Crazy quilt question

I like to use a "read as solid" fabric, that finishes just 1/2" (cut 1") as sashing. This means you aren't trying to sew 2 bulky seams together (which makes for even more bulk, no matter how you press it.) Using a sashing that finishes at 1/2" means that the seams actually "butt" together under the sashing, so it is fairly smooth and even. Color can be whatever you want, but traditionally black seems to be most common. It tends to sort of blend into the whole and doesn't detract from the crazy quilt aspect. But if you don't like using black, then try a color that appears frequently in the blocks. Note: you can also use the same fabric to do the binding and it helps pull everything together.

Have fun, practice with all the fancy stitches on your machine for the seam embellishment and use any fancy threads you have on hand. With a crazy quilt more is better. Also don't forget to have a spider web somewhere in the quilt. (A Victorian symbol of good luck, usually with a spider somewhere near. )

Pati, > I'm making big crazy quilt blocks for a throw to take to my mom when I

Thanks -- this matches what I thought of doing. Just wasn't sure in my own mind. I'm using all kinds of lace and crochet doilies and cut out motifs that I stick down with Misty Fuse and then satin stitch the edge. The "theme" is roses. Lots of pink, lots of flowers and butterflies and the like.

I also have some discontinued upholstery fabric. I'm using it in small piece. I just love the way decorative stitches look on top of the solid color satiny fabrics. Each block takes a good bit of time to do, but I have now found a number of tricks for filling the big spaces so they don't look too solid. I'm using the 20-inch white restaurant quality napkins as the foundation. My sister gave me a bundle of them years ago and I just put them away, assuming someday I would find a better use than wiping baby faces or mopping up kitchen spills. I even moved them to Washington with us. I don't know why ..... just seemed the thing to do. And I was right. When I first started thinking of a crazy quilt I remembered those napkins. Yippee! Perfect size, shape, thickness.

I'll post some pics of a few of the blocks tonight or tomorrow morning.

Sunny

Good for you for recycling those restaurant napkins! Sounds like the method that Roberta mentioned, no batting, just tack it down, will make it right for a crazy quilt.

Gee, now I gotta think of doing a crazy quilt, also!

G> Thanks =A0-- this matches what I thought of doing. Just wasn't sure in

Same here. I haven't used sashing on any of my crazy quilt projects.

-Irene