I've taken a lot of pictures of vintage Crazy Quilts, but not very many modern day interpretations. I was especially happy to see 2 contemporary CQ versions at the Arizona Quilters Guild show. All Creatures Large and Small by Gerlinde Hruzek won First Place in the "Other" category. This artist used so many mediums in the making of her quilt: Needlepoint, embroidery, applique, crochet and ribbon work to name a few. The far away picture just does not give justice to how wonderful this quilt really is. The close up shots give a much better visual. Look at the imagination and variety! Someday I would really like to make a Crazy Quilt. (Maybe it's because I'm a little crazy?) These pictures bring wonderful inspiration. I could have stared for hours to visually absorb all there was to see. It almost felt a little bit like an I-Spy quilt. Do you spy 3 cats? Or a fish? Imagination made and quilted by Sheila Groman Sheila wrote "Imagination is a fanciful Crazy Quilt created with applique, standard and silk embroidery, ribbon, lace, heirloom gloves, needlepoint, crewel, beads, cross-stitch, and tatting." Whew! Yes, I'd say Imagination is a perfect title.
Go crazy with these free crazy quilt and crazy patchwork quilt patterns and projects!
knick knacks & ric rac » Blog Archive » crazy quilt stitches
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…
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!
The Magic of Crazy Quilting
Crazy quilts are my favorite quilts of all. I love them because you can use up all your favorite fabric scraps and you don’t need much of any one single fabric, as there usually are not alot…
We have begun our ambitious crazy quilting class with seven lovely and talented ladies. As we mentioned in a previous post, Crazy Quilting—Start to Finish, we have created a six-month crazy quilting class that teaches our students how to piece their blocks, stitch and embellish them, and finally put them together in the format of their choice. Taking photos of the class models for reference All our ladies had been eagerly awaiting this class and were ready to get started. Each student was instructed to bring at least 24 different fabrics, which could include cottons, silks, satins, or any other fabric they liked. We did have some fancy fabrics for sale to help their collection, but some of our ladies had been collecting fabrics over time, just for a future crazy quilt. A rainbow assortment of silks, satins, and velvets Many of these fabrics were sourced from thrift stores. One student's collection Each lady received four different patterns, as well as a fabric Little Red Riding Hood vintage postcard print to use as a center for one of their blocks. Most of the patterns were put together the same way, by having a center piece and then sewing each section around that center piece. We had the ladies bring in four 9" squares of flannel to be used as a base for the block, and Teri demonstrated how to construct the block with the flannel base. The flannel base provides a great support for the future block embroidery, and it also helps manage some of those slippery fabrics. The first piece is centered on the base. The second piece attached. As each piece is added, the excess underneath is trimmed away. Ready for embroidery After the demonstration, the ladies got to it and began constructing their blocks. Getting ready to choose fabrics Going around the center block with the next piece Checking if this fabric is a good fit This block is ready to be trimmed to its finished size. Such beautiful, bright colors We designed the patterns to be 8.5" finished, so having 9" base allowed for a little wiggle room as we pieced. An 8.5" square ruler was used to bring the pieced blocks down to their finished size. Trimmed and ready to go After the block was finished, the ladies basted around all four sides, and their blocks are ready for next month's embroidery session. Some of our students' finished blocks: The silver fabric in this block is a lacy overlay. Most of these fabrics were found at local thrift stores. As an unexpected treat, one of our students brought in some antique crazy quilt blocks that she had purchased. The blocks were in various stages of completion, absolutely beautiful, and she has more of them to bring to the next session. We can't wait to see them, and we will be sure to share them with you as well. Such lovely embroidery This unfinished, basted block is mostly made of silk. Another block a little further along in regard to the stitching Everyone was able to complete one block and will have the other three ready for our February meeting, where we will be focusing on motif selection, transferring design, and stitching the motifs. Thank you for joining us as we build these crazy quilts, and please come back to see the outcome of our next session.
Hello and thank you for visiting me! Today I would like to share with you the progress I have made learning how to construct a crazy quilt b...
I would like to introduce block 8 in the I dropped the Button Box quilt . I hope people will enjoy seeing it in more detail over the next week or so. Fabric content: How I managed a small block like this with 9 pieces of fabric on it I am not sure but …
The Magic of Crazy Quilting
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!
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.
Kawandi is a style of quilt created by the Siddi people of India, traditionally done by hand. It is truly scrappy and improvisational. While I like doing hand work, I was also intrigued by faster machine methods. I've listed some resources at the end of this tutorial if you are interested in creating Kawandi by hand, want to see another machine tutorial, want to see some footage of Siddi creating Kawandi by hand, and a discussion of creating Kawandi in your own style. This tutorial describes a new way of creating Kawandi by machine. These are NOT traditional Kawandi, but inspired by the joy and movement of Kawandi-style. I started with a background piece of fabric approximately 8x10", a piece of batting of the same size, and many scraps of batiks or quilting cottons. 1) Place the background over the batting, right side up (this is a quilt as you go technique, so the batting is incorporated from the beginning. 2) Place 4 scraps in the corners, right side DOWN - NOTE I'm using batiks in these examples, so its hard to tell that these pieces are upside down. In this image, you are looking at what will be the WRONG side of those scrap corners. 3) Begin UNDERLAPPING adjoining scraps into the corners. Fold approximately 1/4 inch on the side that will go UNDER the corner. Again, the scraps are placed upside down. Pin the piece in place along the edge. This will be machine sewn. 4) When you get to the next corner, fold the 1/4 inch on both sides of the scrap because it will go under 2 pieces of fabric. 5) Continue folding and underlapping scraps, pinning along the outer edge until you get the entire edge filled. Notice that it doesn't matter if you use short scraps, or long scraps. And again, its impossible to tell from this image because I'm using batiks, but you are looking at the right side of the background, and the WRONG side of the colorful scraps. 6) Sew 1/4 in seam all the way around the edge, removing pins as you come to them. 7) Clip the 4 corners close to the seam, being careful not to cut the thread. 8) Turn right side out by flipping each scrap over the seam. Use a tool to poke out or pull out the corners. There should be no raw edges of fabric along the edge of the piece because they are either in the seam OR they are folded under. 9) Carefully press the outer edge - taking care not to press the batting, as it might melt depending on fiber content. 10) The result is a piece with finished edges like this: 11) Top stitch close to the edge, This will secure all the folded under edges of each scrap. 12) When you are on the 4th side, approaching the beginning of your stitch line, turn the corner about 1/4" or 3/8" before you get there, to start the 'spiral' of stitching. The next steps are done just like Kawandi by hand, but you continue sewing on the machine. 13) To place the next piece, fold under 2 edges. Finger press or iron as necessary. Overlap the unfinished edges of previous scraps. 14) to place a color into a long strip, fold under 3 edges, staying aware of where you will place another scrap to overlap. 15) To keep a small scrap straight as you sew over the edge, it may be necessary to use long tweezers or stiletto. 16) Continue placing scraps and sewing in concentric rectangles, into the center. Note: this picture is from another project than the ones above. 17) Prepare the final scrap by folding under all 4 sides, and sewing the ever smaller rectangles/squares of stitching. 18) For the piece made of batiks, I decided the center "squares" looked better on the diagonal. Although not traditional at all, I've already broken so many 'rules', that I just decided to make this mine. Also, I'm aware that traditional Kawandi have 'folded flowers' in the 4 corners. Include them if you wish. Make it yours! Paula RESOURCES: How to make a Kawandi by hand by Kieren Dutcher https://youtu.be/yFd0xEfKeto How to make a Kawandi by machine (with binding) by Mel Beach https://pieceloveandhappiness.blogspot.com/2019/03/modern-kawandi-making.html Margaret Fabrizio travels to India to learn Kawandi from Siddi quilters: https://youtu.be/WqdIswL96q4 Margaret Fabrizio shows her own Kawandi quilts, and talks about making them in her own style. https://youtu.be/4NRxqOqp_UA
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!
An illustrated tutorial on how to hand embroider crazy quilt seams with tips on where to use these ideas and a free PDF file download
Check out these fun crumb quilt ideas - let's use those little pieces of fabric you aren't sure what to do with. Crumb quilting is a delightful and resourceful technique that involves piecing together the
I'd hoped to finish two PIGS (Projects in Grocery Sacks) in May but it didn't happen. I had a project for Creative Machine Embroidery to make. See my blog here to see that pretty quilt.
This week we’ll assemble the blocks into a quilt top. Follow the instructions on page 23 of Turnabout Patchwork. Simple quilts with a twist to assemble the quilt top. Assembling the quilt top…
A quilt barn trail is a series of barns showcasing quilt blocks. The quilt blocks are painted on 8' x 8' wood and attached to a barn. The idea is to pay homage to both barns and quilts. Ginny Schaum, quilter supreme, decided it was high time Schoharie County became involved in this movement. She enlisted me, Betty Pillsbury, and Sharon Aitchison to help out. It was decided that I would make the first quilt block. Of course, I chose to do a crazy quilt block! I have a nice collection of Victorian era booklets which have line drawings of crazy quilt blocks. In fact, I have put them together into a booklet that I sell. Here's one below. Many years ago, I stitched this block. And this is how it turned out: This is the design I will be using for my barn quilt. I will prime the wood and block off the patches. Members of the Schoharie Valley Quilt Guild (of which I am a member) will come up and paint. Then, I'll go back and add the seam treatments and floral motifs. I hope it translates to wood and paint as well as it has to fabric and thread!
I made this church banner for a friend to gift to her church in 2015. It is approximately 69" x 93" and is all batik fabrics. I used Hobbs Thermore batting in it to keep it lightweight. Click here to see a photo of it hanging in the church. 21" finished colorwash. I used 2" squares to make it in 2015. 28" colorwash made with 2.5" squares. I made the top before 2007 and used it as a class sample for years. Then in 2015 I finally quilted and finished it. This little 19" colorwash is a mix of regular quilting cottons and batiks and was made in 2015. All batik rectanges 2.5" x 4.5". I made it in June, 2007. It is 45" x 63.5". It is in the Julie and Larry Sefton Collection and was featured in the October 2014 issue of "Quilt Life". Bright Colorwash 1 - 43" x 56" Finished in 2012 Bright Colorwash 2 39.5" x 50.5" Finished in 2013 Bright colorwash made with rectangles 2" x 4" finished in 2015. Sold as a quilt top in 2015. Batik Colorwash 50.5" x 38.5". Finished in 2012 Batik Colorwash 2 - 38.5" x 38.5". Finished in 2012 Batik colorwash made in 2015 with rectangles that finish at 2" x 4". It is approximately 44" x 68". African Colorwash - 20" x 23.75". Finished in 2013 I made this piece in Feb. 2008. It is 19" x 23.5" I had the quilt top on my design wall for about 8 years. I finally finished it in Feb. 2008. It is 20" square. Colorwash bars, designed and pieced in 1995 and quilted many years later. My first colorwash pieces were made with calico type fabrics and from there I went to multicolor busy floral prints of a little larger size. This is one of my earliest pieces made with 1.5" squares that finish at 1". It is 12.75" square. This is another early piece, also with squares finishing at 1". It is 16.5" square. I sold this piece so I can't measure it but i think it is about 25" square. If you go back to this post you will see how I store the squares for working on this type of quilt. I challenged myself to go one step farther with this colorwash and add applique to it. I liked it before I added the triangles and I like it afterwards so I'm not sure what I learned there. This piece is 36" x 37". This piece was one of the first colorwash pieces that I made. I believe it was in January of 1991. It was accepted in the AQS show in 1992. It is 49" square. I entered this quilt in the local county fair quite a few years ago and it won the Best Quilt purple ribbon. It is a Colorwash Trip Around the World. This heart colorwash quilt was made with a strip pieced method of constructing 13 stratas to create the 13 rows in the hearts and then sliced to make 24 identical blocks. I gave this quilt to one of my nieces.
Blog of Susan Elliott where she shares her life through her needlework and photography.
Crumb Quilt Ideas (Part 2) Do you keep really small scraps of fabric? That is such an ongoing issue for me. I HATE throwing away...
Check out this Q&A on whether to start your quilting in the center or on the side. Our editor discusses why one method may work better than the other.
The Magic of Crazy Quilting
Quite a while ago, Kathy Shaw asked me if I would be interested in seeing her new book, Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts, when it was published. And of course, I said yes! For those of you who have been hanging out with me on Needle 'n Thread for a while, you already know I'm a bit of a book f
I was lucky enough to take a class from the famous artist/quilter, Freddy Moran, Saturday in Sacramento. I invited my friend Natalie to go with me, and that made the day even better :) This is the house that Freddy built :) She doesn't measure, at least hardly ever, and she doesn't consider herself a sewer either. Here's my freehand house on the left, along with one of my trees on the right. Freddy says that if something doesn't fit, add some more fabric to make it fit, and the extra fabric also adds some interest. Freddy and me:) Freddy has a degree in Fine Arts, raised a family of 5 boys (6 if you count her husband), and she says she was very successful at that because they are all grown up and all have jobs, lol! Freddy started her career with textile arts when she was 60, she's 80 something now. Here's my little house and a wonky star and a tree that I made in class Saturday. This is one of my favorite quilts of Freddy's. The buildings come off the sides, and it isn't bound. Freddy creates a background, often from flannel, because fabric sticks really well to it. She then creates her masterpiece by laying fabric on top and gluing them on with a purple glue stick that dries clear. She takes the finished quilt to the quilter (that hasn't been sewn or appliqued) and she tells Carol, "if any piece falls off, just stick it back on where you think it looks good!" This is a close up of one of her small quilts. The background is sewn together, and she cuts fabric or images on fabric (flowers) and glues them onto the background. Freddy loves the living dead too, hence the skulls. Freddy said that she has never bought a piece of muslin and never will. She takes great care in producing pretty backs for her quilts. Alexander Henry fabrics are very beautiful and interesting, and Berkeley, California, has a Crate and Barrel outlet where they sell Marimekko fabric for $5.95 / yard. Freddy buys a lot of her backs there. Another favorite of mine is this cow quilt! Freddy has lots of "parts". That's fabric that she she has cut into shapes, she has them in containers separated by color. She grabs those "parts" and places them until she likes the arrangement, then glues them down and lets her Carol, her quilter, machine quilt them in place. Did you notice that the cow's tail is three dimensional? This is the bag of the cow quilt. This is a close up of the machine quilting, where you can imagine the pieces being attached to the flannel background, by machine quilting. During the day, we had our sewing class, and in the evening, we had a talk and trunk show by Freddy. It was great! Notice the stack of quilts? I didn't count, but there were 30 or more. Freddy said that she collaborates with her friend Gwen Marston. Together, they make about 30 quilts a year, not including the machine quilting. Freddy and Gwen can make a quilt a day, with their combined creative genius!!! Freddy's "parts department" also includes little blocks that have been put together, otherwise known as orphan blocks. She uses the parts for her quilts. Another favorite quilt of mine that she made is called "Parts Department". It's a kaleidoscope quilt with lots of little girls holding hands, pinwheels and much much more. It's really cute! (I couldn't find a photo of it) Freddy told us that she takes all her fabric out and refolds it every 3 months, so that she knows what she has. What a great idea!!! Here are my little blocks that I sped through! The wonkier the better, it adds a lot of interest. You don't trim until you figure out if you want your quilt to have horizontal or vertical rows, or if you are going to make a kaleidoscope quilt. Freddy loved this background fabric! I think this block is too matchy matchy, but if I put it with crazy, wonky blocks, it will add interest. Isn't this the cutest photo? I took it off the internet, it looks like a self portrait. Freddy's vests that she often wears are made by an artist in Berkeley, and are made from quilts. The biggest thing I learned from Freddy, is don't be hard on yourself, or critical about your work. Never show anyone your quilting mistakes, they will never notice them anyway. Be crazy and try new things in quilting. You don't have to follow everyone else's rules, make your own. I am still talking about quilting, lol! This quilt is called "Little House in the Big Woods". Do you see the little house in there? This is the quilt that Freddy built, and I am going to make my own version of it.....someday..... Freddy signed my book, and do you know what she wrote? "Red is a neutral."
Learn how to make a wholecloth quilt with this step-by-step photo tutorial that includes tips for Kantha-style stitching!
Get started with this beginner's guide to crumb quilting. Explore the materials, techniques, and tips for completing a beautiful quilt!
The Magic of Crazy Quilting
Turn fabric scraps into beautiful quilted flowers with a sew-and-flip piecing technique easy enough for beginning quilters to master. Tutorial from NewQuilters.com. #easyquiltblocks #foundationpiecing #rosequiltblock #quiltingforbeginners
A lot of trial and error went into the creation of this sunflower bargello applique art quilt. Read about the source of inspiration and experimentation that made it a reality.
The modern quilt craze has hit Japan ! Here are some spectacular results from Japanese quilt artists. When the Sunset Crowns Mt. Fuji in ...
