SUMMER 2011 Crazy Quilting Round Robin....GROUP #1

[Lynn Sletta]

This discussion will be for the #1 GROUP of the SUMMER ROUND ROBIN. If you are a participant of this group you may leave comments, and or photos in this group discussion page to share with others that are participating in the group. Please feel free to add things you feel will be of added interest to the group as they work the round robin blocks.

Thanks so much! Have fun!

Lynn

[Lynn Sletta]

This group has the following ladies in it.

Kim B.

Suz C.

Cat C.

Brinda C.

Lynn S.

Kat L.

[Kim Bradshaw]

Lovely colors....yes, as with quilting or any other craft there seem to be 101 different ways to do the same thing!  That was the first website I found talking about using the muslin so I just went with it and it worked out ok for me.  Any hints you want to give me as to your likes and dislikes?  I was going to tell you that my mom was a phenomenal seamstress and she loved to garden as I do.  So anything you might have as relating to sewing or gardening I would love.  I saw the cutest little embroidered brown bunny on someone's website the other day and I would just love it if I could remember where that was!  I have so many bookmarked pages I could spend a whole day sitting here trying to find it again!  And Brinda when you get your block together post a pic and let us see what we will be working with for you!  I'm getting excited!!

Susan Cuss said:

Thank you for your very kind comment on my work, Kim!  I'm still a beginner, still learning, have only been CQing for about a year and a half, and have re-awakened my interest in embroidery through that. I picked up a stitch bible so I have a couple of nice reference books and a book on stumpwork arriving soon.                         I'm looking forward to working with you and Katherine to create unique CQ's.

I was reading back through the comments ( I was late finding this page. oops)  and it's funny, but I was told to piece my fabrics, square them, and then add to the muslin.  I guess everyone has their own way of doing things, right?

This is a scan of my block. Pink, isn't it?  The colors are pretty close to true, although the scan did add some lines to the fabrics. My favourite piece is the patterned fabric which came from a blouse I love. It's backed with another fabric ( iron-on interfacing?) to add strength. 

Have a great Sunday.

Suz

[Katherine A. Lees]

Suz that is gorgeous, I love the colors, very pretty. I am totally confused not sure I add the muslin to th fabric as I go along then I still have to add the muslin backing right? Thats how I understand it. Kat

[Lynn Sletta]

I piece my fabrics to the muslin backing as I piece the block. Others choose to piece their block seperate and then baste it to the muslin. The reason for the muslin is to add stability to the block for the embroidery and other emblishments. In either case the muslin should be larger for anyone choosing to use a hoop for their stitching. You will only have 2 layers....the muslin and your block.
Lynn

[Susan Cuss]

Thanks Katherine.

I received an update this morning, and I was in error. Kim & I will be stitching with Brinda. Sorry about that.

Hope you're all having a fun stitchy day.

Suz

[Tahlia]

Kat Lees-- It's perfectly okay to use any types of fabrics that you like in a crazy quilt. The Victorians did it all the time, mixing fabric types ( satins, velvets, brocades, broadcloths, etc), and fabric contents (silk, wool, cotton, etc). In my art history class, we even saw pictures of Victorian crazy quilts with stuffed (homemade taxidermy!) chipmunks attached. EWWWW!!! Quirky. 

That said, something to consider about mixing fabric content is that protein fabrics (e.g. wool, silk) prefer an acidic environment and cellulosic fabrics (e.g. cotton, linen) prefer a base environment, while Rayon (two types-- 1: cellulosic fibers bonded together with some sort of (content varies) glue/bonding agent, or 2: synthetic) can be unpredictable, and synthetics are too new to know how they will age over a hundred years or more, but likely they will outlast us all. So mixing fabrics of differing contents MAY diminish the project's lifespan, diminishing its potential for heirloom status (which I understand as its ability to age well for 100 years or more). 

So for VERY special projects, I try to keep the fabric content consistent throughout the piece. For most work I don't worry about it! The fun of mixing the fabrics far outweighs the considerations of trying to create a piece that will last a thousand years. :P

The only considerations I make in mixing fabric types are that I try to match up fabrics that are reasonably similar in durability (e.g. ability to withstand abrasion, tendency to ravel, etc) and to place alongside each other fabrics that are reasonably similar to work with a needle. For example, I try not to place a fine china silk alongside a heavy denim because the denim will probably abrade the silk with average use, and the fine needle that I would want to use for embroidering upon the silk would have difficulty passing through the denim, while the heavy needle to pass through the denim would leave larger-than-desired holes in the silk. ... if I want to use heavy denim and lightweight silk in the same project, I'll fuse some interfacing to the silk to support it, and I'll probably space a mid-weight fabric between the lighter silk and the heavier denim.

 

.... but that's just how I approach the matter! There are many right ways to crazy quilt, and you'll establish your own feel for what combinations you like best! CQ is a perfect medium to explore and to break rules!!! :) ... taxidermed chipmunks! EWWW! ;)

[Cat Candow]

I think I've finally found the place I've been looking for. I really look forward to seeing all your beautiful work and am grateful for being a part in this. Have fun ladies!

:o) Cat

[Katherine A. Lees]

Cat I believe this Kat sends to you, heheheheh, Kat

[Cat Candow]

Hi Kat!

Love, Cat

:o)

 

Katherine A. Lees said:

Cat I believe this Kat sends to you, heheheheh, Kat

[Brinda Crishna]

Hi all! sorry for not being more proactive in this discussion. I have been away for 3 weeks and hence the silence. I really love the pinks....all kinds of thoughts as to how one can embellish it. I am finishing my piece today and will be posting it early as I am going to be away again....this time to Africa on a holiday!!!! so don't want to delay things! I will upload a picture the moment I finish! Just to tell you all that I actually only do hand sewing so hope this is ok with you all. I am not going to do any embellisments on the piece, as it will be good to see what you all do. Since the theme is springtime, I had thought of creating a garden on my piece! So I leave it to you to embellish!!!!

[Brinda Crishna]

My CQ patch is ready and I am pasting a picture of it. Since I want to make a garden, I have used earth colours. I have used the same method I do for all my work, which is basting the pieces together by hand. The inner white basting line is the size of the patch. I have further basted it onto a piece of white muslin. I use only cottons for my work and all these pieces are from clothes that I have made for myself or my kids!

[Brinda Crishna]

Finally managed to load it this way!