Crazy quilt panels 9th Feb 2015

Beautiful crazy patches.

Amy I really this crazy???????  Yes I am!!!!!  I have completed the two tops I have been trying to complete and this is my next challenge!!!!

I bought these 6 panels from USA around 20 years ago, they were on EBay for around $50.00 US which cost me around $100.00 Ozzie back then in freight and buying them.  I just loved the colours and fabrics they intrigued me.  When they finally arrived I loved them even more but was sad to see how some of the fabric even though they had never been used or washed  were disintegrating.  Around 2005 I started herringbone stitching around all the pieces of fabric and replaced those that were so perished they were falling off.  It was a very daunting task I did not have  many of the fabrics from that area in my stash,  I’m guessing they are from around 1920-1930’s as they have used plain sugar and flour sack muslin for the backing. I did have some pieces of cotton 1930 feed sacks and silks from Japan around that time. But finally I had very little choice left so put it away for another day; then 3 days ago an online quilter offered me some antique satins and velvets if I ever used them…………….  Life is strange here I had put this away as I did not know where I would start to find these fabrics or buy them and now out of the blue they are been offered to me.  SO a big thank you Julie.

To day I spent a couple of hours hunting out these crazy strips I had put away carefully about 7 or 10 years ago. Finally found them and have been taking photos of them.

There are 6 strips around 56inchs long, and 12 1.2inch wide, there are 7 full blocks and one 1/2 block in each strip.  at the back on each one has been written in pencil Top and 1st to 6th panel.  So the maker had planed how she wanted them put together.

Most of the very pale cream silks have to be replaced I’m guessing they may be from a wedding fabric it is so soft and fine.

Cream fabric in this photo top right is falling off.

I have done herringbone stitch around each piece of fabric and stitched through the backing to stop the crazy block from floating and it has stabilised the block.

Lots of early rayons, silks, velvets and a few cottons have been used.  I have used a fine blue  wool from a kimono for the top replacement and some old silk kimono for the bottom replacement piece.

I love how it really is crazy how the pieces have been joined and built up, some seem to have a placement and others just grew with NO cutting.

Lovely purples and mauves through out.

On the back the quilter has written in pencil which row is 1st and then 2nd and so on till the 6th row so she had planned the way she wanted it laid and I will keep to her lay out.

Sugar sack  muslin sack.

Centre cream fabric is disintegrating.

so is this lovely silk fabric falling to pieces

One of the blocks I have done herring stitch around each piece of fabric.

Flour sack.

Trying to show you the lovely velvet but it is very difficult to photograph

Same purple velvet with out the flash.

This blog is just on my crazy patchwork blocks and strips. Those of you who love crazy patchwork quilts will understand and those of you who don’t will be bored LOL   I love all kinds of colour and fabrics and I guess this is why I love this quilt so much.

Happy stitching what ever your choice and love of fabrics are. Cheers Glenda