stitch the pieces on.


Another way that I have done crazy is by doing a "mile a minute" ....
http://patchworkpie.blogspot.ca/2008...ute-quilt.html

It's a project that you create over time as you create scraps.
I find it works best to wait til you have a bunch, so you get a good variety of different fabrics.
Then have a sew-fest and put them all together.
Then build up more trimmings and go back at it.

If you don't want defined blocks (with or without sashing), the larger blocks you make the more likely the blocks will just assimilate together to be one.

I have a couple phone books like Bonnie Hunter uses but I also have tissue paper you can buy in packages of 20 or more that are 20"x 20" (some 20x30). I kpaid maybe $2 for the package at the discount dollar store. the cheapest copy printer paper can often be purchased for $5.99 and usually has at least 500 sheets in each package. You can start with any shape you want. I love when there's no rhyme or reason. It's your quilt to do with as you want. Start with a small scrap or a large and any direction from anywhere on your foundation. You also don't need a foundation for a crazy quilt!

The fastest way I have made a scrap crazy quilt was to fuse all the fabric pieces over lapping on washable fusible stabilizer. Did a close quilting on it. The edges of the fabric frayed making the quilt soft. It is one of my DD's favorite quilts.

Just keep in mind that scrappy quilts can be very difficult because they are rarely random! Often we take more time with the planning, the rearranging and tweaking them than we do with a regular blocked quilt.

Oh my goodness, you have just explained why the old velveteen and satin embroidered crazy quilt I remember from childhood did not look like the modern ones! It was not done in squares either. Now I have to go look up how to make the originals....

I bought two quilt tops made like that from an estate sale. I was going to finish them for prayer quilts, but the tension was so far off on 'Grandma's' machine that, IMO, they weren't usable and much too time consuming to try to save them.
I made a crazy quilt wall hanging on thin muslin and the muslin didn't add much weight.

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I just sew scraps together then square up with my 8 inch template/ruler. I put black sashing between these blocks and it is now quilted and on my bed. I think scrappy quilts are my favorite.

Yes definitely, they didn't do squares!
You certainly could make a more traditional crazy quilt today ..... just stitch pieces on as you go.
I would start somewhat in the middle and work my way out.
At times you will add a piece be covering up a piece from before.
You may want to trim it off on the underside and re-use, or just go with the layering.

And don't forget all of the beautiful hand stitchery that was on top of those crazy quilts after the fact!
I think a lot of the time, that covered up imperfections and raw edges that weren't stitched down.
But I am sure someone here will be sure to correct me on the old crazy quilt processes!

Madame Kelly, I think you should make one!

I use a focus fabric cut about 5 or 6 inches square, but in an irregular angular shape with at least 5 sides. Then I do the sew and flip around the focus and to the edges of a square piece of old sheeting that is 10" square. Trim to 9.5". This is particularly fun with children's focus fabrics and coordinating colors of scraps.