Crazy quilts = complex patchwork, fancy stitches, elaborate appliqué
Crazy quilts = complex patchwork, fancy stitches, elaborate appliqué
In the U.S., ready-mades appealed to those who desired Crazy quilt shortcuts
Crazy-style textiles appear in cultures all over the world
East Asian decorative arts likely influenced the Crazy quilt format and decoration
... are fancy, plain, decorative, warm, opulent, frugal, haphazard, planned, American, British, regional, global, old-fashioned, avant-garde, a quilt, a garment, a myth, and a metaphor.
Born in the second half of the nineteenth century from a variety of influences, Crazy quilts were a reflection of their era, but they lived on to change with the times and with the people who adopted and adapted the style.
The origins and development; expressions of beauty and innovations of format, materials and symbols; and enduring popularity of Crazy quilts form a story as varied and rich as their embellished surfaces. Discover this fascinating history.
 Crazy quilts appear to have evolved out of a range of global, regional, and local influences that converged in Victorian Britain and America. |
 The Crazy quilt aesthetic developed as a result of design reform and through the increased availability of lavish fabrics and embellishments. |
 Late nineteenth-century societal and cultural shifts in areas such as class, gender, technology, and advertising, also affected Crazy quilts. |
 People worldwide have long made "Crazy"-style textiles, from the Ming dynasty Chinese to today's global quilt artists. |