Today let’s talk about choosing the best fabrics for crazy quilting. I must admit, that choosing fabrics has always been my favourite part of the process. Traditionally fabrics were “fancy” fabrics including silks, satins, brocades and velvet. I personally found early on that I didn’t like stitching on velvet as it tends to be more challenging to stitch through so I rarely include it. Don’t limit yourself to just fancies as I always include various cottons as well. In fact, one of my crazy quilts is entirely cotton.
Tips on Choosing the Right Fabric for Crazy Quilting
Start with a selection of fabrics focusing on various textures – silks, satins, brocades and cottons. You may select a colour palette OR you might like to select random colours, the choice is yours. I tend to always include at least one “fancy” with a black background, perhaps a floral or polka dot.
Many fabric stores will sell small 5×5 squares of fabric called “charm squares”. These would be an excellent source for some of your cottons. Some stores sell 1/8th yard cuts but not all. AND make sure you check out various Etsy shops for fabric bundles as well as some of the Facebook groups. One of my favourite retail locations was Delectable Mountain Cloth in Battleboro Vermont. The owner would compile gorgeous fabric bundles, ideal for crazy quilting but sadly she closed in 2020.
Getting Started
Once you have your fabrics, it’s time to start sewing. I machine piece while others prefer to hand piece, the choice is yours!
I follow Judith Baker Montano’s piecing method which you will find outlined in her crazy quilting book. I always start with a foundation of muslin, preferable “light” versus a thick muslin as this makes stitching easier, especially if you are a beginner. I learned this the hard way when I used a much thicker muslin! I’ll generally make my CQ squares anywhere from 8 to 12 inch squares. I start with placing my first fabric piece in the center of the muslin block and work out from there choosing fabrics as I go until the block is complete.
It has been my personal preference to add 2” strips of scrap cotton/muslin along the edges of the block at this point which allows me to attach the block to a frame for stitching. I know this may surprise many of you but I prefer to stitch on a frame. I find it easier to stitch when the fabric is taut. This is only my personal preference.
Hopefully you are getting inspired to start a crazy quilt journey. Why not follow along, pick up some fabric, try piecing and join me for my next post where we delve into ribbons, trims and laces!
