Crazy Quilting (aka Crazy Patchwork)

...used to be a means to use up what was in the scrap bin. Ladies would use all types of fabric in these patchwork blankets, and showcase their embroidery skills at the same time. The results are quite stunning! If you're unfamiliar with them, Wikipedia has a decent description, and of course, googling them will give you many images.

About This Swap:

· use a 12.5" square of fabric (your choice), and applique onto that overlapping or abbutting pieces of scrap fabric - either by hand or machine
· please use a minimum of five distinct fabrics, and if you can, try to include some different textures - pieces should be irregular in shape (i.e., no actual pattern)
· adorn your work - you can go with the traditional hand-embroidery, or choose to machine embroidery, or apply other embellishments like lace, ribbon, etc

EDIT Please make ONE square for one partner.

Assuming that there is interest, this swap will run monthly – each time starting mid-month, and ending at month end of the following month. This way, you can build up a stash of squares and in the end, make yourself a lovely quilt! If you have a busy month, vacation, etc, simply sit out a month. Also, because they are not partner-specific, you can always make a couple of extra squares ahead of time if you foresee a month that you won’t have time for crafting. Feel welcome to drop in, try it, do as many of these monthly ones as you wish - signing up for one month does not commit you for future months. Perhaps it works better for you to do every other one? Your call!

Because this is a recurring/monthly swap, and many of the same participants will be joining, there is the likelihood that you will receive the same partner 2 or more times, over the course of time. This might tie your quilt together nicely, or you might wish for more variety. We have explored options about partner-assignment, and have concluded that we will proceed as usual, and if someone would like to swap out a square here & there, she should feel free. When the swap is coming to an end (after perhaps 12 of these squares??), I will also call for opportunity to swap out squares due to duplication/triplication etc.

Thanks to @twobluecrows for the following helpful links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazyquilting

More how-to a video--scroll down a bit

…and to @bren for this one:
The best crazy quilting blog

Who Can Play?

If you’re an active member of this group, you may participate. One proviso: if you have an overdue submission from this swap in another month, you won’t be permitted to join again until you’re up-to-date. No prior experience with crazy patchwork is necessary – why not try something new?