The Knitted Crazy Quilt: A Multi-Craft Adventure
Franklin Habit
Saturday All
The crazy quilt was a Victorian mania–the perfect project for making use of scraps too valuable to throw away, or preserving scraps with sentimental value. They were exuberant, intensely personal, and gloriously free from rules. Crazy quilters famously relished additions of embroidery, appliqué, painting, and even photography to their quilts.
In this full day of exploration, fun, and skill building, we’ll learn and practice the basics of a knitted version of the crazy quilt: how to plan it, how to work it, and how to embellish it. Each student will work on at least one block of his or her own devising, including the classic fancy embroidered “seams.” (No prior embroidery experience is required!) You will be encouraged to let your imagination run free, with Franklin there to instruct, encourage, and cheer.
Knitting your own crazy quilt (or table mat, or pillow cover, or…) is a wonderful way to express yourself and to use and preserve special yarns too limited to make up projects on their own. Come try it for yourself, and you’ll see.
Skill level: Strong Beginner/Intermediate
Material Fee: $5 notions, tools, trims, and fabrics.
Student Supplies: Five to ten balls of any smooth (non-fuzzy) yarn in DK, aran, or worsted weight (for example:, WEBS Valley Yarns in appropriate weights, Universal Yarns Deluxe Worsted, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted or Shepherd Sport, HiKoo Simpliworsted) in different solid or semi-solid colors. Please note that partial balls are welcome and encouraged! Go stash diving! This is a great class for using up leftovers. You'll be mixing and matching with yarns brought by other students, so be prepared to share what you bring.
Optional, but encouraged: a button or two (or three), plain or fancy–any sort that pleases you. Small bits of pretty ribbon or lace trim may also come in handy. Look in your stash...what catches your eye?
One 16- or 24-inch circular needle, or one pair straight needles, in a size that will give you a firm garter stitch gauge with typical worsted, DK, or aran weight yarn.
Tapestry needle.
Notebook and pen or pencil for making notes.
It is also expected that students will have with them the usual notions basic to knitting: scissors, a selection of stitch markers, etc.
Homework: None