This site has helped me alot . They show 2 ways of doing it . 1 with the strips of fabric and another without.
Hope it helps you

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Don't trim backing. Sew right sides tog and fold seams over onto the front and topstitch down.

Thanks bethp51.

Top block is made using various sizes of scraps and created as you go stitched on top of the batting/back. More or less the semi crazy quilt way. Every scrap piece stitched onto the batting/back creates the quilting piece by piece.

In other words there is no pre-made quilt block top to sandwich with back and batting, it is already stitched onto the batting/back.

If I remove stitches for seam allowance on the top I would then have loose scrap pieces not sewed together to work with for a seam.

Thanks for the link.

I may have to rethink how I use the scraps to make blocks.

Krissie

Thanks gerizone5.

I have a quilt started using 5" blocks and using the method you suggest. This creates a frame around each block that I wanted to avoid on this quilt (12" blocks). I do not want the distinct block look, want it to continue to be random various size pieces all over the quilt with no visual break.

I know there is a way, I just can't figure it out. Maybe I should say I "think" there is a way.

I am experimetning with only 2 blocks now before making more blocks.

Krissie

I vision piecing the scraps, having the back the same size as the front and the batt the seam width smaller. I would quilt the block leaving the seams with free, then sew my scrappy front seam to the next block front then fold the back seam over the other and hand stitch down. This would be continued for each row, then the rows would be connected.
When finished I would check the seams to see if there were a need to do and quilting across them to tie them togeather.
Jayne

You can also stitch the batting together to make a larger piece.
The way that Jayne described, stitching the top blocks together and then sewing the rows together, then stitching down the back is how I make my QAYG without sashings.
Rosa

I do this....
red

Here is a link that might be useful: qayg

Hi, Krissie,

I've been thinking about your wanting to keep the scrappy look all over the quilt. Perhaps it would be necessary to make each section not a square or a rectangle? If each section is a different shape (e.g., some triangles, some 5-sided, etc.) and then adjacent sections are put together using the usual method (nana mentioned above), the scrappy look might be possible?

One of my quilting goals is to make a crazy quilt and I have the same problem - I don't like the quilt being obviously made of squares. So I am thinking of doing what I have suggested above.

Who knows? It might work.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

goldie

HI Krissie,
I think I do what you are looking for. I crazy quilt the blocks, trim them all the same size then attach with lattice. what I do "different" is to keep the scrappy look each piece of lattice (on the front for sure but have done both front and back) each piece is different. You have to really look to pick out the batting strip from the rest of the busy busy of the quilt. Hope that helps! The one in the picture is larger blocks. The ones I'm making now the blocks are smaller...smaller block makes the lattice get lost easier.

Jackie

Here is a link that might be useful: Crazy quilt

Thanks everyone!

I think I now have it figured out. Using Jayne's idea of cutting top and bottom same size and batting smaller I may be able to do what I want. Will use large blocks, about 20" squares which will mean less seams. Will see if I can make it work out.

When I say scrappy, I mean really scrappy!!! Just pull a scrap out of a pile and find a way to stitch it onto the batting/back, nothing is precut to any particular size or shape. Continue until the block is covered with scraps.

I have a huge container full of misc. size scraps from making charity quilts. Decided a real scrappy quilt top would be the way to use them especially since there are no color cordinated fabric in the pile.

Making quilts with small pieces would take forever, would not be able to make many for Mission Arlington.

The first sample blocks turned out pretty, just need to try again and see what I come up with.

Krissie

Thanks Jackie, that is the look I am looking for.

Would you mind giving me the steps you used for making the blocks and adding lattice? Was the quilting done after the block top was made or as you sewed scraps onto the batting/backing?

Krissie

I rough cut the batting and backing (scrap or ugly fabric I use for the backing too).
Start with a 5 side shape roughly in the middle, good place to use up small blocks from other projects too.If its square just lop off a bit of a corner and go around clockwise. I flip n sew strips and pieces around the center piece which quilts it at the same time. Once its all filled I trim it to the size I want. In the picture I think those are 14" blocks but I'm working on 7.5" ones now.

Once all the flip n sew is done I stack up all the blocks. I get bored so I usually do 10-12 blocks then do the fun part of fancy stitching. this is where you play. I use the fancy stitches on my machine with leftover colored or fancy threads and just sew over the seams. clear or smoke thread in the bobbin. You can also practice free motion to add some quilting. YOu can also add bits of ribbon or lace now too. Depends on how much you want to play and how much time or effort you want to put into it. Great fun.

I use a 2" strip for the back and a 2 1/2" for the front(folded in half). There are places online that show you how to do it. Sew into rows first, then sew the rows together, bind and done. email me if you have more questions or you can catch me on Live Messenger.

Jackie

Thanks Jackie,

I now have a better grasp on how to do it. Sounds easy, will see if it is!

Krissie

It is wonderful to have a place to come for brain storming on projects. A great big THANK YOU to all who responded.

I just could not see batting and scraps being dumped instead of being used.

I have now thought of a way to not notice the latticing strips around the blocks. Maybe splice (with diagnoal seams) two or three different fabrics together and use for the lattice. This way more short scraps will be used.

Appreciate your brainstroming with me!!

Krissie

Krissie, as I read Jackie's suggestions, I thought the same thing. If you make the lattice also scrappy it will be less obvious. Also, as an interesting challenge (LOL) if you made your "squares" into hexagons like large GFG the patchy-sashing may be less obtrusive, or maybe not necessary at all.

Love to see the results.

goildie

I don't think hexagons would work. Trying to lattice hex's together is next to impossible. you could do the quilt as you go hex where you use the backing to bind each one and then whip them together or use a decorative stitch to put them together.

Now you have me visualizing putting the hex's together with just a wide decorative stitch and skip the lattice. the outside binding would have to be bias and I think would be a pain.......

Jackie

Hi Krissie,
How's your crazy quilting as you go going? You got me inspired to get back to mine!

Jackie

Hi Jackie,

Have not had time to work on quilting this week, however, I did make a 19" crazy quilt block. Need to make another one and then experiment with joining.

The 19" block looks great, it used larger size scraps. Probably need to make smaller blocks in order to use up smaller scraps. Live and learn!!

Have a question regarding the quilt pic you posted. The block with a star in the center:

Did you sew 2 blocks then 2 rectangles on sides and then cut it to 5 sides? If so, that will work great for me since I have so many small blocks to use. This would also reduce length of other strips needed, use more shorter scraps.

Have fun making more crazy quilts. I have a scrappy quilt (sew as you go)in progress using 7" blocks with 5" batting. Using 2" strips diagnoal across the block. Each block ends up being framed with the backing fabric. A quilt shop owner offered to show me how to do it (they had a night class for it). Some places are great to share info to those doing charity work.

Thanks for brainstorming with me!!

Krissie

You can always start with a small square. Going around each side would just make it more "square" for the whole block. using a 5 side starting piece just makes for more interesting shapes. Can you post a picture of your 19" square? I might be able to make some suggestions.

Jackie

Thanks Jackie. I do not have a digital camera or the knowledge to post a pic if I had one. Kinda behind the times!!

Speaking of the times, our son gave me an electric picture frame loaded with family pictures. Amazing how it changes from pic to pic in different ways. Did not know such existed!! Pretty neat to watch!

On the 19" block I started out with a small 5 sided block and then added pieces going around clockwise. It turned out just fine.

I was interested in your star center block that appeared to have started out using small blocks to make a larger block and then that was made 5 sided to continue. Maybe it was just the way my eyes picked up on the block.

Some day I will have time to play with the crazy quilt blocks and find various ways to enhance the appearance. This past week has been hectic and little quilting taking place.

Krissie

OK I think I get you now. that was a mini block from some other project. Just stuck it on and started to sew pieces on clockwise. At any time that the pieces are getting too large or are getting "boring" you can always cut in another angle. It looks like I sewed the gray/blue piece on, then the red one was probably a 4x6 rectangle. After that one was sewed on and flipped I cut more angles into it by cutting off the corners to make more angles. Can you see that in the picture? Then went on from there. There might be times when you get yourself goofed up but don't panic, if there is a seam you can't sew down, just applique it down or put a pin there so when you go back over it with decorative stitches it will stitch down then.

Let me know if you need any more help! I love making these. That one was for my MIL for Mother's day/birthday 3 years ago. She has since passed away but when she did, that was the only thing my husband took cuz she loved it so much.

Jackie

Thanks Jackie,

Cutting off a corner to add more angles is a great tip. Will keep that in mind as I go along. That may do what I have been thinking about to prevent using such long strips in some places. Just like a jig-saw puzzle, figure it out one piece at a time!!

Once I get going, believe it will be a piece of cake. Just can't stand to waste anything, fabric or batting. Take care of the waste and end up with a beautiful quilt!

I can see why your MIL loved your quilt!! So pretty!

Krissie