Crazy quilts have been around for a very long time. Originally made with various silks and velvets, and including incredibly detailed embroidery stitching and embellishments, they were true works of art. Quilters still make these beautiful pieces today, and have added their own flair on them. Check out this book, Scrap Fabric Quilting Book
Here are fourteen various patterns and techniques to make your very own crazy quilt or quilt block. From fancy to simple and everything in between, you are sure to find a technique that you will want to try.
Here is an easy crazy quilt block method from Instructables. It would be a good one to start out with if you are new to the technique.
Scrapish brings us another easy quilt block tutorial, great for those larger scraps.
This video tutorial from Sewing with Scraps demonstrates a number of crazy quilt techniques.
Here’s a fun and modern method from Elaine Schmidt which uses a plastic template.
Looking for a beginner’s guide to making a crazy quilt block? Here’s one from FeltMagnet for you.
The Spruce Crafts has a modern crazy quilt pattern to make.
Perfect for a small project, this pot holder pattern from Craft and Fabric Links is easy to make.
Here’s an interesting paper piecing crazy quilt pattern from Brown Bird Designs.
This free modern baby crazy quilt pattern from Create with Claudia is a terrific scrap buster.
Take the mystery out of crazy quilt piecing with this tutorial from BellaOnlline.
Learn some exquisite hand embroidery crazy quilt stitches in this tutorial from PinTangle.
Allison Day has an entire series of articles on crazy quilt embroidery stitching.
PinTangle made this stunning individual crazy quilt block.
Here’s a look at the entire process of making a crazy quilt from Telling Stories Through the Needle’s Eye.
Crazy quilts were popular from the late 1800s through the early 1900s. They were made of fabric pieced together and then outlined with embroidery stitches. Crazy quilts were made of silk satins and velvets and were embroidered with flora and fauna designs. Crazy quilts were not as practical as early quilts constructed in the same style. As a result, these quilts were more showy than useful. Crazy quilt “lap robes” were frequently quilted smaller and used for decoration.
Some of the early 1900s crazy quilts were very eclectic and characterized by a struggle between puritanical restraint and unbridled emotionalism, but they may be a very deep interpretation of quilting.
The Japanese fashion of deliberately “crazing,” or crackling, porcelain glazes was particularly influential in the design of crazy quilts, in fact, Japanese embroidery over the stitched design was very common.
Crazy quilts are often handed down through the generations if you arr wondering how old your crazy quilt is and you are trying to date your quilt, check out this video.
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