first crazy quilt

Just looking at a post a moment ago reminded me that I just recently made my first successful crazy quilt top. For whatever the reason I have always been afraid to make one. I did attempt one a hundred or so years ago before I learned the joy of patchwork and that was such a disaster I was afraid to try again until recently. Well, fear being what it is for me with crazy quilting I suppose that is why I never mentioned this project. Now I am gonna have to post a picture of it. Ok I just did it:

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-:). Ok, here's my question. Now that I have the top completed how on Earth do I bat and quilt the thing? Or do crazy quilts ever have a bat to speak of? I did the quilt top while lying in bed over the winter months. Jerry got me the embroidery machine to keep me busy when I couldn't get up and about and it got it's first real work out with this quilt top.

As I am sitting here posting the picture and thinking about this quilt I am also thinking just how much there is always new to be learning about quilting. julia

Reply to
julia sidebottom
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That's really lovely, Julia! I admire crazy quilts immensely -- all the more so because I didn't enjoy my first attempt at making one, either. It's just not for me. As for quilting it, I've always heard that they aren't generally quilted -- AFAIK, they're backed and tied. You may need more advice than I can give, though. ;)

Reply to
Sandy Foster

That's lovely, Julia. I like the incorporated "recognizable" blocks. I'll leave the quilting options to those more "in the know".

Reply to
maryd

Reply to
julia sidebottom

Julia, your quilt is lovely! I've always wanted to try a crazy quilt, but have always thought they must be rather difficult. You've inspired me with this one. :) Nice work!

Nancy in NS

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Nancy in NS

Reply to
julia sidebottom

Well, Julia, welcome home. I didn't get to join in with a welcome when you first stepped back in. (DH and I have some Katrina repair going on. Not major, just messy.) Anyhow. I love crazy quilts but don't really like the ones that read as 'blocks'. You've eliminated the checkerboard effect just beautifully. Atta girl. Way to go. How beautiful. Now. I think. What's our text? IMHO? Maybe. That crazy calls for being tied elegantly. With knots of assorted silk ribbon I think. Just backed. No batting. Those suckers are heavy already. You'll need a needle that has a long eye so the ribbon doesn't struggle and fray going through, a sharp point and sort of big around so the hole the needle makes is big enough that the ribbon has an easy time going down and coming back up. Your quilt just sings. Thank you for sharing. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

I loved all the quilts - but 'specially the star quilt on balck background.

TFS

Reply to
Cats

Reply to
julia sidebottom

Thank you. The star quilt is one of my favorite. julia

Reply to
julia sidebottom

Julia - your quilt is just delicious! I love how you framed it in black (?) with the embroidery - just lovely!!

Patti in Seattle

Reply to
Patti S

Sorry, I can't be of any help with your questions; but wanted to send a huge 'well done' for doing the quilt. . In message , julia sidebottom writes

Reply to
Patti

WOW it's amazing! I love the way you added the blocks!

you just need to back and tie the quilt - it's traditional to do it like that and a lot easier than adding batting to an already heavy quilt.

Reply to
Jessamy

It's beautiful!!! Debi

Reply to
Debi Matlack

julia sidebottom wrote in news:YaidneGsw7aT6H_ZnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

I am in love with that quilt! You did a wonderful job. I particulary like the way you tied the entire quilt in with the black border. I think it really makes the colors just pop! Terri

Reply to
Terri

Reply to
julia sidebottom

Thank you. There are a few quilt designs that I know I will do again or have done again. This is one of them. Other quilt designs I have done as a repeat performance are a Double Wedding Ring, Tea leafs (aka Joseph's Coat), Sunbonnet Sue, and Double Nine Patch. I am sure I have repeated a few others along the years but not thinking yet (to early in the morning). julia

Reply to
julia sidebottom

I have already been looking through my stash this morning for the perfect fabric to use as the backing. Looks like for now the embroidered tops for the grand kids may be on hold. julia

Reply to
julia sidebottom

Thank You so much. Believe me I was so unsure of this one. Like I said that is why I didn't mention it before. julia

Reply to
julia sidebottom

Crazy quilts are often simply backed and quilted via the embroidery along the seams, or backed and tied after the embroidery because they often use thick materials like velvet sewn to a muslin background. If yours used mostly quilter's cottons and you live in a colder climate, you can put in a batting and back it the same way you would any other quilt. The quilt will have 4 layers if you used muslin as your background and add batting, so choose your batting thickness accordingly. If you used paper as your background you could remove the paper and eliminate that layer before backing. Keep the quilting simple buy following the seams or the edges of the embroidery, or SITD around each of the squares, or simply hand tie or machine tack it.

Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Debra

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