Fabrics for crazy quilting can be anything from plain cottons to the richest of velvets and silks. At the turn of the century, in the heyday of crazy quilting, women used what fabrics they had available to them. That is why you will see an antique crazy quilt done in all woolens or flannels-probably pieces from favorite articles of clothing or household linens from a family on the frontier. You will also see those done in all silks, satins, velvets and other sumptuous fabrics which would be from a prosperous home in or near a larger city.

Today your crazy quilt can be one using just the fabrics you have at hand or a more contemporary version that revolves around a theme or specific fabric. The fabrics I have selected are those that are more suitable for crazy quilting in that the scale of the design tends to be smaller. The other type of cotton fabric is the Hoffman batik solid. I find that this gives you the canvas of a solid fabric but softens the overall effect.

Why cottons? Truthfully, it is difficult and very expensive to limit one to silks, brocades, velvets and other sumptuous fabrics. Don't get me wrong on this point- I use all these fabrics as well. But, I find cotton prints are a springboard for my ideas and color choices.