The History of The Crazy Quilt

In 1876 the Exposition celebrating Philadelphia's centennial was a huge Victorian celebration. In the pavilion from Japan ceramics and asymmetrical art were fawned over by crowds. 

It was from these two Japanese favorites that the interest in crazy quilt was born, as women were excited to infuse the Japanese style into their quilting patterns. And it wasn't long before the women's magazines of the day fueled their fire. Soon abstract organization and asymmetrical fabric pieces were being seen everywhere. For the next 34 years, until 1910, crazy quilts were all the rage. 

In the beginning of the craze, the crazy quilts were being created more as show pieces rather than functional pieces and were designed to be displayed in the parlors of homes. They fit right in with the elaborate home interior decors at the time. Assembled into random shapes, the fabrics used were predominantly silk, brocade and velvet. This allowed women to demonstrate their skill at needle working too. 

Crazy quilts carried with them the stitching variations and embroidery that were part of careful planning. At times, painted pictures showed up on some of the pieces, as did flowers and animals in embroidered themes. A common belief back then was that by doing a spider in its web in embroidery would bestow good luck. And, of course, there were family events being recorded alongside favorite bible verses.

Crazy quilting began in the homes of the upper class. It turned into an activity for wealthy women with time on their hands and money in their bank accounts who could afford the fine silk threads often used in the quilts. It wasn't long, however, before women of other classes developed their own styles of crazies. This meant that fine fabrics passed from the wealthy to the less wealthy relatives found their way into quilts. At times also, silk scraps were sold cheaply via mail order catalogs direct from the textile mills so that more women had access to the fad. 

Fundraisers took advantage of the popularity of crazy quilts. Women from churches everywhere wrote to ask famous people for a section of clothing that they could fuse into their quilting. Thus an extra value was added to the quilt. Such a quilt, when sold, funded the work of early missionaries abroad, helped to erect a new meeting house, or any similar yet just as worthy cause. 

As the 20th century dawned women moved from fancy clothing and silks to denim, flannel and other cotton fabrics. Fancy stitching gave way to simplicity. This is the reason for the many varieties and styles of crazy quilts. 

Collectors are finding with sadness that the silk crazy quilts of the Victorian era are decaying quickly; this is due mainly to the metals woven into the silk fabrics to give them weight and a little rustle. Preservationists are doing what they can to save these priceless relics of our past. When this won't work any longer they will try something else to renovate these old quilts so that the original embroidered work will not be lost. Sadly, the day will come when most of these quilts from our historic past will only be viewed digitally.

-------------------------------------------------

I didn't become Fairy overnight and I have all the Fairy powers to help you with your baby crib bedding and nursery decor. For handmade baby quilts, baby girl and baby boy bedding visit my baby bedding boutique TheQuiltFairy.com