Crazy quilt block 87 is a green toned block which contrasts well against the warm autumnal tones of the blocks next to it. (To see a larger photo of Crazy Quilt Block 87 click on the image of the block.) Lines of different coloured blocks run diagonally across the quilt. It was a challenge getting all the blocks to read properly as I was pulling everything on the quilt from my stash!
If you are new to this site at the end of the article is a link to a photograph of the I Dropped the Button Box Quilt which is where this block comes from. I wanted to use as many different pieces of fabric, lace, braids, charms, and buttons in the quilt as possible. Why? The I Dropped the Button Box Quilt is a Y2K quilt so I was trying to use 2001 items on the quilt.
Here is Crazy quilt block 87 diagramed out so you can see the pattern. Many people are surprised by the lace on the lower right hand side of the block because it does not run along a seam it is placed across one! There are no rules in crazy quilting and this is another example of adapting what fits to the block.
Below are a list of the types of fabrics I used on Crazy quilt block 87. As you can see I am no fabric snob I use what I have to hand. If it fits I use it, and if it’s pretty that is even better!
Fabric Content for Crazy quilt block 87
- Piece 1: Synthetic soft furnishing fabric
- Piece 2: polyester dress fabric
- Piece 3: polyester dress fabric
- Piece 4: Cotton
- Piece 5: Synthetic soft furnishing fabric
- Piece 6: Synthetic soft furnishing fabric
Item Count on Crazy quilt block 87
My challenge with this quilt was to use 2001 unique pieces of fabric, lace, braids, charms, buttons or ribbons as I wanted it as a Y2K quilt. The on going item count list below represents the items documented to date in this series of articles.
- Fabric: 6
- Lace, braid and ribbon: 4
- Buttons and charms: 10
- Total items on this block: 20
- Total tally of items on the quilt so far: 1657
Hand Embroidery and embellishing details for Crazy quilt block 87
The first detail is a gimp braid that sits beside a cluster of buttons. The gimp braid covers the seam and I tucked straight stitches in a fan like shape into the valleys of the braid.
This next crazy quilt seam details is also a gimp braid. As you can see it is woven in quite a complex pattern. I had fun adding seed and bugle beads to it once I had stitched it down with small stitches in black thread. The braid is about an inch wide so is quite a strong element on Crazy quilt block 87.
This seam detail is a zig zag chain stitch that I added seed beads to the middle of each chain stitch. I used cotton perle #8 thread as the seam is about an inch and half long. I added the two butterfly charms at the end of the process after I had embroidered the whole block.
The next detail I would like to feature is a cluster of buttons. The green one is a vintage plastic button the rest in the group are all modern. They sit next the gimp braid which covers the seam.
For the decorated black satin ribbon I first basted to the ribbon in place with temporary stitches. I then couched the ribbon to the block using herringbone stitch worked in rust orange cotton perle #5 thread. I added bugle beads to further decorate the seam. In a black rayon thread I worked some detached chain stitches and straight stitches topped with small seed beads.
The last detail on Crazy quilt block 87 is a laced Cretan stitch which I worked in yellow cotton perle #5 thread. I then laced it with a black rayon thread that is a fine knitting yarn before adding black beads. The seam is not very long a couple of inches at the most as this is a 6 inch block. You can see it on the right hand side peeking out from under the button cluster.
This article is part of a series that offers a free block patterns from my crazy quilt called I dropped the button box while also documenting each block which are listed on the CQ details FAQ page.
Have you enjoyed this series?
If so you may be interested in a tutorial I have written on how to work decorative crazy quilt seams. The free tutorial is a comprehensive article that I converted to a pdf file (a link to the download is in the article) When I converted it I realised how comprehensive it was. At 19 pages of information it is a resource worth investigating!
Have you seen my Stitchers Templates?
As someone who loves crazy quilting and embroidery I designed these templates with other stitchers in mind. With my templates you can create hundreds of different patterns to apply to your stitching and crazy quilting projects. They are easy to use, totally clear so you can position them easily and they are compact in your sewing box.
Templates set 1 you will find here
Templates set 2 you will find here
How do you finish a crazy quilt? Light batting? Thanks
Lisa – Yes I use batting see the tutorial page for a series of posts on How to assemble a Crazy Quilt – https://pintangle.com/tutorials/
Are you no longer posting the bare framework pattern? In the current post, of Block 87 (and a very nice block it is!), you only have the framework overlaid on the image. It’s still useable as a pattern to cut the pieces, just not the same manner as previous. Forgive my anal retentiveness if you’re attempting to save on your server space.
Thanks Lynne for having the sense to ask as it was supposed to be there but for some reason did not post – so it is fixed now.
coucou
merci! merci! merci
je vais pouvoir continuer cet ouvrage
amicalement
TT