Roadmap to Success for Crazy Quilting!
Posted by Kathy Seaman Shaw on Apr 21st 2020
Beginning a project can be daunting for some. Writing begins with that blank white page…and quilts begin the same general way. What to create? How to design it? Which colors to use?
Students often express their concerns over starting a new project. My latest book “Dazzling Diamonds” give a roadmap to success for creating a wall hanging size crazy quilt. Full size patterns, detailed legends that show embellishments (size/type), and “how to” sections on embroidery with ribbon/threads is included.
Here is Block #3 (of the 27 block quilt) included in the book. This specific diagram shows the legend for all of the embroidery work (answering the question of which Embroidery Stitch to use)…and the type size of beads.
A full size diagram of the block (which can be scanned/printed) give the size/shape of the individual patches making up the total block. BTW, all blocks can be paper pieced easily! This diagram also shows the reader a full size diagram of the finished thread embroidery layer. Thread embroidery is the first layer of work on the pieced block so having this at a full size allows the reader to scan/print this directly to water soluble if desired. This is very helpful because there is no “tracing” needed to produce a beautiful embroidery seam. Scan, print to water soluble, adhere to the pieced block and begin the embroidery work…then wash away the water soluble. Extra seam allowance has been included around the outer edge of each pieced block to alleviate the problem of “shrinkage” when the block is submerged into water to remove the water soluble.
Instructions on embroidery (thread and silk ribbon) is included in the book. The internet is also a great general source if a reader is unsure how to complete a specific embroidery stitch. The seams in the book are created using pretty basic stitches; easily accomplished even by beginner embroidery stitchers. But these also allow the reader to “do their own thing” by interpreting the seams using more complex stitches if they would like. Each seam follows a basic shape like a curved line or grouping of small circles. These can be created using templates or small objects to trace around like thread spools for circles. The diagram above if for the Stem Stitch which is a favorite embroidery stitch to create straight or curved lines.
If you’ve been on the fence about creating a crazy quilt, I hope you will consider working on this quilt. The planning has been done for you…only leaving the fun to accomplish!
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