On hand piecing and crazy quilting...

I use 100% cotton thread, the Coats & Clark big spool. I use any old needle...

Hm, I never really measured. I guess I get something like 10 per inch (counting both sides).

Practice.

I use straight pins. I tried holding it with my fingers but the fabric slips. I don't worry about the 1/4" seam allowance for crazy piecing. But then, I'm pretty loosy goosy.

-- Anita --

One suggestion -- after about every 3 or 4 stitches ... take a backstitch... just helps to make your seams stronger.

Kate in MI

Kate, would that be at the start of each new needle full of stitches? and after the last one of course, lol. Dannielle, just try to stay consistent with the size of stitches and they will get smaller as you become more adept at it...without even trying. have fun!! jeanne

Hi Dannielle, You'll find good info on crazy quilting here:

here: This is a free online magazinedevoted to crazy quilting My friend Martha also has a very unique, interesting piecing method that is described along with photos on another friend's blog: and,if you look at this link, you can see some of Martha's amazing work in ourclass here: but Iwarn you, some of Martha's work is risqué and includes photo transfers offemale nudes. I don't find it offensive, but some people might. Seam allowance is not an issue in cq'ing as far as the piecing goes. Something to keep in mind is that some of the fabrics you may use ravel badly so you may want a larger seam allowance or, cut the fabric with pinking shears or a rotary pinking blade.

For the outside seam allowance, I leave extra fabric all the way around, sometimes as much as an inch because cq blocks almost always shrink as you work on them. Machine base around the perimeter of the block, along the edge of what will be the finished size. You can remove that basting later if your block does shrink. Do not do bead embellishment within 1/2" or so of this line so you dont break beads when sewing blocks together.

Press. Just as in sane quilt making, your block needs to lie flat. A hint for you- lower your iron temperature and consider using a pressing cloth when dealing with multiple types of fabric......a piece of advice I should have followed myself this evening. Don't even ask.

Use any fabrics you want in your cq pieces, but do shy away from acetates as they do not hold up well. Cottons are perfectly fine to use, I do all the time. Shop thrift stores and garage sales for silks and other fancies, keep your eyes peeled for fancy buttons on those same garments. Only buy what you absolutely LOVE. Make plain buttons work as fancy embellishment by sewing them on with seed beads, either tradtionally, or create loops or dangles with the beads.

Velvet is tricky to use, velveteen a bit easier, but not as flashy.

I do quite a bit of crazy quilting, you can see some of the pics of my work at the link in my siggy line if you want. Hope you have fun in your cq adventure :-)

Lisa,

Could you have put any more information in that message? That was fantastic! I think I have visited all of the sites you posted at least once. I'm not ready for actual crazy quilting with specialty fabrics, but I'll be looking at our "I'm done with this outfit" clothes a little closer before passing them on to the local Goodwill! My DH would have a fit if I started buying all kinds of silks and such along with the quilting cotton!

You have done some fabulous work too. I have hung on to some leftover silk thread for just this occasion, and I would love to do silk ribbon, I just haven't taken the time to save the money to invest in the ribbon yet.

Maybe someday!

Dannielle

Thanks Dannielle, I do hope you'll keep it in mind. One doesn't have to be 'ready' to cq......just jump into it and have some fun. Here's are two more sites for you. There is a free, comprehensive online stitch dictionary and great eye candy from gal by the name of Sharon Boggin from Australia. Links are on on this page:

This one has resonably priced silkribbon: her silk ribbonassortments are a good value. I order from Vikki all the time, she'sgreat-reliable and shipping is cheap. Lisa

Hand piecing.... I mark my quarter inch seam, some can eyeball it. Depends on size and need for accuracy. Crazy piecing... I wouldn't worry too much about it. Pinning is good. If I remember correctly, much crazy patch was done from the right side, turning under "enough" of the raw edge and embroidering over it through the base fabric. Done as decorative work, no need to really "seam" the fabric first.

For hand piecing the DVD that comes with Linda Franz's "Quilted Diamonds

2" cannot be beat, IMNSHO. Also a great way to use up bits and pieces of fabrics.

I generally use pins to hold fabric, although it is usually easier to only use one, just one "unit" ahead. Keeps from having too many places for the thread to get hung up on and tangled around.

Pati, > Ok, so my hand sewing skills are severely lacking. I have known this

Whatever needle feels comfortable in your hand, and has an eye you can thread. Threads are pretty much the same, whatever you like to use is fine.

Aim for consistency of stitch length rather than a specific number of stitches. Your stitches per inch will change over time, and will also depend on the thickness of the fabrics used in the project.

Repetitively doing something always one better at it. IOW, practice.

You can just hold the piece in place until it is sewn down, but if you need an extra hand feel free to pin.

1/4 inch seam allowance doesn't really come into play , except for the sizing of the muslin square, because you are not supposed to follow a specific plan for the crazy piecing. As long as you remember to cover the entire front of the muslin you don't have to worry about points being pointy, or anything else for that matter. Just sew the fabric to the muslin using whatever seam allowance you feel comfortable using. You can always clip a way too big seam allowance smaller to reduce bulk after the seam is sewn. When the whole front is covered you can trim off any bits that over-hang the edges of the muslin.

The most important thing is--don't stress out about it.

Debra in VA See my quilts at

Ok, I really enjoyed looking at your site. Thank you so much for posting.

I am jealous of your Morel hunting. It wasn't a good year for us, too dry last winter. I noticed that your husband carries his haul in a plastic bag. We always did too until I read that you should use an open weave type sack, an onion sack or the like. The article said the spores will drop through and make more mushroom fields next year.

And girls, you will notice that there are no distinguishing landmarks as to where Lisa hunts for her beloved Morels. Mushroom hunting is kind of like diamond hunting. You guard your "Good Spots"! Right, Lisa?

Your work is beautiful. I just now came out of my room. I've been trying to come up with some kind of organized way to keep my new obsession (Crazy Quilting) under control. I don't want to just lump in my fabric and embellishments with all my other quilting, beading stashes.

Maybe I need a separate room.

Hmmmmm.

I read about the spore bags this year too, so we changed how we carry the mushrooms out. The good thing was that our plastic bags did end up with rips and tears in them, so hopefully we did drop some spores while we used them. We didn't take in a big haul, not like some people who came home with 20+ lbs. Just enough to enjoy for 3 or 4 meals. I was happy with that.

Lol.....uhm.....it's in Iowa, ya, that's it. Iowa...... :-D Actually, there aren't any distiguishing markings. We have to walk a mile or more beside a field to get to our spot, but if you came here in the spring, I'd take ya along. It's so fun to go tramping in the woods!

Thank you Cindy. It is hard to keep all that stuff together in a sensible way, isn't it? I decided to go with rubbermaid bins of various sizes, and I lable them so I can find my stuff easily.....sequins, lace, trim, photo images, etc. It helps a lot.

I put my silk ribbons in floss baggies and put them on a ring according to color. When I work on a specific project, then I use a separate ring and put the colors on it that I'm using.

My specialty fabric stash is small compared to my cottons. I put it in stackable plastic drawers, sorted by color. Threads are in two places. The special ones are wound on cards and are in a bead/thread case I got at Joann's. Other threads like balls of pearle cotton are stored in those common to find plastic fishing/craft boxes, the ones where you can remove the dividers. (removing the dividers lets you store more balls per row).

Seed beads are stored in clear boxes with flip top containers. I get them at a bead store in Des Moines, but you can see them here:

Andything else I tried forseed bead storage has failed. All the containers I tried spilled at one timeor another. Other beads (I use lots of Czech pressed glass beads) are storedin that bead/thread case from Joann's, or in those lockable two sided pillcontainers you get at Walmart by the pharmacy. They now market those tobeaders, but they cost more. I must admit my buttons are a mess. They need to be separated badly as metal should not be stored with mother of pearl or mixed with plastic. Someday I'll find the time......

Oh yeah, everyone one needs that! Go for it! :-) Lisa :-)

I have spent all day tearing the room apart looking for the 2 (EXPENSIVE) buttons I got online last week. One was a darling little bluebird. It looks so old and so beautiful! I think the other one is a basket. I stuck them somewhere in the little plastic ziplock bag they came in, and now I can't find them! This drives me crazy. I know when I opened the package, I didn't have time to mess with it last week so I remember thinking I'll just put them (here) for now. I don't remember where "here" is.

They are the first real things I've purchased for CC. I know they will turn up eventually. But, damn.

Cindy

At least you haven't lost your whole button jar like I have. I just can't find it and had to buy buttons for a project even though I know I already had the perfect ones for the project in that jar.

Debra in VA See my quilts at

I'm sure they will be in the last place I'll look. VBG

Cindy

I bet you did the what I did with my charms. I was convinced I had thrown away my zip lock bag full of charms. Metal charms. I collected them years ago when I was doing a little jewelry now and then.

Finally came across them. I had transferred them to a tin container. I have no recollection of doing that. I have them now in a clear container. I'm better if I can see whats in something.

Cindy

I read that as "clear dresses", Pat and admired your courage ... ;-) I think that would tend to complicate ones life rather than streamline it, no?

Anne > Cindy: I'm convinced that EVERYTHING I own should be in a clear