Stack, Slash, Switch & Stitch~Crazy!

I ♥ Crazy Quilts!   
 
During the Victorian era, Crazy Quilts were traditionally made with bits and pieces of fancy fabrics; velvet, satin, silk, lace, with lots of intricate embroidery along the seamlines of each section.   You can read more about Crazy Quilt history by Betty Pillsbury HERE and HERE. 

• Have you ever tried to make a block but didn't have quite enough fabric in your stash?
• Do you like the look of a pieced background for applique'?   

Here's my favorite simplified crazy quilt technique to "MAKE" some background fabric in preparation for applique'.

 

Start with this little math formula: 

FS + 1-1/2" = SIZE 

Size of blocks to cut is equal to the desired finished size (FS),

plus one and a half inches.

 
I want to make a 12" block, but the pieces in my stash range from 7-1/2" to 9" pieces.  OK, this works.   Using the formula, I'll need four squares with a finished size (FS) of 6", plus 1-1/2 inches for a few cuts and seams, so the minimum size squares to cut is 7-1/2".

And here's our next little formula:

C4pQB = 4(S)2

Crazy Four-Patch Quilt Block is equal to four

Stacked, Sliced, Switched & Stitched blocks, squared.

(I am making this up as I go... heehee)

OK, let's get sewing!  I tend to give a somewhat rudimentary instructions (I teach a lot of 4-H kids and beginning quilters, and post a monthly quilting basics column at Riley Blake Designs ), so if you're an experienced quilter, just scan through the pictures!

1)  STACK  

Layer all four of your blocks together in a stack.

Try for a little contrast in value, tone, texture or pattern.
I'm going for all neutrals for my background.

2)  SLASH

CUT your stack of squares into fourths

using a rotary cutter and ruler.

Cuts should be a bit off-set.
Modern translation:  "Cut in a wonky X"

3)  SWITCH

Rotate fabrics in each pile/section

so that no two fabrics will be in the same block.

4)  STITCH 

PIN in place, right side over left, one block at a time.

Note:  try to match center seams, but don't worry
about the outer edges yet--they'll get trimmed later.

 STACK pinned pairs from the bottom up so you can...

...CHAIN PIECE (Saves time, thread, and sanity:
STITCH one pair, take a few stitches [chain],

SLIDE the next unit under the foot and continue.)
Use a 1/4" seam allowances.

PRESS seams open; remember, we're piecing a background block.

CLIP between pairs to keep blocks together.

STITCH last seam together.

This time, DO NOT match center seam!!
The more off-set, the better it looks!  CRAZY, huh?

CHAIN PIECE

p.s. Isn't that ↑ a pretty new "Baby"?!? I ♥ her!

PRESS seams open to reduce bulk.  That's helpful
if you wanted to add EMBROIDERY to the seamlines :)
(My new "Baby" has 189 built-in stitch patterns...) 

TRIM each completed block to 6-1/2" square.

YIELD:  4 units

PIECE together, MATCH the center intersection this time. 

PRESS seams open.

All ready to add some wonderful applique; get your free pattern HERE.

This method works great for any size squares, layer cakes, even charm squares!  OR you could make a bunch of these blocks for a small quilt: (though, I think I made crazy 6-patches instead) 12 @ 12" blocks, 10" finished size, using 2 stacks of 6 each  ~ just cut it in a wonky H.  Lay out, alternating the blocks from each stack.  (Or maybe it was a crazy 9-patch - cut in a wonky #)  Add a border or two and look at the smiles!

Have fun with this tutorial! 

 If you'd like to see what I've done with this crazy-patch method, please visit Part II for the rest of the story!  Or take a peek at this SLIDESHOW.   Until then, thanks for visiting, and you're always welcome to stop by, online or otherwise, here at Quiltscapes! 

Happy Quilting!