Aurifil Crazy Quilt Challenge April 2023

The April Challenge for Island Batik Ambassadors is to create a Crazy Quilt showcasing the New Aurifil Variegated Thread we received.

Crazy Quilts go back as far as the 1800’s, and they were adorned with lots of embellishments and personal items.   They are made with random pieces of fabric and sewn together.  They are great for getting rid of scraps, as there is no specific size needed.  You can have some fun and make fun patterns as you go.  Make sure to embellish with thread, buttons, ribbons and more.

This was a challenge since my main sewing machine, Juki TL-18QVP, is a straight stitch only machine.  My Janome 9500 machine hasn’t been used in probably two plus years, so probably needs to be cleaned and who knows what else.

So I decided to use my Janome 550e, embroidery only sewing machine to create a Crazy quilt using a table runner pattern from Kreative Kiwi Embroidery.  Well, I was planning, but as I was working on it, I decided that it was not going to work like I wanted as a doll quilt, but it still turned out great, and I will share what I am using it for later.

The materials used in the making of this Crazy Quilt were provided to me free by Island Batik and their industry partners  Aurifil Thread,  and Schmetz Needles,  Hobbs Batting, as part of my role as an Island Batik Ambassador.

The Thread that I was sent from Aurifil was the “Rubber Tree” package.  Two of the spools are variegated thread.  The thread is 50 weight and the tree threads are 2000 – 4666– 4667. 

Some fun facts from Aurifil on “Rubber Tree”

• The Rubber Tree produces latex which is the primary source for natural rubber.
• Tapping the tree for the latex does not harm the tree but can cause it to grow at a slower rate.
• The Rubber Tree can reach heights of up to 140 feet.
• It was brought to Southeast Asia in the late 1800s.

The fabric that I used in this project the Island Batik collection “Naturescape” by Jerry Khiev.  I used this fabric in my December 2022, Lone Star challenge, and had some scraps left over.  For most of the pieces, I was able to use some of the 2 1/2″ strip pieces left over, and a few pieces, I had to use some of the yardage.  This project is a great scrap buster project as well.

The Kreative Kiwi Crazy Table Runner pattern was created for Christmas fabrics and included some Christmas designs, I skipped those steps when stitching.

I used a new Schmetz embroidery needle in my embroidery machine.   Schmetz has different needs available to use for embroidery machine, and depending on your fabric, they will help you figure out what is the best to use.

Schmetz has a needle guide on their website to help you figure out what needle you need to use.  The needles are color coded to help you know what needle you have in your machine, (if you forget).  Schmetz needles work with every sewing machine. 

Crazy Quilt Embroidery

There were 7 sections that you embroider one at a time, and combine as you go.  I wanted it to be a little longer, so repeated sections 3 & 4 a second time to extend the length. 

Here is Sections 1 & 2 sewn together.

The sections are combined in the hoop, so you can make a table runner bigger than your largest hoop.  I used my 5″ x 7″ hoop, and the design comes with a 6″ x 10″ set as well.

Here is a picture of pieces 1 thru 6 before I  repeated 3 and 4 again.

Here are all 9 sections sewn together.  As you can see this was all done in the hoop, and finishing it is all that will be done on my machine.  They were stitched together with batting behind.

I decided at this point that I didn’t think it would work for the doll quilt that I wanted to make, so decided to just finish it as a table runner.

I added a 1 1/2″ strip along all four sides, and pressed towards the outer strips.

Back, I decided to finish with a self-binding. So I cut the Background fabric an 1″ extra on both long sides, and WOF.

I cut an extra piece of Hobbs Batting, the same size as the front crazy top, and centered on the backing fabric.

As batting needs to be stitched, every so often, or it will bunch up, and the top really didn’t have anywhere to stitch that wouldn’t stand out, I decided to just stitch the batting to the back. I stitched down the middle the long way, and then did cross stitches every so often. Since the back will not be seen very often, I just did estimates of the spacing.

I then laid the crazy top on the batting. I used a little of spay glue to hold together while I attached the backing. You could use some pins to help hold together.

I trimmed both ends of the back fabric to 1″ beyond the top, and made sure that my back was 1″ all around as well.

With Self-binding you wrap the back fabric to the front and fold under and sew. I didn’t like how big the binding was, so I folded it twice. Folded in half, and then in half again. The corners are a little harder with the extra fabric, just trim some away to reduce bulk.

You could trim the back fabric down to 3/4″ or 1/2″and fold that. I liked the idea of a little bump at the edges, so didn’t trim.

I pinned all the way around the table runner before going to my machine and sewing.

As I sewed the binding, I was going to slow and being careful as I went. I used a Stiletto to help as I went around.  If you do not have a Stiletto you should think about getting one. It really helped with this tiny binding, and kept it lined up without my fingers getting hit by the needle.  I didn’t realize how nice it was to have, until I purchased one when I did the October 2022 Bags by Annie Challenge.

Here is my finished Aurifil Crazy Table runner.

I decided that it would work perfect with sewing machine. I had a little mug rug that I had but this one is the perfect size. I can stick my straight pins into it, so they don’t fall on the floor.

I hoped you enjoyed my April Project, and maybe will want to try to make one yourself, either with an embroidery machine, or just sewing together with your domestic machine. Aurifil thread is really good for not only piecing, but it worked great in my Embroidery Machine. It worked better than a lot of the other threads that are made for embroidery machines.

If you liked my project, check out the other Island Batik Ambassador’s and their Crazy Quilt projects for April!

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts

Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany
Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts

Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine
Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com

Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

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