A Little Crazy
A Little Crazy is my project for the Project Quilting 12.5 challenge. You can find the details for that challenge here if you’d like to join in – there’s still time. Entries must be posted by noon on Sunday. This is my first year participating in Project Quilting, and I’m enjoying it. It’s not a big commitment, and it’s a great opportunity to explore something new, or put a twist on something that isn’t.
I have one memory of a crazy quilt from my childhood. It was in the home of one of the women in our community. She would often invite us kids in for treats, and I recall that she had a crazy quilt in her living room. I remember it was predominantly black, deep reds, and purple, mostly velvet, but I think there were some pieces of silk and other fabrics as well. I can remember the colorful, decorative stitches all over the quilt. I wanted to run my hands over it, but didn’t dare because it was so pretty. I wonder what happened to that quilt; I sure hope it stayed in the family, or that someone is giving it some tender loving care.
For my little piece of crazy, I decided to have some fun and pull some fabric scraps that aren’t just cotton. Let me take you on a little tour.
That light blue piece is from an old shirt of BigJ’s.
I snuck in a little minky, just for texture.
That green check fabric just to the right of the minky is a piece from a worn out cloth napkin. There is also another piece of denim, a piece of linen, and a piece of wool. I enjoyed digging around my stash and coming up with unusual fabrics to add.
I sewed the fabrics together into a medium large slab, then squared it to measure 9 inches by 10.5 inches. I fused some fleece to the back of it (a bit tricky when you have minky and wool in the quilt top) and then got busy adding in the fun stitching. Using my stash of floss, I added some decorative stitches with contrasting color along the seam lines of the quilt.
I even played a bit and stitched in a few other little details.
Once the decorative stitching was completed, I basted a backing to the quilt and did some quick geometric quilting using my walking foot and thread to match each fabric. I wasn’t sure how I would like the combination of decorative stitches and machine quilting, but I think it worked out just fine.
I found a piece of binding – I love it when I can use some of my binding scraps – and A Little Crazy was finished!
Wilbs thought I was a little crazy to make a quilt that was just a tad too small for him.
There is one more challenge coming up for Project Quilting. I can’t wait to see what the next one will be!
Wendy
To Do Tuesday 52
32 Comments
Riceford Streams
I read about Project Quilting (thanks for the link), and this challenge is perfect for you. I love crazy quilts and your interpretation with all the hand stitching is so fun. Great idea to add minky. I don’t blame Wilbs for wondering what’s up with the size – doesn’t everything belong to him?
scottishmichelle
Thank goodness you post early; I had completely forgotten about the next challenge. This is also my first year and I’m really enjoying it. Love your A little crazy mat. How annoying for Wilbs that you didn’t make it slightly bigger 🙂 I have lots of hand dyed velvet and silk – I’ll have to go and play.
Cindy Pieters
I like the combination of hand and machine stitches! But poor Wilbs not being able to fit on it, that is a little problem.
Nancy Bekedam
Wow, Wendy!!! Super duper cuteser!!! So colorful, and all those fun stitches!!!
nanamickie
It’s a super cute quilt Wendy but you made me laugh so much at Wilbs comment!!! 😀
texasquiltgal
Love the colors on this and the quilting. I do like the machine mixed in with embroidery stitching. LOL on Wilbur trying to fit on it! 😀
My memory of crazy quilts is predominantly velvet. I don’t have any in my stash but I’m going to check out the scraps and stash today and see what I can come up with!
karenfae
love it – I remember crazy quilts too – I know my mom and dad had one at one time, I haven’t a clue what happened it
Cocoa Quilts
Wendy this little crazy mat is perfect. The mix of the embroidery and machine quilting is perfect. The different fabrics is a great play on your inspiration quilt. Perfect!!
My Sewful Retirement
Your “little crazy” mini quilt is sew cute! Loved how you used different textures and your stitching is perfect! Great job!
Frédérique
Beautiful mini crazy! I love the little pieces of fun fabrics, and your quilting is perfect with hand embroidery stitches!
rl2b2017
HAHA – Wilbs doesn’t know his own girth. LOVE this, Wendy. This is the new crazy quilt, modernized for 2021. You’ll be starting a new craze – not just quilts but jeans, jackets, purses, and on and on. I recall it back in the day – 70s, I’m guessing – but I never made anything with the technique. Certainly this project is going to inspire me to add one to the ever-growing list. ~sigh~ You’re not a member of the Squirrel Club without good reason. ~smile~ Roseanne
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
Isn’t that neat?! Looks like it was fun to make. I’ve never made a crazy quilt, nor even a block. Did you sew the pieces together just like an improv slab? Love all the decorative stitching you added, and then machine quilting, too. Your photo of Wilbur sitting on it reminds me of the “sit upons” we had as Girl Scouts when I was growing up. Just big enough to sit upon!
Brenda @ Songbird Designs
I bet Wilbs was wondering what in the world you were thinking!! I love your crazy quilt block. That is what I’m trying to do for the RSC2021 color challenge. I’m a bit behind but hope to catch up today! I love your hand stitches too! Great job! I don’t recall my granny making any crazy quilts, but she used all kinds of fabric in her quilts! Your piece brought back good memories!
ROCHELLE SUMMERS
Such a great looking little entry. Not too large to complete in the time frame but just big enough to decorate with all kinds of interesting stitches and thread. And now it has the Wilbs seal of …. approval?
Danette
You are doing fantastic on these challenges. I hope to have a completed project by the end of the challenge. A very lovely crazy quilt!
Sally
I love the colors and the details! What a great little finish!
Barbara
Oh, I love this! I have a crazy quilt on my to-do list, if I ever get around to it. You might have inspired me. Really enjoyed your “tour” of the quilt, and your big stitching really makes it.
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
I really like how this prompt brought up memories of a quilt from your childhood and led you to exploring different fabrics in this make. The combination of hand stitching and machine quilting looks great to me; I love a good combination of quilting!
Zenia Rene
This is the most adorable Litte Crazy I have ever seen!
Sandi
I think your crazy is adorable! I love all the colors and different stitching and color threads. Hugs,
Kathleen McCormick
An adorable quilt but Wilbs may turn you in for neglecting to take his size into account! I love the fabric, the minky and shirt and the great stitches. Nice job for PQ!
Judy B
Wendy!that is so cute! I wanted to participate this year, but I just can’t get it together! The combination of machine quilting and the embellishments stitches works so well! Fun!!
quiltinggail
You rocked the challenge!!! And Wilbs agreed! 🙂
Love your different stitches!
Helen
That’s a lot of work and a whole lot going on. I didn’t imagine how tiny it was until I saw the cat on it. As you gave the memory for each scrap, it reminded me of how we used to talk about the quilts our grandma made from scraps. We’d look for the patches that came from dresses we recognized. I love that.
Robby H.
Wilbs certainly gave it his best try to make it fit. A bit like Cinderalla’s sisters and that glass slipper.
Vicki in MN
Love it! So fun to seeing your cute emb. stitches on there. And cute little addition of the star too.
thedarlingdogwood
Yup, too small for Wilbs! But so fun! I love that you used many different textures, and I like your embroidered extra touches.
Carol in Texas
Lovely needlework on your tiny quilt. Wilbs is the best!
Jocelyn Thurston
This is my absolute favourite quilt I’ve seen you make. So creative and I loved how you kind of channeled your memory of a crazy quilt from long ago. Your decorative stitching is beautiful. It all works so well together to make a little jewel of a quilt. And of course, Wilbs would agree.
Preeti
There is nothing “little” about this project. Lots of color and lots of pizzaz. Lots of craziness too. Don’t expect anything less from you :-p
The Joyful Quilter
It looks like you had a TON of fun with this little Cray Quilt, Wendy! I think I heard Wilbs requesting a bigger quilt for PQ12.6. LOL!
Louise Hornor
This is such a fun little piece! I’ve always been intrigued by crazy quilts, but figured it was simpler to just be a crazy quilter 🙂