This quilt may look like a “true” Crazy quilt, but it is only masquerading as one. Behind its haphazard appearance is a surprising amount of structure. To find the pattern, look at one of the eight-pointed stars. Notice that it is part of a larger star made up of eight irregular (kite-shaped) string-pieced diamonds. These are set together with small diamonds and large octagons of what we today call “cheater” cloth—a cloth printed to look like it is pieced, appliquéd, embroidered, or all three. Here it is printed with Crazy quilt patches and stitches, as well as a wide variety of fanciful images. The effect is convincing and from afar the quilt appears to be a real Crazy quilt.

Pattern: 
Crazy Stars
Maker: 
Maker unidentified
Circa
1890
1900
Made in
United States
86
82.5
Ardis and Robert James Collection
1997.007.0742