Jacki Kellum – Detail of a Crazy Quilt Block

Every time I create anything with fabric, my interests quickly shift to my decades- long interest in creating crazy quilts or parts thereof. Making a crazy quilt is like creating a collage or a montage. Almost anything goes, and that appeals to my will-of-the wisp spirit.

When I was a very young child, my grandmother and my mother taught me how to embroider, and I embroider on almost every crazy quilt block I make,

At least 30 years ago, I discovered the work of Judith Baker Montano, and I own several of her books. Montano is a fountain of inspiration for textile artists. I bought my first copy of the following book in 1994:

Silk Ribbon Embroidery by Judith Baker Montano

As soon as I opened the above book, I was hooked, Feast on some of the photography:

 

I bought the following book the next year–in 1995. It t comes in a spiral format that is easier to use while stitching. In this book, Montano provides tutorials for both silk embroidery and standard cotton embroidery. This is my favorite Montano book: The illustrations are delicious, and the instruction is invaluable:

Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano
This book also comes in a spiral format.

Montano on Amazon

In 1997, I bought Montano’s book Floral Stitches:

My Stash of Silk Ribbons for Embroidery.

Pinks and Coral Tones – 4 mm.   Oranges Yellows – 4 mm
Image Credit: Thread Nanny on Amazon

Oranges – Colors of Autumn   – 4mm

Pinks and Corals – 4 mm
Image Credit: Thread Nanny on Amazon

.

Blues – 4 mm.

 

Greens

Grays — Including White and Black – 4mm

About ten years ago, I began experimenting with a type of drawing on fabric–using satin cords. I’ll probably mix this technique with some of the crazing quilts I’ll do.

 

About five years ago, I began weaving baskets from strips of velvet. I embellished them with a large version of ribbon roses. These are a type of 3-d crazy quilt.

I’m ready to swing full circle and get back to making crazy quilts the traditional way.

Supplies for Crazy Quilting

Scraps of Velvet, Satin, and Silk

Silk Embroidery Floss

Cotton Embroidery Floss

Beads, Buttons, Crochet, Ribbons, Jewelry, and About Anything Else that you can sew and make it lie flat.

If you opt to sew your quilt pieces together on a machine, you will need a properly working sewing machine.

Either way, you will need hand-sewing needles and thread.

Some people merely stitch fabrics together willy-nilly,  but this time, I am trying some templates for a more controlled approach. I will begin with the following templates:

I do not own the following of Montano’s books, and while it is good for quick reference, the detailed stitch instruction in Elegant Stitches in the previous books is  unbeatable:

Image Credit: Montano on Amazon

Montano on Amazon

Montano on Amazon

Montano on Amazon

Montano on Amazon

Montano on Amazon