I have just had my first attempt at crazy patchwork and while it is fun and I had a very late night or early morning obsessing over it, I do have some questions.
I found that I always had more than one edge to deal with and so just sewing them down with a seam didnt work . This was when I started just turning them under and then sewing them down with decorative stitches from my machine . Is this ok?If I put some machine embroidery on it do I do the embroidery on the patch or do I embroider onto the patch work itself. Thanks for your help.
Replies
That sounds very creative! It is your quilt, after all! I would love to see a picture of your great work.
mimi
I say go for it and if you like the look then it is the right thing to do. I also would like to see your work.
I LOVE crazy patchwork but have discovered that many (?most) quilters don't like it as it is too busy. It is precisely the business and detail that I like.
If you start with an odd-sided centre piece and stitch and flip you shouldn't have to turn under any edges. Try http://www.caron-net.com/classes/classmayfiles/clasmay1.html as they have an explanation of stitch and flip.
Sometimes those add on pieces can get pretty long. Try sewing two pieces together and then sewing those onto the previous ones. This adds variety and eliminates the need to hide those folded edges.
The term "crazy quilt" suggests that all rules are off, don't you think? I have used both the fold/decorative stitch technique and suesew's suggestion to combine the outer pieces before attaching them to the base, and both work well. Decorative stitches, laces and trims that disguise odd seams can also another dimension to the piece, and I like the randomness of the awkward joins for determining where to add those embellishments.For larger crazy quilts, I've found that it's far easier to compose several smaller units, then join them together, which also results in fewer awkward joins. Separating the smaller crazy sections with borders and panes of a solid color can make whole quilt seem a little less busy, too. Enjoy!
thankyou all for your replies. Yes I am loosening up a bit with this and have had a lot of fun. I think that at heart i am a rebel when it comes to colour and form and this what i enjoy about the process There is a spontinaity which jusy doesnt happen with pieced quilts.I admire them very much but I dont like making them It probably shows a lack of self discipline !
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