Crazy Quilting

No matter the art or craft, there will always be that one task that hobbyists hate to perform. Whether it’s because of perceived difficulty or the physical exertion required, some duties just seem like too much to bear. Even the burliest, most experienced do-it-yourself types hate hanging drywall in a new home. It’s back-breaking work, and one slipup can be very expensive indeed. In the realm of embroidery, the French knot is the rough equivalent.

But while sheetrock is undeniably straining, French knots are actually easier than one might think. They require skill and dexterity in the fingers to be sure, but with the help of a few embroidery books, you can learn to accomplish and even master this daunting quilting feat. Of course French knots are not just infamous because of their degree of difficulty – they are just as celebrated for their visual appeal.

One of the most interesting qualities about a crazy quilt is the variety and assortment of fabrics used. By pairing many different scraps of fabric, the overall look is both eclectic and connected. When picking fabrics, just make sure that all the various fabric patterns work together on an aesthetic level. This doesn’t mean all the colors have to match, but they should definitely complement each other.

You should also make sure the same is true of the quilt fabric texture. By choosing a variety of textures, you can add even more detail and personality to the quilt. For this reason, many crazy quilters opt to mix items such as silk and velvet. This way, the sheen and shimmer of silk is placed directly next to the thick and luxurious look of velvet, creating both an interesting look and feel.

As the quilting and embroidering demographic continues to expand, the market is beginning to flood with books touting themselves as the “end all be all” of crafting. And it can be difficult to decide which is actually best.While personal preferences will differ, A-Z of Embroidery Stitches by Sue Gardner is regarding by many embroidery enthusiasts as one of the must-have embroidery books in the market. The spiral-bound edition contains 144 pages of embroidery photos and step-by-step instructions concerning every aspect of the craft.

It is the first craft book released by the Australian company Country Bumpkin Publications. At last count, this company has now released twenty-seven books in the A-Z series. Proving extremely popular, Country Bumpkin has sold over 2 million total copies in this series, and they have found this success internationally.

If this edition doesn’t answer all your questions, don’t fear. They also released A-Z of Embroidery Stitches 2 to cover any aspect they missed in the first attempt.