CrazyQuilters

Still Crazy After All These Quilts

Information about the goings on at the CrazyQuilt Mailing List

How the List Began
CrazyQuilt Thank You Gift for Mike and Beth Ober
CrazyQuilt Swaps - Present
6" Crazy Quilt Block Exchange
CrazyQuilt Swaps - Past
CrazyQuilt Member List
CrazyQuilt Secret Pal Page - Send your pal a message.
Swaps Hints by the members of CrazyQuilt
You Know You're a Crazy Quilter When...

How the List Began

The CrazyQuilt list came about as a result of my wanting to get in touch with other crazy quilters. I began doing crazy quilt in June of 1996. I soon drove my friends and family nuts talking about it. Since I'd been online for a year or so, talking to others online was an obvious choice.

I tried a couple of mailing lists and had some great conversations about crazy quilting, but I was afraid to write too much about it for fear of bothering other list members who wanted to discuss things more directly related to the lists stated purpose.

I decided what I really wanted was to be a member of a crazy quilt list, but there wasn't one available. Early in December 1996 I wrote to Beth Ober asking if she would consider hosting a crazy quilt list. I knew she was hosting The SewingList and several others. She responded that she wasn't sure if there was enough interest, but she would be glad to if there were enough people interested.

I sent a survey letter to several mailing lists, news groups, and individuals whose email address I had gotten from reading crazy quilt posts on DejaNews. Within a few days I had responses from just under 100 interested people. I sent the list of emails to Beth, and on December 12 the first CrazyQuilt messages went out. I was overwhelmed with how fast everything came into place. I had hoped for 25 or 30 people to share with and here I was with 100. Since then we have grown to just under 700 (as of Oct. 16, 1997). I have learned so much and shared wonderful friendships with many of the list members. It has been a great experience!

CrazyQuilt Thank You Gift for Mike and Beth Ober

In May 1997 nineteen members of CrazyQuilt began making 6" blocks to put together into a wall hanging as a thank you gift for Mike and Beth Ober, the hosts of the CrazyQuilt mailing list. After a summer filled with many off-list emails, I finished sewing the hanging together in August and sent it on its way. This page has a full-size photo of the whole wall-hanging and links to close-ups of each block and letters written to Mike and Beth by the makers of the blocks.

CrazyQuilt Swaps - Present

6" Crazy Quilt Block Exchange

This block exchange consists of 6" crazy quilt blocks. We chose the small size so they will be quick to do and cheap to mail. They will be exchanged on a one on one basis.

Anyone who wants to trade should click on the Sign Up section and fill out the form. Under the comments section, list what colors you prefer and any other specifics like: fabric types, hand and/or machine embroidrey, and embellishment types.Then anyone interested in trading blocks will contact another person and set up the trade.

If you want jewel tone blocks made from fancy fabrics with hand embroidery, put that on the comments section. You might trade with someone that wants pastels with lace, or blues - whatever.

Each person will finish the block and then advise the other that they are ready to mail. The blocks should mail in a regular buisness size envelope for regular letter postage, or at most two stamps.

You can trade as many or as few as you want to.

The blocks can be made into pillows, vests, wallhangings, quilts, or ...? You might even want to trade for just one block which can be made into an ornament or matted and framed.

If you decide you have traded enough blocks, or no longer want your posting listed, email me at dsmith@centuryinter.net and I will remove it.

If you want to change your post, sign up again. Then email me and I will remove the old post.

Good luck to everyone, and happy trading!

Sign Up for the 6" Block Exchange

View the List of People Who Want to Exchange Blocks

See some 6" swap blocks made by Dawn Smith.

See some 6" swap blocks made by others.

See more 6" swap blocks made by Dawn Smith.

See more 6" swap blocks made by others.

About Making the Blocks

Make your block on a foundation. The finished size of the block should be 6" x 6" with 1/2" seam allowances. The complete rough size of the block will be 7" x 7". It would be nice if the outer edges were finished in some manner, either serged, zig zagged or bound with seam tape.

Hint from Carolyn McCray

Your muslin base should be cut about 2" larger than the size of your finished square. This will give you 1/2" seam allowances and room to square up your embellished block. (The block will shrink a bit because of the seam embellishing.) Judith Montano has two books on crazy quilting - both illustrate how to do the piecing and are good references for embellishment techniques, too. For more tips about how to do crazy quilting and information about helpful books see CrazyQuilt FAQ

CrazyQuilt Swaps - Past

© 1997
This page designed by Dawn Smith.
Last updated February 22, 1999

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