Crazy Quilt

[Betty J.]

My niece would like me to help her make a crazy quilt. I've never made a complete crazy quilt just a few blocks here and there. This is the way I learned: You cut a foundation piece for your block from muslin, then you cut a five sided shape from your crazy quilt fabic and place it in the middle of the muslin. You cut a chunk of fabric from another piece and lay it right sides together on one side of the five sided object and sew it down and you build from there. Is there a better way to do it? Any suggestions would be helpful...thanks in advance.

[Margo C.]

Jenice, if you want a little more structure, you can print out EQ crazy quilt block designs from your printer right onto Stable Stuff
http://www.rickytims.com/online-stor...category_id=26
and use it like foundation paper piecing, except that you don't have to tear it away, and it adds less weight to the quilt than muslin foundations do.

That's the technique I used for this quilt made of silk neckties:

[Margo C.]

Okay...I didn't think of EQ that is a great idea.

[Betty J.]

Margo, that is a gorgeous quilt. I hadn't thought of using stable stuff to print out the foundation on. I have been saving bits of silk, satins, and velvets, etc. for a crazy quilt myself. Thanks for such a great idea! Cheers, BJ

[Hannelore N.]

I have just treated the blocks like irregular log cabin blocks. The result has not been excessively crazy, but the owner of the quilt and her parents like it.

[Hannelore N.]

So precious and the quilt is cute too.

[Betty J.]

Awwww! What a great picture--such a delightful little one in the middle of that really neat quilt.

[Betty J.]

Lorchen, what a lovely quilt and the little one sure is cute.

Margarita in Auburn, CA

[Betty J.]

Lorchen, what a sweet baby quilt! Thanks for sharing your idea on fussy cutting the first block, I never would have thought of that!

Kathy in CA

[Karen M.]

Awe what a sweet baby on that lovely quilt!

[Karen M.]

Jenice, if you want a little more structure, you can print out EQ crazy quilt block designs from your printer right onto Stable Stuff
http://www.rickytims.com/online-stor...category_id=26
and use it like foundation paper piecing, except that you don't have to tear it away, and it adds less weight to the quilt than muslin foundations do.

That's the technique I used for this quilt made of silk neckties:

I like this idea Margo, BUT, I printed out with my HP non laser printer onto foundation paper and when I wet it for easy removal, the ink came off and stained the cream fabric, no amount of different stain removers would move it, so if you leave the stable stuff in, what happens when you wash it???

Lynn in very cold UK

[Margo C.]

YIKES! You can see from the photo that all of my fabrics were dark, and I didn't notice any signs of the inks bleeding. I also print all of my quilt labels on my printer, and I don't have trouble with the ink bleeding. I am always careful that the printer's ink is thoroughly heat set with a hot dry iron, and let it set a couple of days before I try to launder it.

Were your foundations ironed (during construction?) with a hot dry iron to heat set the ink? Also...did you use any color ink besides BLACK? None of the colored inks are colorfast, and they definitely will bleed. If I want to add color to my printed labels, I will ink it by hand with Micron Pigma pens or use Bubble Jet Set to pre-treat the fabric.

I guess everyone needs to thoroughly test the ink from their own printer to make sure it won't bleed.

[Betty J.]

It must be dependent on what you print on and the types of inks, because the colored inks I use in my HP are completely colorfast when printed on fabrics by the time I heat set them, rinse them in water, and iron it dry. I've had it wash fine, but it might not be colorfast on stable stuff. Hmmmm. worth testing.

[Betty J.]

YIKES! You can see from the photo that all of my fabrics were dark, and I didn't notice any signs of the inks bleeding. I also print all of my quilt labels on my printer, and I don't have trouble with the ink bleeding. I am always careful that the printer's ink is thoroughly heat set with a hot dry iron, and let it set a couple of days before I try to launder it.

Were your foundations ironed (during construction?) with a hot dry iron to heat set the ink? Also...did you use any color ink besides BLACK? None of the colored inks are colorfast, and they definitely will bleed. If I want to add color to my printed labels, I will ink it by hand with Micron Pigma pens or use Bubble Jet Set to pre-treat the fabric.

I guess everyone needs to thoroughly test the ink from their own printer to make sure it won't bleed.

No Margo, I didnt heat set it when sewn, just used wooden iron between adding pieces. Will try yo :? ur tip with heat BEFORE I do it again|! LOL

[Betty J.]

And while we are at it! I became a grandma on 1st Jan this year with Fia Elizabeth. Never thought it would happen as eldest of 4 is 40 now and granddaughter has joined eldest dd who is 36, she had given up hope years ago!

Still worth waiting for, even if she wont sleep more than an hour at a time, I am shattered, no wonder nature gives us a break at our age (well mine anyway!, 59 and too old to stay up all night!!!)