How to Make a Victorian Quilt

Fabrics of all types and colors are used to make one of the most popular quilts of the Victorian era -- the crazy quilt.

When people decide to make a Victorian quilt, they are usually referring to the luxurious quilt of that era -- the crazy quilt. Even though quilts featuring redwork embroidery and stuffed biscuit quilts were also quite popular at the time, the crazy quilt was most popular among the elite who used the quilts to show off lavish fabric and trim scraps and hand embroidery skills. Because crazy quilts are made of scraps they require a fabric foundation.

Things You'll Need

• Foundation fabric
• Various fabric scraps
• Various fabric trim scraps
• Scissors
• Hand sewing tools or sewing machine
• Thread
• Embroidery needle
• Embroidery floss
• Backing fabric
• Batting (optional)

Instructions

Assembling the Quilt Top

1. Determine the size of your quilt, then cut a piece of foundation fabric to that size.

2. Cut scraps small pieces of fabric to use for your "crazy" design. You may cut a stack of them to work from or simply cut a piece as you go. There is no right or wrong shape or size for these pieces.

3. Place one piece of scrap or cut fabric on the foundation piece, right sides facing.

4. Hand or machine sew the fabric scrap to the foundation piece along one side of the scrap.

5. Unfold the scrap piece so that it is right side out. The seam will hold it in place, with the wrong side of the scrap now against the right side of the foundation fabric.

6. Overlap another fabric scrap on an unsewn border of the previous one. Right sides should be together.

7. Stitch along one side of the newest fabric scrap, then fold the fabric out so that its wrong side is facing the right side of the foundation fabric.

8. Continue overlapping, sewing, then opening pieces of scrap fabric until the foundation piece is full.

Adding Embellishments

1. Hand or machine stitch trim scraps such as lace, ribbons, and rick rack over some of the erratic seams. If stitching by hand, a whip stitch is easily hidden. Simply match the thread to the color of the trim and stitch through the edge of the top of trim, then behind it to grab the quilt top.

2. Use embroidery floss and a hand sewing needle to embroider decorative stitches or motifs along the rest of the erratic seams.

3. Select a few pieces and embroider a special design in the center of them. Flowers, vines, and hearts are good designs to choose.

Finish the Quilt

1. Cut the quilt backing about 4 inches larger than the quilt top on each side.

2. Layer the quilt top right side up, with the quilt backing right side down. If you choose to use batting, it will go between the two layers.

3. Pin the layers together to avoid slippage.

4. Use embroidery floss to stitch the quilt layers together if you choose to use batting. Scattering a few "X" stitches or decorative knots throughout should suffice. The "X" stitch is just what it sounds like -- an "X" that will simply hold the fabrics and batting in place. Scatter the "X" stitches at regular intervals and stitch over the design several times to lock it in place before knotting and ending the stitch. Other shapes like hearts or diamonds may also be used instead of "X" stitches.

5. Fold the top edge of the quilt backing to the front and finger press it flat. Fold again, extending the folded edge onto the quilt top. Pin into place.

6. Stitch the folded edge down, catching the quilt top as you sew.

7. Complete the bottom binding next in the same way.

8. Fold and stitch down the side borders, folding in each corner as if wrapping a gift to create crisper angles.

Resources

• Quilting How To: How to Make a Crazy Quilt
• Womenfolk: Victorian Era Quilts
• Loopy Lace: Crazy Quilting Lessons