Crazy Quilt .....anyone?
 

Don't know why, but I think I would like to "play" making a crazy quilt. Don't know if I want to do with cotton fabs, or combo of fabs....I do know I would machine piece, maybe use some of the built in stitches on sm, but looking at samples of hand embroidery stitches, soooooo lovely. And adding Lacey embellishments - a treasure hunt in the thrift stores or remnant section of HL or JAF....I think I've run out of steam doing bed quilts, tablerunners, etc.....but need something different. Altho I don't think I would do anything "large", just want to dabble in something like a tabletop or bed runner or ??

Have any any of you done, or are working on one?

i have actually just requested a how to book from library to begin with.

Its a great way to use up old fabrics, laces and trims with treasure hunting to fill in. Be careful of the velvets and satins.... they are heavy and often require dry cleaning. But the best part is learning all these crazy embroidery stitches, even if you make the stitches only 6 to 8 inches long. Whenever I tire of quilting, I pull out an embroidery pattern, set, or panel for a change of scenery until I get back in the quilting mood. Good luck and have fun!

I do crazy quilts the same way my gran taught me - stitching scraps down to a square of muslin (or old sheet) then assembling the squares into a quilt.

Gran just used zigzags all over everything but I like to go back and add decorative stitches with my machine.

I love my crazy quilts and make about one a year. Great way to use up orphan blocks and lots of odd sized scraps. Mine are completely random and uncontrolled but I've seen some lovely ones where people sorted out colors. I do mine 100% on the machine.

I've never done one with lace but I have a bunch of vintage lace I've saved, along with a bunch of damaged table runners and dish towels that my grandmother embroidered, some of which have crocheted edges. Some day I'll assemble all of that into a crazy quilt designed to go up on a wall - most of it is stuff I don't think would survive a washing. That one I will probably hand-embroider any additional decorative stitching; I don't feel like machine decorative stitching would look right next to my gran's handwork.

I am currently doing this. I plan on ending up with 100 8" blocks, and have 55 done so far.

I'm using cream/white/beige with lots of lace and ribbon embellishments. I'm going for the "antique wedding dress" look to the finished quilt. I collected vintage laces and trims for several years, and probably have 2- 3 times what I need.

I'm using the decorative stitches on my embroidery machine.

Macybaby...can you show a few pics of some of those lovely sounding blocks.
i HAD a whole large box of various laces, trims collected over time-and decided I didn't need them so I sold them for cheap at a garage sale this last summer..now I'm sorry I did! Will have to start searching for treasures again!

A great place for info on crazy quilts is www.pintangle.com. She has the how to on the hand stitches. Printable patterns for square and her new hexagon pattern. She uses 3-5 pieces of lace per block.

Thank you for this site!

I too have been wanting to make a crazy quilt. I have lots of lace and some purchased embroidery patches that I bought a long time ago that I'd like to get out of my stash and make use of. About a week ago I got on Pinterest and looked up the 'crazy' and took screen shots for ideas. I especially like the embroidered spiders/in their webs too which doesn't make a bit of sense to me as I hate....hate....hate....spiders. Some have butterflies where the wings look like they are free and not sewn in place....so many neat ideas!

yes, her site is very interesting...love those templates, but pricey...and I'm in USA, and shipping and delivery time are quite high.
her crazy quilt samples are very heavily embroidered, embellished...which is beautiful, but I don't think I will go quite that far, if I even attempt to try....but I'm saving that site for info, reference and inspiration.....thanx!

cant find those printable patterns on her site....where?

The printable patterns are under the "I dropped the button box" and the hexagon are under the title of "2020 quilt". You don't have to buy her templates. I downloaded and printed templates from www.shawkl.com. She also has lots of stitches .

Geri,
I traced the lines of the block onto a Muslin or scrap fabric and did the flip and stitch method. Like paper piecing. Then iron a fusible lining for knits or you can use fusable fleece or batting. It stabilizes your piece. I didn't use a hoop. No group. There is tons of pattern and seam ideas on the internet. I tied the quilt with the knot in the back so you couldn't see it. I made about 9 of them. Am now assembling blocks with antique hankies and lace. Just ordered new silk embroidery ribbon from threadart.com

the pintagle site is the one that inspired me, and I'm using her blocks as the template for mine (downloaded all 100 of them).

These are some of the first group I did, I haven't taken pictures of the ones I completed since getting my new embroidery machines. I even went back and added more stitching to some of these.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psgvfzgatn.jpg

Cathy!! They are beautiful!! Great work! I love your neutral palette and the details & intricacies that you have done on each block!

I really like Allie Aller's Crazy Quilting because of the simple way she has of explaining things. I have many CQ books but that is one of my favorites. Also Jennifer Clouston's "Foolproof Crazy Quilting" because of her Crazy Quilted Hexies. Have fun!

I just started pillows today. I've been doing crazy quilting for about 40 yrs. I once did one out of all old denim. very pretty. Todays will be Christmas gifts for my cousins for Christmas 2019. I will do a lot of prairie points, and yo yos. I use a lot of beads, tiny seed beads. on the yo yos, I put strands of beads coming out of the yo yo centers. also on beads too. ruffles in some areas are cute too. This one is from left over fabrics. black velvet, white satin , silver, gold and white sheers and on. the worst part for me is done. Now for the fun part. the beading and stitching. have fun and show us what you do. oh, buttons are great to stitch down with x's and other designs.

I dabble in Crazy Quilting, I love to do both hand embroidery and machine stitch, I normally don't combine cotten with other fabrics, but I love to work with velvet, silks, taffetas, upholstery, laces, ribbons, crochet dollies, it is so much fun. There are lots of sites online with ideas. Start with a pillow or wall quilt, I cut my blocks of muslin or old sheets into
12 1/2 or 15 1/2 inches , once done with my blocks I trim all same size for a quilt. Enjoy.

Lynnie- show pillow when done!
Rose bagwell - any pics for inspiration?

I will begin my hunt for laces and embellishments today.....

This sounds like fun to me - will have to give it a try. A wonderful way to play. Thanks for the inspiration.

Oh boy I want to see your antique hankie quilt. I have so many waiting to be used for something other than butterflies. I have been wanting to make a crazy quilt since forever. I have a sewing machine that can do beautiful stitches and embroidery. I would love to see pictures of anything for inspiration and a kick to get started. Maybe we should start a virtual crazy quilt group!

Okay, you guys have started ideas in my head...thanks for the site..will check it out...MacyBaby thanks for sharing your lovely, delightful blocks...another idea is rolling in my head!