Crazy Quilt Gatherings: Please enjoy the Tutorials below

Needle felting a Brooch
(photos coming soon)

Gather felting tool and brush/dense foam or felting machine (for small projects I prefer the hand felting tool and foam/brush) ,2 3" pieces of craft felt, small bits of wool roving, silk hanky,silk fabrics such as silk velvet, Dupioni,organza,sheer fabrics,silk ribbon,dyed cheesecloth,bits of vintage lace,fibers, beads,sequins, pin back and a small printed image if desired.

Begin by placing a piece of craft felt onto the brush/foam. Place your image where desired and add a random piece of fabric along one edge. Top the edge with a bit of wool roving or silk hanky and begin jabbing it with your felting tool until the roving is worked into the edge and fabrics hold together. Add another piece of fabric to another edge of image and repeat this process. It is more interesting to use various colors of wool roving or silk hankies. After you have filled the craft felt area you begin adding fibers,

cheesecloth,lace bits, silk ribbon in the same manner remembering that the silk hankies and wool roving acts as the "glue". Try felting the center areas of the silk dupioni and various fabrics without roving to obtain an interesting effect. I love to felt silk velvet. When you have the desired look you want cut your brooch to any shape and begin embellishing with silk ribbon embroidery, beading, sequins, etc. Experiment with allowing bits of cheesecloth and vintage laces to overhang the brooch for a Bohemian look. Finish brooch by adding craft felt backing with a dab or two of glue then sew on pin back. I like to stitch around the edges as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Attaching a clasp to a neck purse

This is another way to attach a clasp to a crazy quilted neck purse. For the eyeglass case I had sewn the lining to the front and back piece then turned right side out, folded and stitched up the sides and added clasp.

This method is different. I gathered my template,backing fabric, CQ front,fusible batting and clasp.

I traced the template onto the lining pieces and sewed the sides together.Do not turn.

Iron the fusible low loft batting to the inside of backing fabric.

~Iron the fusible batting to the wrong side of CQ front piece

~place the front to back and stitch around edge leaving opening to fit clasp.Mark the two sides where the clasp hinge is and do not sew above that mark. Trim excess fabric layers close to stitching to reduce bulk.

~turn right side out.

~ slip the lining into the purse

~test the clasp size to the purse opening.

~place clasp on front of purse and hold the front and one lining layer together

~begin to add clasp with a seed bead starting from one side working to the other. Check as you go to make sure the clasp is on straight.

~repeat for back of purse

~using any glue sparingly (I prefer Fabri-tac) to add a trim such as gimp or lace to hide the raw edges inside the clasp making sure you you keep trim inside the clasp so it will close properly.

Open and let dry completely

Enjoy! I wear my neck pouches when I am antique shopping, or needing to be hands free. I keep cash, credit card, lipstick, tissue and sometimes my cell phone in them. These clasps have two hooks to add a chain. I use silk wrapped cording for comfort.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crazy Quilt covered wooden barrel bead pendant

You can use crazy quilting for most any project. Here I have taken a boring wood bead and turned it into a beautiful Bohemian pendant. Directions for making one for yourself below. Enjoy!

I chose a 2" wooden macrame barrel bead.

Trace the bead of your choice onto a muslin scrap.

Roll it and mark to get length needed.

Crazy piece the muslin piece adding 1/2" to all four sides. I use the five sided method.

Continue adding fabrics until muslin is covered.

Gather tiny supplies such as petite beads and 2 mm & 4 mm silk ribbon.I always use Kreinik metallic very fine and fine braid to give life to my work.

Embellish your mini crazy quilt

Glue the bead in the center of the wrong side of mini CQ. I used fabri-tac glue.

Continue gluing the CQ to bead and press firmly as you roll bead on fabric to remove any air bubbles or wrinkles.

Fold one end under and glue. Place a stick pin in layers to secure until dry.

Work ends smooth where bead tapers. You may use small tucks if needed.

Let dry for 20 minutes then using chin or cording, thread a large bead, a round lace applique or yo yo, your crazy quilt covered bead and another round lace applique or yo yo together. Using a strong thread such as a beading thread, secure the chain to the bottom of bead so it won't come through the layers and can be worn safely.