| The term "crazy quilting" is often used to refer to the | | | | standard quilts, crazy quilts are far more likely to use |
| textile art of crazy patchwork and is sometimes used | | | | exotic pieces of fabric, such as velvet, satin, tulle, or silk, |
| interchangeably with that term. Crazy quilting does not | | | | and embellishments such as buttons, lace, ribbons, |
| actually refer to a specific kind of quilting (the | | | | beads, or embroidery. Crazy quilting as a textile art is |
| needlework which binds two or more layers of fabric | | | | extremely creative and free-flowing by nature, and |
| together), but a specific kind of patchwork. Crazy quilts | | | | crazy quilters will often learn as much about specific |
| rarely have the internal layer of batting that is part of | | | | embellishments as they will about crazy quilting itself. |
| what defines quilting as a textile technique. | | | | The History of Crazy Quilting |
| Combining the Crazy Patches | | | | Crazy Quilting created a stir in the 1880's when it |
| Regular patchwork combines the pieces of fabric into | | | | became quite a fad in the United States. The |
| a predetermined and regular design, but crazy | | | | Japanese Exhibit in the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial |
| patchwork uses irregular pieces of fabric on a | | | | Exposition inspired the crazy quilt with its asymmetrical |
| foundation fabric or paper. This may create | | | | art. |
| haphazard-looking and asymmetrical designs, or the | | | | Articles encouraging crazy quilting, or condemning it |
| designer may use some control in placement. | | | | could be found in women's publications. Women could |
| Patches can be hand appliquéd onto a base | | | | purchase packages of random fabrics, as well as |
| fabric. This method gives the most variety as every | | | | already embellished pieces to use in their own crazy |
| patch is unique. There are also block patterns designed | | | | quilts. |
| for crazy quilt that can be sewn by machine. | | | | During the first several years of the crazy quilting fad |
| Sometimes part of a crazy quilt is haphazard while | | | | fine fabrics and heavy embellishment was the norm. |
| other parts are placed in a planned pattern. A common | | | | As time passed quilters began to make simpler quilts in |
| example of this the placement of patches in a fan | | | | the crazy quilt style. These used everyday fabrics like |
| pattern. | | | | wool or cotton and little or no embellishment. |
| The patches and seams are then usually heavily | | | | Crazy Quilting Today |
| embellished. | | | | Today, crazy quilting is enjoyed by quilters with an |
| Embellishing a Crazy Quilt | | | | organic approach to their art. They often use cast off |
| Crazy quilts differ from "regular" quilts in other ways as | | | | clothing and photographs to infuse the crazy quilt with |
| well. Because the careful geometric design of a quilt | | | | meaning and memory. |
| block is much less important in crazy quilts, the quilters | | | | Crazy quilting is also used on clothing like vests and |
| are able to employ much smaller and more | | | | jackets. Some art quilters use crazy quilting as a part |
| irregularly-shaped pieces of fabric. In comparison to | | | | of their art quilts. |