Crazy Quilting Dazzling Diamonds: 27 Embroidered & Embellished Blocks, 56 Full-Size Seam Designs

By Kathy Seaman Shaw

Gather your fabrics… start your machines! The Dazzling Diamonds crazy-quilt pattern is ready for your creative interpretation. One block at a time, you’ll construct twenty-seven crazy-quilting diamonds on foundation-piecing templates. With photos and step-by-step instructions, you’ll have fun embroidering the seams and adding embellishments to your unique masterwork! This pattern comes complete with an embroidery stitch guide and full-size pattern pieces, plus examples of the finished quilt in two colorways.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C&T Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781617459023

Book preview

Introduction

Dazzling Diamonds, autumn version

Crazy quilts can be constructed using a variety of piecing methods. Early versions were hand pieced using oddly shaped fabric patches in a variety of fabric types (such as silks, velvets, brocades, cottons, and wools). The raw edge of each piece was turned under and basted into place on top of a fabric foundation layer. Next, the seams were secured and embroidery was stitched by hand to cover these seams.

Modern crazy quilts can be created by hand or by machine. Geometric shapes, some traditional quilt patterns, or oddly shaped fabric pieces can be used for the pieced base layer. I created the models for this book using fabric cut from paper pattern pieces, with all blocks constructed on top of a layer of foundation fabric (neutral-colored cotton broadcloth or muslin). Foundation fabric is required to support the weight of the embellishments and provide a layer of cloth to contain the attaching knots and stitches of the fiber or silk ribbon layers. Modern crazy quilts may have extensive embellishing. If so, the foundation fabric could also have a thin fusible interfacing layer to further support the significant weight of beads, buttons, and baubles.

It is perfectly acceptable to create a modern crazy quilt from cotton fabrics. There are some beautiful good-quality cotton fabrics readily available at local or online quilt shops. Fancier fabrics (velvets, silks, brocades, wools, and so on) are costlier by the yard and require careful handling. My advice is to save these types of fabrics for reproducing replicas of vintage crazy quilts rather than for creating modern-style quilts. Also, fancier fabrics often require additional stabilization before patches can be cut from them. I created both versions of Dazzling Diamonds using cotton fabrics. If you wish to do the same, I advise preshrinking any cottons before using them since you will be getting them wet later in the construction process.

General Instructions

Block Patterns, Embroidery Guides, and Photos includes full-size patterns for the piecing and fiber embroidery of each block. Each block design in this book is available for download or can be scanned and then printed directly from the book. You will need to print the patterns on standard paper (used for the fabric piecing) and on water-soluble stitch stabilizer sheets (used for the fiber embroidery layer).

All the blocks in the quilts contain embellished seams. The quilts do not contain printed fabric photographs, lace motifs, trims, or button clusters. The blocks are small enough to be fully embellished by working only on the seams. Even so, there is some room available if you prefer to include additional elements not considered in the original design. It is your creation, so personal choices are encouraged.

All fiber embroidery in this quilt is based on shapes, so you will not find the usual stitches for seams such as Blanket, Chevron, Cretan, Feather, or Herringbone Stitches. Rather, each shape (circle, square, curved line, and so on) is drawn on the fabric and covered with embroidery stitches that easily follow a single line. My favorite stitch for this type of design is the

Block 1 pattern printed on paper

Stem Stitch, so it is used often throughout the quilt. However, you could easily substitute a Back Stitch, Chain Stitch, Outline Stitch, or Wrapped Back Stitch if you prefer. The instructions reflect my choice for each seam design. Change the recommended embroidery stitches, or even the embellishing ideas, as desired.

Most seams will include silk ribbon embroidery flowers as well as beading. If you are confident in your embroidery skills using threads and silk ribbon, then you’ll be able to begin stitching these seam designs right away. In Block Patterns, Embroidery Guides, and Photos, I have included color diagrams showing details of the silk ribbon embroidery and beading for each block and have