The start of a new crazy quilting project.
I don’t know about you, but I always get quite excited when I start a “new” project. I love selecting fabrics, colours and embellishments.
When I was finishing up my black butterfly quilt from last year, I began thinking about what I would do for my next project.
I moved several years ago which involved purging. Over the years I had a collection of four bins of silks, satins, brocades, laces etc. With purging I dropped to one bin which should probably last me for the remainder of my lifetime. We all know, it does not take particularly large pieces of fabric for crazy quilting.
I will be sharing my process for my 2019 project today and again in upcoming blog posts.
So, let’s get started.
My normal process involves deciding on a theme or colour combination but this year I did things a bit differently. When I purged prior to my move, I had an assortment of old embroidered tablecloths, runners and handkerchiefs.
Some of you likely have the same with the thought of keeping them for use in that “special project”. I decided it was about time to use these treasures instead of waiting for that special project so I included as many as I could in my blocks.
I like to begin by clearing my workspace and sorting my fabrics into colours. Then further sorting into fabric types – silks, satins, cottons, brocades etc. Following this, I start pulling out trims, laces, applique motifs and ribbons. I do often dye some of the laces to suit the chosen colour palette.
I cut my muslin foundation and start sewing blocks using Judith Baker Montano’s piecing method. I choose two trims/laces/ribbons per block and add these as I sew. Once the block is complete, I sew the edges to minimize fraying. A serger would work well for this if you have one.
Usually I will make a minimum of 12-16 blocks of about 12 inches in diameter because I like to have a few extra just in case. After this, I sew a 2” strip of scrap cotton or muslin in a solid colour to the edges with a long machine basting stitch. I do this so I can stitch the block in a frame.
Yes, I stitch all my blocks in a frame. Many crazy quilters hold the stitching in one hand and stitch with the other. But, I have always found this quite cumbersome and I prefer to have both hands free. Naturally, this is a personal choice.
That’s it for today. Stay tuned for my next post where I will discuss the next stage. So, would you like to join me. Why not sew up a few blocks and stay tuned.
