Calling all crazy quilters

Do you love satins, silks, velvets, ribbons and laces.  Then you are probably a crazy quilter, even if you don't know it.
Crazy quilts were popular in late Victorian Times.  Said to be inspired by the Japanese pavilion of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition.  The idea of  a crazy quilt is to piece each section in an improvisational manner and then decorate the seam lines with fancy embroidery stitches.  (Originally these stitches may have actually attached the pieces to each other or to a foundation.)  Often little embroidered motifs like flowers, leaves and butterflies were also added to the pieces.  One tradition held that embroidering a spider on its web on the quilt would bring luck.  Buttons and beads can also be used in the decorations.
(crazy quilt block and "helper")

These quilts were usually for decorative purposes and were not laundered often.  Typically they would decorate the back of a settee or chair or would be used in a guest room for show but carefully removed before sleep.

(closeup of small crazy quilt)

Crazy quilts can be very elaborate.  They are lots of fun to make and a great way to use up those little snips of favorite fabrics.

(closeup of a crazy quilt with beaded flowers and ladybug buttons)

Crazy quilts are also a great way to learn a little about embroidery and beading, without having to go in those crafts in depth.   









I will be posting these embroidery tutorials on a regular basis on my YouTube Channel: Queen of Remnants.  After the first few tutorials which will cover some of the most basic stitches, I will add some silk ribbon embroidery and beading tutorials as part of the series.  If there is a particular stitch you would like to see demonstrated, please leave a comment on the channel and I will try to create a video for that stitch.

BJ Chadwick, Q of R




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