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Introducing block 1

Introducing block 1

The first block sits in the top left hand corner of the crazy quilt has a dominant tone of grey. For this reason it is possibly one of the least attractive blocks in the quilt.

A you can see there are 6 areas, each of a different fabric.

This crazy quilt block is also made up of some of the most unusual fabrics in the quilt.

The goal of this quilt, if you remember is that it was a Y2k quilt with 2001 different bits of fabric, lace, trim, buttons etc. I had trouble making up the number as the block was pieced towards the end and my supplies were more than a little depleted. Hence a bit of creativity was called for.

Fabric content:

  • Piece 1:Is a high stretch lycra fabric which was a scrap from a costume I made.
  • Piece 2: A grey crepe
  • Piece 3: Polyester
  • Piece 4: Polyester knit which was also used in a costume
  • Piece 5:Is a polished cotton found in a curtain store in one of their swatch books.
  • Piece 6: Polyester

As you can see  I am not a fabric nazi, in other words I use polyesters as well as the traditional silks, brocades and velvets found in crazy quilting. I feel the original crazy quilters in the past would have used anything that was attractive so I do the same. Not everyone feels this way however and each to their own as there are no rules in crazy quilting.

Item Count:

  • Fabric: 6 Pieces
  • Braids, ribbons, trims or lace: 5
  • Buttons: 9
  • Charms: 2
  • Total items on block: 22

What is the back story?
This regularly published series aims to illustrate and document the hand embroidered seams, embellishments and decorations on my crazy quilt I dropped the button box. All articles are categorised in the projects under Crazy Quilt details which enables readers to browse back through the series.
Free Crazy quilt block patterns
In the process of documenting the seam decorations on this quilt, as I get to each block I am diagramming it out for readers as a free crazy quilt pattern. Links to these free pattern pages are listed on the CQ details FAQ page.

16 Comments

  1. Pingback: Something Just for Me | Change of Clothes

  2. I’m working on a crazy quilt. I Have about 1/3 of the blocks make. I used baby clothes and special fabric and sewed it on muslin. I am wondering how I will quilt it after it is put together . Help!

    Judy
  3. do you back your fabric with muslin or anything.? and do you work on one block at a time and then put it together or do you make the entire quilt and then embellish….I am gonna try to make one, and If I can save the money I want to take your class….Love your work.

  4. Sharon, you are my hero — for using lycra, polyester and any and all fabrics if they fit. So many people almost have a hissy fit if you just mention the word “polyester” to them. I certainly don’t want to wear polyester (or lycra), so what else to do with it but put it in a CQ? Thank you for this enormous task you’re undertaking of documenting this quilt. I love it.

  5. Hi Zandra and anyone else who is interested in using the block design. I put the copyright declaration there so that anyone wanting to use the block patterns can – providing they are for personal use and they do the right thing. In other words that they attribute the pattern to me and if they are a blogger etc they must link back to this site so people can find them. They are effectively free designs and as I blog each stitch detail it will develop into a very comprehensive guide as there are 100 blocks.

    So simply put people can use the diagrams as a pattern for their own quilt etc but link back where ever its possible

    Sharon B
  6. Sharon, I love the way you are breaking down the blocks. Blocks are the hardest thing for me. I know I would like to know and I am sure others too – do you have a problem with us using your blank block as a base for our own quilt. I have been doing my own and really ended up with a lot of loooong seams, besides being the part I like the least. Thanks, Zandra

    Zandra
  7. Sharon, I didn’t think I would see anything I had not scoured over in the past.LOL But I was very wrong, In block 1 ,I thought the gray bumps were beads/knots and to now see they are raised fabric is a very new lesson for me. I had pictured the same dots in 4 were also an embleishment. Now I realize they are a wonderful fabric has helped. and I too love the look the block creates! Have to make notes… rene

    Reneorgeron
  8. Thanks for the comments folks
    Kathryn – your comment about the block being over balanced is valid but remember it sits in the top left hand corner of the quilt- hence it ‘leaning’ to the right. It looks balanced in its location if you know what I mean.
    Virginia this is a sloppy composition for a block as the right hand side has one long seam to break up – which I did with the buttons – but it could have been better

    Sharon B
  9. Least attractive block? I’m eager to see the rest close-up! I really appreciate the outline of your basic crazy pattern here, showing how the different blocks are put together. That is something that still intimidates me when I’m trying to decide how to puttogether a block.

  10. I’m not sure why you call this square unattractive. I think the greys, blacks, whites, and metallics look very stylish and modern. I can see an entire jacket made with this mix of ancient and modern. If anything is a bit overbalanced it might be the buttons over buttons, but I understand that you were trying to include as many different things as you could to reach that magic 2,001.

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