Introduction The Process of Making a Crazy Quilt Project Choosing a Suitable Crazy Quilt Project Part 1 Crazy Quilting and the Encrusted Style The Foundation Fabric How Much Fabric? Fabric Choice Fabric Type Using Men's Ties Design Considerations When Choosing Fabric Sourcing Crazy Quilting Materials Part 2 Using Design to Take your Viewer on a Journey Emphasis and Subordination Movement Using Repetition to Create Balance Using Color Using Composition and Design to Manage the Bling Part 3 Piecing a Crazy Quilt Project Stitch-and-Flip Foundation Piecing Embellishment Decisions Including Lace, Ribbon, Braids, Doilies, Hankies, and More Adding Prairie Points Part 4 Stitching Starting and Finishing Thread Needles Silk Ribbon Embroidery Beads Marking Your Fabric Decorating Your Seams and Designing Stitches Combining Stitches Part 5 Stitches and Techniques Foundation Stitches Buttonhole Stitch (Blanket Stitch) Chevron Stitch Cretan Stitch Feather Stitch Herringbone Stitch Linear Stitches for Motifs and Flourishes Backstitch Chain Stitch and Chain Stitch in Silk Ribbon Couching Running Stitch Stem Stitch Motif Stitches Bullion Knot Buttonhole Wheel Detached Chain Stitch Fargo rose Fly stitch French knot Leaf stitch Straight Stitch Part 6 Adding Beads, Sequins Buttons and Charms to Your Block Using Beads, Sequins, and All Those Fun Shiny Bits! Bead Tassels Using Sequins Creatively Don't Forget to Add a Spider! When to Stop About the Author
Sharon Boggon trained in fine arts and developed great skill in contemporary embroidery and crazy quilting. She teaches internationally and online and has also lectured on textiles at the Canberra School of Art. Sharon lives in Canberra, Australia.
Are you a magpie hoarder of scraps of fabric, fancy threads, shiny
beads and odd charms? Do you have leftovers from other
projects, broken jewellery or old clothes? If the answer is a
loud yes (and it usually is with crafters) this is the book for
you. Repurpose all this junk (ahem stash of treasures) into
something beautiful with this useful primer. I had heard of
crazy quilts but was unsure what they were or how they were
made. You don’t need to be a quilter to make them or even own
a sewing machine (although it helps) as after the irregular shaped
pieces have been stitched onto a base the real fun begins. It
is all about surface decoration, taking a few simple embroidery
stitches a long way and having fun with your stash. This is
not a book of projects as the nature of crazy quilting does not
lend itself to this type of thing; it is all about what you have
and what you want to do with it. Instead the book guides you
through what you need, how to do the basic part and then lets rip
with a glorious range of different ways of embellishing your
seams. There are plenty of helpful diagrams and lots of
examples of sections from finished work; it would have been great
to have seen a Victorian sample but this is all modern. It is
the sort of book filled with color and instantly doable things that
make a crafter want to raid their hoard and make something.
The author’s approach is very hands-on and suitable for anybody who
has this type of stash, basic sewing skills and plenty of
time. However, as this is a craft that can be done on a lap
it is ideal for relaxing with in front of the TV even this might
not be a problem. Highly recommended.
*Myshelf.com*
When I heard the Sharon Boggon was writing a book on crazy
quilting, I knew I had to have it! I pre-ordered it, and when it
arrived, it flew to the top of my book stack. Sharon blogs – and
has for a long, long time! – at Pintangle about crazy quilting and
other artistic and stitch-related interests. Her encrusted approach
to crazy quilting has fascinated me for years. I love to look at
her elaborate crazy quilt squares, with exquisitely arranged ground
fabrics, perfectly placed and spaced stitches, ingenious stitch
combinations, fantastic textures, and judiciously and tastefully
added embellishments. Her work is really a feast for the eyes! And
while I’m not a crazy quilter myself (I did dabble a bit with it –
and goldwork – here), I love to look at beautifully executed crazy
quilting. There’s a lot to learn in crazy quilting that can be
applied to other types of stitchery, too. I appreciate especially
the freedom of crazy quilting. I think it’s a perfect outlet for
creative stitchers who like to sew and who enjoy playing with
fabric, threads, beads, ribbons, texture, and color. Visual
Guide to Crazy Quilting Design is a colorful volume that is bound
to catch the eye of any needlework enthusiast. The title relays a
little bit about what’s inside, but this is much more than just a
design book. It’s crazy quilting from start to finish, made
accessible to the beginner but super useful for the advanced CQ-er
as well. The book covers a lot of content in its 144 pages! Not
only will you learn all about the materials – fabrics suitable for
crazy quilting, threads, embellishments, tools, and the works – but
you’ll also learn about designing squares (and layouts),
constructing them, planning embellishment, color choices, textures,
movement, stitches, decorative treatments, and pretty much
everything that you need to know to create outstanding crazy quilt
projects. Throughout the book, the reader is treated to photos of
Sharon’s gorgeous work. I remember when I first saw the piece above
on Sharon’s former blog “In a Minute Ago,” and was struck by it. I
love the colors, the arrangement, the needle painting! I think
Sharon is one of those natural-born teachers who not only easily
spreads enthusiasm for her subject, but who knows how to make the
subject approachable and achievable. She breaks down method and
technique into logical, manageable steps, taking the learner from
basics to beyond seamlessly. There’s no huff-and-puff, no
unachievable loftiness. It’s as if you’re on an mild, pleasurable
stroll down the path of learning, and the next thing you know, you
get it! Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting Design is written in a
really easy, friendly tone that’s just plain nice to read. Aside
from the excellent instructional content that you’d hope for from
any technique book, I think this is what I like best about the
book. From the learner’s perspective, there are a few sections in
the book that raise it above other books on the same subject. After
all, there are lots of books on crazy quilting out there! For
example, I especially appreciate this section on movement. The
whole notion of “movement” in visual art can be applied to more
than just crazy quilting. Once you consider movement in design,
you’ll find yourself applying the concepts in this section to other
pieces of needlework, too! Sharon thoroughly discusses and
instructs on the structure of squares in crazy quilting designs and
how to consider the placement of embellishments in a way that they
will draw the eye around the piece and encourage it to see and
explore. She demonstrates how to create something that, although it
might be seemingly disordered due to heavy embellishment, is
actually pleasantly ordered so that the eye makes sense of it
almost upon contact. While crazy quilting often celebrates an
abundance of decoration that can often seem haphazard and perhaps
even “overdone,” Sharon shows how the judicious placement of key
decorative elements brings an order to the disorder, making a piece
a real pleasure to explore rather than just a mass of confusion.
Another section that I really like in this book is the section on
color. Lately, I’ve been drawn to any book that discusses color.
Color Confident Stitching, which I reviewed earlier this year, has
been my go-to book lately when I want to think about color in
designs. I’ve also reviewed Color Confidence in Embroidery, which
discusses the subject at length and provides needlepainting
projects that demonstrate beautifully the blending of colors in
embroidery. I always learn something from every author’s take and
interpretation of color. Sharon has a real knack for color
combinations that work, and so I was eager to read this section of
the book. It doesn’t disappoint – I picked up some good information
and perspectives for making color choices. Have you ever noticed
that there are creative folks who have an intuitive, natural sense
for color, while other people rely on more of an almost-scientific
approach to the subject? I think you’ll find Sharon’s section on
color pretty helpful, if you flounder on the question of color in
needlework design in general! Of course you will find thorough
information on embellishments other than thread and beads. There’s
a good section on lace, braids, doilies, hankies – and other stuff!
– and how to use it all effectively… …and plenty of luscious silk
ribbon instruction! The technical instruction in the book is
excellent – lots of clear step-by-step photos that will make
learning a breeze! There’s a thorough stitch dictionary with
classic stitches and all kinds of variations and lovely
combinations.
Finally, what every crazy quilter craves – lots of
inspiration for seam treatments! You’ll find pages and pages of
seam treatment ideas! Again, these can be applied to other types of
needlework besides crazy quilting, too. They’d be really fun in
band sampler format, if you just wanted to practice or play with
bands of stitches. In a Nutshell
A terrific book! And on so many levels! All pros, no cons.
https://www.needlenthread.com/2017/08/visual-guide-to-crazy-quilting-design-book-review.html
*Mary Corbet's Needle n Thread*
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