I’m so excited to share with you this quilt I made for this blog hop hosted by Island Batik
As you may know, as an Island Batik ambassador we get goodies twice a year and each time there’s a SURPRISE fabric bundle that we can’t show until this blog hop. Oh it’s SO hard to keep it a secret for this long!
My surprise fabric was “Kaleidoscope” which is a great rainbow collection, I love rainbow quilts!
Of course with all this time to think about a project I had a million ideas and then narrowed it now to one thing after I was chatting online with a friend who has the GO BIG machine like me and the crazy patch die, it just hit me that I wanted to use that for this project!
I counted the collection pieces and I had 20 which would be perfect for a 4×5 layout! and it would also fit the size requirements for this quilt!!
Here’s my fabrics. I had 1/2yd of each but cut off a bit when we made kennel quilts for Island Batik for sales people I believe, so then I cut the fabrics to fit the die.
and stacked them so no fabric that’s above or below each other matches too much, I wanted a higher contrast.
The Go cutter can easily cut 6-8 layers of fabric at once so it was a snap to cut out everything!
I always use these plastic bins for projects so I stacked all the pieces in there to match the die layout
then just like a stack and whack method I took one fabric from one pile and moved it to the bottom, then 2 fabrics from the pile next to it and moved to the bottom, then 3 and 4 etc until they were all mixed and looked like this!
Before long, I had all the blocks done!
Then I decided to pull out the Aurifil threads that came with the ambassador box too and one or two might be from last year but it matched well, I found 5 colors, so that meant 4 blocks per color- just wait and see what I mean….
I decided to do decorative stitching on ALL the seams, in contrasting colors
First I did the seams that are sewn together first, it just seemed logical, I also did a contrast in thread, but first I had to sort the blocks into 5 piles with 4 in each and decide which color would go there, so here I chose red, but a green might have worked too or even a blue, it was quite a project to plan that each time I added a stitch!
But it was SO much fun to play with decorative stitches!!
I did the same stitch on each section on all 20 blocks, just the different thread colors and still kept it 5 blocks of each color.
here’s some close ups of the stitches
Here’s the 20 blocks all done
and after I sewed them together I added more decorative stitching on the seams again!
I then had some matching yardage where I cut out inner and outer borders with the 2 1/2″ and 3 1/2″ strip cutter dies (and I cut out the binding at the same time too)
and there’s the finished top! it’s 50″ x 60″
Here is the quilt all quilted and bound! I decided on the orange for the binding.
I quilted with an orange thread and just did my normal pointy swirls that seems to be my go-to design
Now for the backing I tried something different!
As I said I had trimmed the half yard cuts, but I had actually cut those into FQs first, so after I cut out the crazy patches I had these 3 1/2″ or so strips leftover so when I had to do the backing I decided to sew them all together, then I added orange and the yellow print as well- those depending on how much yardage I had left over.
I think that ended up being a fun backing!
Do you ever do scrappy backings? -Never, most times, occasionally, rarely or never?
Thanks again to Island Batik for hosting this!
For a giveaway I’m giving away a FQ bundle of these lovely fabrics (though the pale yellow bubble fabric is not quite a FQ it’s cut differently)
Enter below!
(I prefer US winners only….)
Love your crazy quilt. The backing just adds more fun to the quilt. I rarely use patchwork on my backs. But I’m going to start usingthem more especially on fun quilts.
Love your quilt. Yes I have done one before, great use for scraps.
Beautiful job on your quilt! Absolutely love the colors. I’ve made similar blocks using the wonky heart die. I used a lot of scraps and each block had its own theme, bees, funky, etc… lots of fun to make.
A fun and crazy quilt with the best fabrics. I'm in the US, right? So I can enter the giveaway?
Your quilt is beautiful! I haven't done a crazy quilt before but it is on my list of "hope to do".
I think I may need to try a quilt like this. It is really pretty!
So colourful!! Really well done.
I do like scrappy/pieced backs. I think it makes the quilt more fun. If it gets flipped over, it still is interesting to look at. The quilt on my bed now is "upside down" because I wanted to look at that side for a while.
I love the crazy quilt die! I’ve made two quilts with it but haven’t used any decorative stitching. I can only remember doing 1 scrappy/pieced backing before. I like the idea of it though. I do scrappy bindings a lot though.
Bea, your quilt is so gorgeous. This is definitely my type of quilt and those fabrics are just beautiful.Yes, I have made crazy quilts and done the decorative stitches on them. I enjoyed getting to use the stitches that came on my machine. Thank you for your giveaway.
Beautiful quilt and fabrics
You do have a lot of fun ideas! The crazy quilt die might be the next one I get!
I did a similar quilt years ago but used the rotary cutter. I never make pieced backings. You have to actually finish a quilt top before backing and quilting. Your quilt looks so yummy. If I win, I will give you a US address to send it to.
I have not done crazy quilting. But I have done decorative stitching on my bindings!
Its a great quilt – I love the crazy quilt block. Your back is fun and interesting too! I love to see backs that show something fun.
Love, love, love the colors in this collection. And I love batiks. Thanks for sharing your quilt!
Your quilt is so much fun, wonderful colors! I have been working on a series of crazy quilt blocks in denim, on which I hand-stitched some designs on each seam! I will probably sew them all together and make a Patchwork tote. Thank you for sharing, Susan
Wow…now that's fun!
My first thought was "stained glass". It's so pretty and colorful. Love the crazy quilting with the different stitches; I've never tried that before. I love to add something special to the back of my quilts, to give it a pop. Thanks for sharing. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com
Yes and Yes! Getting ready to do another "crazy" quilt. I have done machine embroidery and hand embroidery on the seams.
I haven’t ever done a crazy patch. I love the look and with so many beautiful stitches on my machine you’d think that would be a great way to show them off, but not yet for me! Your quilt is just lovely. Thanks for sharing!!
I love making crazy quilts because anything goes. I'm boring, muslin back. Beautiful finish, and these fabrics were perfect for it.
I have never made a crazy quilt, but I have used some of the stitches on my machine in a quilt. Love the way you cut your fabric in stacks!
That Accuquilt Go cutter sure makes quick work of it! Love what you have done and your embellishments.
I haven't done a crazy patch quilt nor have I used fancy stitches on my quilts. Maybe I should experiment and make one soon. I love your quilt.
Your quilt is gorgeous. I love your backing. Perfect. Oh my goodness, I have done neither and I think I need to go have fun with stitches.quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
Beautiful quilt, and I love the back, too! I want to make a crazy quilt someday, and I must try the fancy stitches on it! I haven't done anything fancier than a blanket stitch on applique so far.
Beautiful, crazy patch quilt!I have never made a quilt like this before, but I may have to!
I have never made a crazy quilt, though I would like to try sometime.
I have not done a crazy quilt before, but I have used my decorative stitches. I enjoyed your quilt and the process you shared for making it.
I have never made a crazy patch quilt. Yours came out very nice! I recently tried some decorative stitches on a small project. It was fun and I'd like to do more.Thanks for the chance at the giveaway.
I have made a small project with crazy quilt patches and used many decorative stitches from my sewing machine. Thank you for the opportunity.
That’s a beautiful backing! I love using up the rest of the scraps in the backing!
Fabulous work on yourquilt, love the design.I have never made aquilt, but I do usedecorative stitchesin my sewing.Carla from Utah
I have made a couple of crazy quilts, no fancy stitches.
Just love your version of crazy quilts. I've been wanting to get that die from AQ. You made great use of the lovely bright fabrics and your backing also is awesome.
Very fun and bright, perfect or showing off the lovely fabrics! And that backing is the bomb!! I love a wide backing if available, just because it is quick. But I really adore pieced fun backings.
I love your crazy patch quilt. I have never made one myself but plan to as it is on my bucket list. I have used a couple of fancy stitches from my sewing machine in my quilts before. It seems like a crazy patch quilt would be a great way to use more of them.
What a fun quilt – I have always admired crazy quilts but have never made one!
No not like yours but have done 6 inch scrappy blocks or strip blocks…love your quilt…ty for sharing…. happyness04431@yahoo.com
I have made 2 crazy patch sewing machine covers that I use daily! They are both very scrappy and I had a ball incorporating the fancy stitches on top! Your crazy top is gorgeous with the Island Batik fabrics and love all the color!duchick at gmail dot com
The closest I’ve been to scrappy, is making wonky log cabin blocks with scrap fabrics and those turned out beautifully.
What a fun quilt, and what fun stitching! I made a crazy patch quilt out of my daughter's childhood clothing, and hand stitched it. That was in the days before I had a machine that could do decorative stitches. Things go much faster with a machine! Thanks for sharing this quilt, and for the generous giveaway!
I haven’t done a crazy quilt but it is something I want to try. The decorative stitching would be fun.
I have not done a crazy patch quilt. I also haven't used decorative stitches in a quilt. I guess I have some new things to try!
love the colors in this collection. And I love batiks. Thanks for sharing your quilt!
I have not made a crazy quilt before, they look like fun, though!mtmom57@gmail.com
I've used the decorative stitches on my machines to finish machine sewn binding and for other things. Wish my current machine had more….
I’ve not made a crazy quilt yet, but I have made one using the stack and whack pattern, which is very similar.
I think I have almost always used a scrappy backing for my quilts. The exception would be the quilts I made back in the 1970's when the backs were Muslim. I have never made a crazy quilt, but I made a crazy quilt jacket using a sweatshirt for a base and using decorative stitches to hold the patches on the sweatshirt. SewingGranda@gmail.com
I have made some crazy quilting blocks, but not an entire quilt. I am hoping to someday!bestbelle2010@aol.com
Wow, that's a lot of decorative stitches! Love it! I love the crazy patch for these fun rainbow fabrics!
I have done a crazy quilt before with much the same method of switching fabrics–I made a Mary Englebrite doll quilt.barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)
I am working on a crazy quilt of sorts now…using up scraps lol Love your quilt…and the fun stitches! I haven't done much on it yet tho…maybe I will try my stitches too…thank you for sharing 🙂 & for chance to win your Give-a-way too 😀
I haven't made one intentionally – I am not very experienced so my quilts are sometimes accidentally crazy! I'm learning more all the time though!
I love your use of decorative stitches. I have not tried it before, but I may follow your example soon!
I've never done a crazy patch quilt but I almost always have a scrappy element for the backs of my quilts. I think it adds interest and it's a great way to use up scraps.
I've done a few different crazy patchworks–stack & whack, mostly, or some variation–and they were a lot of fun. It is funny to me because each time, the person to whom I gave it made a big deal about "how much work it must have been!" and "how complicated it looks", when I know how easy it is and how there is so little to think about. I'm sure I'll make more of them; in fact, I need to make a baby quilt for the Ronald McDonald House, and it strikes me that a quick crazy quilt would be just the thing.
I've made crazy patch blocks with a sewing group for a charity quilt
I do Sew ❤️Crazy patch quilts! I try to limit myself to only creating 1or 2 a year! 😂 Best way to use as many different fabrics as possible! ❤️
I love this fabric collection. So bright and vibrant. Love your fancy stitching. I one made a crazy quilt but no fancy stitching.
I haven't done a crazy patch quilt. I've done some small scrappy projects though.
No, I have not yet made a crazy quilt. I have used decorative stitches on an applique project. Your quilt is lovely, I do love colorful quilts. Thanks
I have not made a crazy patch quilt, but I like your method of arranging the top pieces of each pile. I have used decorative stitches on a couple small quilts.Kathleenkakingsbury at verizon dot net
That is some fancy die. No I have never made a crazy patch quilt but I have used decorative stitches on some quilts.
Never made a crazy quilt. I used a vine/leaf stitch to quilt my first quilt. 24Tangent@gmail.com
Nice quilt.
Fabulous use it Accuquilt block. Love the scrappy look it creates!