Two magnificent crazy quilts appeared at our recent quilt show here in Northwest Arkansas! The blocks in each were set together in unusual designs. The first quilt hung in our antique quilt display. Brought in by one of our founding members, Ann Roberts, who inherited this quilt from her grandfather. She guesses it was made by his mother or another relative in either Massachusetts or New Jersey before 1900. This strippy setting allows each block to receive more attention. Each of the four dividing strips is a different fabric and is embroidered with a different chain of delicate flowers. The quilt is in excellent condition with bright colors, but contains no names or dates to help us identify the maker or her location.
The second picture is a crazy quilt brought in to be appraised. It is spread out on a table to be examined allowing us to see the pointed edges created by setting the crazy blocks on point. The third picture is a detail from that quilt showing the embroidered initials of the woman who sewed this wonderful "fancy quilt."
Some historians believe the designation of these quilts as crazy quilts is a reference to the crazed patterns of tiny lines that can appear on the surface of china with age or exposure to the elements or just over time. The pattern of irregular lines allowed the women to use the odd shaped scraps left from dressmaking and tailoring. Usually each line is enhanced with embroidery stitches creating a visually rich surface.
Crazy quilts were "fancy quilts" often enhanced with personal memories, favorite flowers and fanciful stitches. One quilt I saw from Texas had a blue silk ribbon and a red silk ribbon incorporated into the blocks. Each had been awarded to the maker for county fair awards prior to 1900 the time period elaborate crazy quilts were most popular. These two magnificent crazy quilts were among the highlights of our quilt show for me and reminded me of how talented our foremothers were with needle and thread.
