We are sew excited to share our ultimate guide on how to make a crazy quilt! From planning to stitch type, we've got everything you'll need!

Ooops, this one has the right orientation to go into the set. But I won't delete the other one, as M3 and I have been nattering over there. I like the way you can play a set through, and watch a block developing. But it doesn't work unless all the pictures of the same block face the same way.

A couple of nights ago, I woke up in the middle of the night, and, in that semi slumber state when I was letting my mind wander while trying to go back to sleep, I thought of a solution to a puzzle…

The Magic of Crazy Quilting

While I was in the middle of preparing for my Craftsy class I decided to take a time out to make a quilt using one of the methods of buildi...

While shopping at the antique mall, one of the things I’ve been noticing re-surge more and more are Victorian Crazy Quilts and all of their lovely styles and forms. Since I cannot begin to to…

Welcome to the second installment of Embroidery School! Are you ready to go crazy? I hope so because we're going to work through some inc...

Ready to get crazy with a patchwork heart? Here’s how to embroider a crazy quilt heart two ways + a FREE appliqué pattern!

Crazy stitches, patterns for embroidery

Get creative with fabric scraps! Learn the stitch and flip technique to make a one-of-a-kind crazy quilt block. Follow my step-by-step guide.

Welcome to the second installment of Embroidery School! Are you ready to go crazy? I hope so because we're going to work through some inc...

Blogged here. This design is called 'Spring is Near' and is by Lenna Green.

ideas on crumb quilt layouts. Scrappy crumb quilts are the perfect way to use up all those little tiny scraps.

Learn the creative art of crazy quilting, also known as crazy patchwork. This page tells all about how to make a crazy quilt, including supplies and embroidery

I've been exploring the tradition of Kawandi and Siddi quilting recently and it is a breath of fresh air in my studio.

Kawandi Table Runner - a fun and easy way to use up fabric scraps, creating a beautiful, hand quilted project.

Seam 3: Feather stitch, Straight stitch, French knot Bring the needle to the front of the fabric at the top left prong of the first feather. Be sure to leave the tiny dots alone. These are for french knots. Insert the needle into the opposite prong, and bring the needle to the back leaving a loop of thread still at the front. Now bring the needle back to the front at the bottom of the first feather, which is the bottom of the V. Pull the thread through to make the first stitch. You can continue to make stitches by inserting the needle at the end of the next V prong and bringing the needle back up at the bottom of the V while wrapping the thread around the needle. Be sure to work the actual V. There are tricky straight stitch lines on both sides of some of the Vs. Work the straight stitches on either side of the Vs. Add french knots where the little dots are. Bring the needle to the front of the fabric right next to a dot. Wrap the thread around the needle twice. Insert the needle into the fabric just a couple of threads away from where you started and gently pull the wrapped threads close to the needle. Pull the needle to the back of the fabric drawing the thread through to make a knot. Seam 4: Chevron stitch Bring the needle and thread to the front of the fabric on the left side of the first stitch. Insert the needle at the other end of this small stitch and bring it to the back leaving a loop of thread. Bring the needle and thread back to the front in the middle of this stitch which is at the end of that upside down V line. Pull the thread through. Make a stitch over the long line and then stitch the top "cap" stitch. Once again bring the needle back up in the middle of the small stitch which is the end of the next long line. Continue making long and short stitches. That's all for this lesson. Seam 5 is next!

The composition of Nancy Eha's 'bead physics' is rich in detail and layers, inviting the viewer to explore the story she tells.

Merry Christmas Eve! I hope you are/were able to enjoy some lovely time with family! I finished a few mini mats in the past few days. I love having projects to bind...it helps me to sit still for a few minutes, which is especially important this time of year. (If my hands aren't busy, I can't sit!) I wasn't planning on making this mini, but I came across the fabric combo and I thought it was too good to pass up! I love these fabrics together and simple is good! As are red polka dots. :) It is scrap project #97/101. I hand quilted this one the other night at my son's jazz band concert. Hand quilting to live music is great! I am in love with this color/fabric combo, and I really, REALLY want to make an entire quilt like this. I am contemplating how reasonable/unreasonable that is. Actually, I know how unreasonable it is, but I'm trying to figure out a way to justify it in my head anyway! This is scrap project # 98/101. Both of these mini mats were made with scraps from Modern Textiles, so they are extra special. I love making a mini (or two) to commemorate a trip. I thought I would share this little trick. When I hand quilted it, I stopped stitching one round before the outside, added the binding, THEN added the last round of hand stitching. That makes the last line of quilting much easier to place. I just love a hand quilted mini! I can see making many more of these... Now that the minis are done, I'm looking forward to settling in with my pineapple quilt. It's going to be so fun to hand bind this one! There is SO much to look at while I stitch. Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my blog, cheering me on and leaving encouraging comments. It really, truly means so much! Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!! xoxox

Welcome to the second installment of Embroidery School! Are you ready to go crazy? I hope so because we're going to work through some incredibly beautiful stitches used along fabric seams in crazy quilts. If you haven't worked the lessons from the original Embroidery School series, you can still do this one. All the stitches are explained, the "old" ones and the "new" ones. Here are some links to other useful lessons: Transferring the design to fabric Knotting and not knotting your thread You're also welcome to go back and review all the lessons of the Embroidery School series. Just click the page tab above conveniently labeled "Embroidery School". Let's Get Crazy! This series comes with a free downloadable sampler pattern to work on (click on the link in the materials list). I have provided the pattern of a patchwork crazy quilt block with the stitching drawn on so you can just follow along and make what I made - like walking in the snow and stepping where I've stepped. But I have also provided the crazy quilt block pattern without stitching drawn on, so you can go wild and practice and create your own designs. Now don't get nervous. Many crazy quilt seam embellishments are a single stitch, such as feather stitch, but those complex ones can be daunting. Guess what? They are actually combinations of very simple stitches and we'll do some of that, too. Lesson One covers seams 1 and 2. Lesson Two covers seams 3 and 4. Lesson Three covers seam 5. Lesson Four covers seam 6. Lesson Five is a surprise! Materials needed: sampler pattern template cotton or linen fabric suitable for embroidery ( a homespun calico or muslin works well) - 10" square embroidery hoop - a 9" hoop will allow you to work the whole piece while a smaller hoop can be moved as you stitch cotton stranded embroidery floss (I used DMC) embroidery needle or sewing needle with an eye large enough to thread a 4 strand length of floss scissors a method for transferring the pattern Choose you favorite colors or use the same colors I used: Seam 1: long and short blanket stitch; DMC 936 Seam 2: chain stitch, straight stitch (running stitch); DMC 3821, 825 Seam 3: feather stitch, straight stitch, french knot; DMC221, 988, 3833 Seam 4: chevron stitch; DMC 154 Seam 5: cretan stitch, lazy daisy stitch; DMC 921, 154 Seam 6: herringbone stitch, straight stitch, lazy daisy stitch, french knot; 826, 472, 3835, 988, 825 Use your favorite method to transfer the pattern to the fabric. Place the whole thing in a 9" hoop or place the area you want to work on inside a smaller hoop. Work with a 4 strand length of embroidery floss for all stitches. Seam 1: Long and Short Blanket Stitch You might see this stitch called buttonhole stitch, but don't be confused as the two are basically the same stitch. This seam is decorated by a simple blanket stitch, but here, one prong is longer and one is shorter instead of them being all the same length. Because I thought the beginning had room for one more prong, I've added it here without drawing it, as you can see in the photo. Just follow in my footsteps! Thread the needle and bring the thread from the back to the front at the left end of the seam. Insert the needle as shown making sure to wrap the floss behind the tip of the needle. Pull the needle and thread through to make the first stitch. Insert the needle at the bottom of the long prong and bring it back up at the top, with the floss wrapped to the back of the needle. You can also stab stitch (bring the needle to the back, bring the needle to the front, etc.) one step at a time. Here I have taken the needle to the back of the fabric at the bottom of the next prong and am just bringing the needle to the front at the top of the prong. The thread is still wrapped to the back of the needle. Continue stitching along the lines until the end of the seam. Tie off the thread or weave it in the stitching at the back. Seam 2: Straight stitch and Chain stitch Bring the needle to the front of the fabric at the bottom of the little fans. Take the thread to the back at the top of the line on the left. Bring it back up in the same place or a thread away from where you started. Be careful not to split the first thread with the needle as it comes through. Make the second stitch over the next line and continue making the fans in this way. To make the chains, bring the needle and thread to the front at the start of the chain on the left. Pull the thresd through to the front. Insert the needle into the starting place and bring it back out at the other end of the individual chain. Wrap the thread around the back of the needle. Pull the thread through. Insert the needle right next to where the thread is coming through to the front. Set up the next stitch in the same way, bringing the needle point back out at the other end of the little chain and wrapping the thread behind the needle. Pull the thread through. Continue to the end of the seam. Here is the seam completed. Look what you've done! You've completed two seams of your faux crazy quilt block! Well done and see you in Lesson Two.

Seam 4: Cretan stitch, lazy daisy stitch This stitch is worked similarly to blanket stitch in that the stitch is grabbed and bent by the next stitch. Bring the needle to the front at the left side of the seam. Insert the needle at the end of the bent line and back up at the bend, wrapping the thread to the back of the needle. Pull the thread through. Work the next stitch the same way. To finish the seam, bring the needle up at the bend and make a small tacking stitch over long stitch. Add lazy daisy stitches. These are worked just like chains stitches except these are the individual chains, unlinked. Start the lazy daisy as you would chain stitch. Instead of making a next chain, simply tack this stitch in place. In the next lesson, we combine several very easy stitches to create a masterful seam 6. See you there!

Kawandi quilts have been on my mind ever since seeing the Collecting & Recollecting exhibit on display at the International Quilt Stud...

Looking for some quilting inspiration? Try these Nine Patch block ideas.

Seam 6: Herringbone stitch, Straight stitch, Lazy daisy stitch, French knot This is a beautiful design made from several easy stitches...

Seam 6: Herringbone stitch, Straight stitch, Lazy daisy stitch, French knot This is a beautiful design made from several easy stitches. The design is created one stitch type at a time. First the herringbone stitch is laid down. This is like a wide cross stitch and very easy. Next, straight stitches are added at the tops and bottoms of the herringbone stitches. Then the little straight stitch fans are made. Lazy daisy stitches and then french knots complete the design. It looks much more complicated than it is! The herringbone stitch is so easy. Just bring the needle to the front of the fabric at the bottom of the first stitch. Make a long straight stitch, then come back up to make the next long stitch. Continue to the end of the seam. Add the little straight stitch caps at the top and bottom of the stitches. Stitch up the little fans just as in seam 2. This is the seam so far. Next, add lazy daisy stitches at the ends of all the caps. Cover all the little dots with french knots and the seam is finished. Congratulations! You have learned how to cover crazy quilt block seams with a variety of simple traditional stitches. Remember to come back for your graduation surprise in Lesson Five.

Seam 6: Herringbone stitch, Straight stitch, Lazy daisy stitch, French knot This is a beautiful design made from several easy stitches. The design is created one stitch type at a time. First the herringbone stitch is laid down. This is like a wide cross stitch and very easy. Next, straight stitches are added at the tops and bottoms of the herringbone stitches. Then the little straight stitch fans are made. Lazy daisy stitches and then french knots complete the design. It looks much more complicated than it is! The herringbone stitch is so easy. Just bring the needle to the front of the fabric at the bottom of the first stitch. Make a long straight stitch, then come back up to make the next long stitch. Continue to the end of the seam. Add the little straight stitch caps at the top and bottom of the stitches. Stitch up the little fans just as in seam 2. This is the seam so far. Next, add lazy daisy stitches at the ends of all the caps. Cover all the little dots with french knots and the seam is finished. Congratulations! You have learned how to cover crazy quilt block seams with a variety of simple traditional stitches. Remember to come back for your graduation surprise in Lesson Five.

A merry assortment of embroidery stitches are used to cover the seams in crazy quilts. The only limits are a needleworker's imagination and materials on hand.

9-patch scrap quilt, nine patch quilt, quilt top

Are you ready to make the easiest quilt ever? If so, read on to see how I made this easy quilt with no measuring or pattern required!

Sharon Boggon –– See it, stitch it! Contemporary crazy-quilting stitches, photographed step by step Rooted in the Victorian era, crazy quilting has a powerful allure for today's quilters, who use it to let loose and tell a unique story with fabric. Embrace crazy quilting with 35 must-know stitches and endless variations, shown in clear, step-by-step photographs for both right- and left-handed stitchers. Fine artist Sharon Boggon reveals design fundamentals to guide you in your process, so you can sew thoughtful, visually appealing blocks. Learn the theory and process behind this fascinating art - how to choose fabrics, piece stitch-and-flip blocks, and embellish seams with embroidery, beads, buttons, and charms. • Learn crazy-quilting techniques with colorful photos that show every detail • Combine fabric, embellishments, and 35 stitches, plus endless variations, into stunning crazy quilts as unique as you • Unpack savvy design principals to make order of the chaos and guide the viewer's eye around the block #11204 UPC: 734817-112044 eISBN: 9781617453625 Related Blog Posts Endless Embroidery Inspiration   2020 Will Seem Like a Good Idea in Hindsight  Embroider a Woven Rose Spotlight on Beginner Titles The link will open in a new tab or window.

The first stop at the Punta Gorda Quilt Show was a lecture on the care of antique quilts. I only caught the last couple minutes (so missed ...

Oh, let’s have some Stitch Fun today, shall we?! Several years ago, I wrote an article about why it’s important to play with your embroidery stitches now and then. My views on that haven’t changed, not a jot or a tittle. Playing is necessary with any craft, hobby, or art. When you play around – ...

Welcome to another edition of our Five for Friday series where we share five themed projects we’re loving each week. Today we’re loving charm pack quilts and have found five patterns perfect …

In 2012 I embarked on a mission to make a Sashiko Quilt and this was the result: Sashiko Quilt Sashiko detail Why did I decide to make a Sashiko quilt? There were three reasons: 1. I saw the lovely shiny Japanese fabrics stacked up my local quilt shop and thought, "aren't those lovely!". 2. We were about to have a Japanese exchange come and stay with us for three weeks, and later in the year my son would be going to Japan for three weeks. 3. I thought it would be fun to experiment with the hand stitching on the dark panels. Sashiko Quilt I didn't realise how mathmatically challenging it would be, but I am an accountant, so I just pulled out my calculator and graph paper and managed just fine. Here's how I went about making my sashiko quilt: - I chose a simple pattern with quite big squares for the shiny Japanese fabrics, so I could still see them easily in the finished quilt. I chose a range of the dark indigo fabrics. - I started to piece the quilt into sections of about 12 blocks. Each of the individual blocks measures 8.75" x 8.75" when finished. I knew I wanted to do the sashiko before the whole quilt was pieced together, but I also knew that the dark indigo blocks needed to be pieced before I did the sashiko so I could stitch to the very edges of them. - I used library books and the internet to research sashiko patterns. I found lots of designs that I liked, but I had to scale them to fit my blocks. Some of the sashiko patterns I used in my quilt Navy blocks are 8.75" x 8.75" finished - I used tailor's chalk to draw grids on the dark indigo squares to map out where the designs would sit. - I went over the chalk marks with the sewing machine because they were rubbing off too easily. - I hand stitched the Sashiko patterns between the grid lines with Ecru DMC Perle 8. (Sashiko thread is expensive in New Zealand and I knew I would need alot.) - I pulled out all of the grid lines I'd made with machine stitching. - Once all of the hand stitching was done, I joined all the sections together and formed the quilt. - I had quilted simple grid lines and diagonal lines through the shiny blocks and left the sashiko blocks as they were. I didn't want to distract from the sashiko stitching. The quilt on our bed The backing, and label of course! I'm really pleased with how this quilt turned out. It has wool batting in it so is my warmest quilt and we use it in the winter. The facts: Each of the navy blocks measures 8.75" x 8.75" finished. I used ecru Perle 8 for the sashiko stitching. I did all of the sashiko before I made the quilt sandwich. The quilt has wool batting. The finished quilt measures 62" x 80".

The theme of Bees, Butterflies and Beetles was so popular, that a second group of stitchers formed another round robin so they could play, t...

Seam 6: Herringbone stitch, Straight stitch, Lazy daisy stitch, French knot This is a beautiful design made from several easy stitches. The design is created one stitch type at a time. First the herringbone stitch is laid down. This is like a wide cross stitch and very easy. Next, straight stitches are added at the tops and bottoms of the herringbone stitches. Then the little straight stitch fans are made. Lazy daisy stitches and then french knots complete the design. It looks much more complicated than it is! The herringbone stitch is so easy. Just bring the needle to the front of the fabric at the bottom of the first stitch. Make a long straight stitch, then come back up to make the next long stitch. Continue to the end of the seam. Add the little straight stitch caps at the top and bottom of the stitches. Stitch up the little fans just as in seam 2. This is the seam so far. Next, add lazy daisy stitches at the ends of all the caps. Cover all the little dots with french knots and the seam is finished. Congratulations! You have learned how to cover crazy quilt block seams with a variety of simple traditional stitches. Remember to come back for your graduation surprise in Lesson Five.

The Magic of Crazy Quilting

Top US quilting blogger, Seams Like a Dream Quilt Designs, features all the info you need to know about the 9 Patch Block. Click here now!!

It is time to move on to block 13, of the I dropped the button box crazy quilt. I know many people enjoy monotone crazy quilt blocks and I hope people will enjoy seeing it in more detail over the next week or so. As you can see there are 6 …