To 'stack and whack' we were taught to take a grouping of however many you want to stack. Let's say you have 6 different square fabrics. We cut ours all the same size to begin with. I had about a 10" square. You stack them neatly on top of each other. Then cut...(whatever angle or direction you want)put the top right piece under the right side stack. Sew them all back together. (Now they don't match fabrics) and, you continue this process 6 different times (because of 6 layers) Each time taking the right fabric once cut on top, and put on the bottom right side stack. How much fabric it takes could be however big you want your quilt. This is a fun project and the bright batik's look super this way. Skeat

Our quilt guild is doing a small project of different quilting techniques (applique, molas, trapunto,chicken scratch, and paper piecing) the projects can't be more than 4 inches because the are the center of an eight in paper pieced crazy quilt block. I decided that I was going to make a crazy quilt wall hanging out of my blocks. I made 12 blocks all together and also made 16 x16 block for the center. Now I am adding lace, stitches and old pieces of jewlery that were my mother's. Want to see if I can find a book this weekend on silk ribbon embrodery to add more to it.[img]

What a great idea!! And you work is beautiful. The small squares really cut it down to a managable size.

pretty cool

I love it. But I love crazy quilt. reminds me of my queen crazy quilt. I've made 2, and Going to make another one. I'm even going to make a crazy quilt rag coat. I LOVE all the embellishments. I just acquired a pattern for a crazy quilt star pillow. I'm going to make it to match my next crazy quilt.
They are beautiful, You GO GIRL

Those wanting to make Crazy Quilts and were stopped by considering the embroidery stitches covering the seams. Hey, have you girls forgotten all the beautiful stitched on your machines? I'm lucky to have two different machines so have lots of stitches.

it wasn't the embellishing that "scared" me. it was the requirement for random colors and shapes. i am so left brained that random is almost impossible for me to cope with. thanks to Skeat, though, i now know how to take a logical approach to random patches. I finally see a crazy quilt in my future.

still need somebody to teach me how to cure my obsession with making sure all the colors "go together", though.

ironic, ain't it? i'm too crazy to be able to make a crazy quilt.
:shock:

Patrice,
I also have the problem w/ random selection of any type. So I must be ALL left-brained. LOL. Would mind sharing how "Skeat" helped you "take a logical approach to random"?

Near the end of the 1st page of this topic, Skeat wrote the following:

"To 'stack and whack' we were taught to take a grouping of however many you want to stack. Let's say you have 6 different square fabrics. We cut ours all the same size to begin with. I had about a 10" square. You stack them neatly on top of each other. Then cut...(whatever angle or direction you want)put the top right piece under the right side stack. Sew them all back together. (Now they don't match fabrics) and, you continue this process 6 different times (because of 6 layers) Each time taking the right fabric once cut on top, and put on the bottom right side stack. How much fabric it takes could be however big you want your quilt. This is a fun project and the bright batik's look super this way. Skeat "

I'd probably start with 15" squares. You'll lose 1/2" overall size for every two cut & sews. you'd have to do it in increments of 2 if you needed to end with squares and not rectangles. starting with 15" squares should give you a fighting chance of ending up with smallish "patches" in a decent size block.

Thanks that makes logical sense and I wouldn't be wasting fabric.(I was raised by depression era parents who taught us not to waste anything.)
Something that has helped me is to purchase bundled fat quarters or similar fabrics by the yard. But when it comes to knowing light, medium and dark or what colors go together...I get flustered. It's probably one of those things that you learn the more you do it. :wink:

Sis