Crazy Quilting

May 2010

11 May 2010 - Jo Williams

Are you looking for a craft that will challenge you and show off all your sewing, embroidery and quilting skills? Crazy Quilting is what you are looking for.

The Crazy Quilt was developed on the American Prairie, by women who were resourceful and frugal. Crazy quilting makes use of every minute scrap of fabric and embroidery thread, yarn or ribbon you could have. You can add buttons, glass beads, shell beads, lace trims… there’s no end to the possibilities. The projects that you can make range from small, like sachets and picture frames, to as large as a bed-sized quilt.

Crazy quilting is a free-form process, driven by techniques in sewing and embroidery. Your imagination will determine what the final look will be. The beauty is in the textural details of the embroidery and embellishment you choose to add.

If you’re like me and you like to have an authoritative resource to consult, Crazy Quilting – The Complete Guide, by J. Marsha Michler is the most thorough guide I’ve seen. Besides detailed how-to directions and over 100 embroidery stitches, it gives an overview of the art and the entire process.
If you’re adventurous (or impatient) and want to forego the encyclopedia route, there are many and various blogs and websites with tutorials and ideas… Needlework Tips & Tricks has a very detailed article with great instructions for piecing a Crazy Quilt.
As with every sewing project, your quality tools will make the difference between an enjoyable experience and an unrewarding labor-intensive one. Make sure you have good scissors, and an assortment of premium quality hand needles. Your rotary cutter and craft mat will come in very handy.

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