14 - Crazy Quilt Block

Today we will be making a Crazy Quilt Block with a fabric foundation.  Since crazy quilt blocks are normally made with many different types and weights of fabric (silks, knits, cotton, polyester and wools) having a sturdy and unstretchable base to attach them to is a must.  The base also allows odd shaped pieces to be added fairly easily.

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Edited (5/15):  The Skill Builder Sampler will is available for purchase in book form!  It has been renamed "You Can Quilt!  Building Skills for Beginners" but covers the same skills with the easy, medium and challenging blocks and is a million times better than the original quilt along.  It is perfect for the beginning quilter or the experienced quilter who wants to branch out and learn new skills.  Find more information and order a signed copy in my Etsy shop or order on Amazon.  

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Crazy Quilt made from my girls' clothing.

 I have a soft spot for Crazy Quilts.  One of my Life Quilting Goals is to make a "real" crazy quilt out of wools and silks with tons of embroidery.  Don't hold your breath, it won't be in the next 5 years, but someday.  :)  I have, however, made a Crazy Quilt out of my girl's worn/stained clothing and I love it!  It was really fun to make and I plan on making more as the girls wear out more of their clothes.  I even wrote up a series of tutorials for making a Crazy Quilt this spring - it seams like ages ago...  Well, enough talk, let's get started.

1.  If you are going to use any non-quilting cottons in this block, be sure to prewash them in the same manner you will be washing your finished quilt.

2.  Cut your foundation fabric approx. 13.5 inches square.  You can use any type of woven cotton for this.  In fact, I would suggest using a piece of why-did-I-buy-this-and-what-in-the-world-am-I-going-to-do-with-it? fabric.  Just be sure the foundation fabric will not show through the crazy quilt fabric that will go on top of it.  If it helps, you can sew on the backside of the foundation fabric over so the pattern is less intense.

3.  Collect your fabric.  I would suggest rounding up all of the scraps and odd sized pieces you have leftover from your other blocks and starting with those.

4.  Start Sewing!  Follow the directions for the Center Oriented Block.  The only thing that will be different, is that we will trim our block to 12.5 inches square when we are finished.   Don't get too stressed about the process - just keep adding fabric until the foundation fabric is covered.  For more info on adding trims and curved pieces, check out the Corner Start Block post.

 When it come down to it, this is really an improvisational block, so don't stress, just keep on adding pieces of fabric.  You can do it!  :)

Happy New Year!

We had a great time visiting my mother in law in Washington DC this Christmas. It was our first time there and we had a good time (minus when the children were screaming) visiting the sites.

Everything was just beautiful. We saw these beautiful tiles in the Capitol building. My husband says I can make a quilt like them... humm...maybe in 2012. :)

Aren't they beautiful though? I thought about going to the Textile Museum, but they didn't have a specific exhibit on quilts going on and ... did I mention trying to go places with kids?

Anyway, we are back and I am trying to get back into the swing of things. I finished these blocks for Deb in our Bee Improvisational bee and need to get going on January's blocks.

I also have played around making crazy quilt blocks out of my girls' old clothes. These blocks are soooo fun to make. More exciting news and info on crazy quilts will be coming later in the year!!!!


And, because I know you have been dying to see them ;), the potholders my mom got for Christmas. I really like how they turned out - very cheery.

One of my New Year's Resolutions: Don't make handmade presents in December - let's get those all finished up in the summer. :)

Hope you are all having a great New Year!

Stocking

Traditionally, the baby doesn't get a real stocking it's first Christmas at our house. Why? Because I just had a baby (!) and I have other things to stress about. :)

So, I finally made Kate her stocking this year. I crazy quilt pieced it on a green foundation and it went together really fast. I have an older Bernina 801 (love it!) that has seven different stitches. I haven't missed having more stitches until this project, but I used what stitches I did have to stitch over a few of the seams.

Everyone loves it - and following tradition, one of the girls decided that she "hates" her stocking and wants this one instead. I think we need some new Christmas traditions. :)