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July 15, 2019

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts Blog Hop!

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts by Kathy Seaman Shaw as featured by floresita on Feeling Stitchy

Hello all, I am pleased to have Feeling Stitchy to be one of the last spots on the blog hop for Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts by Kathy Seaman Shaw! Kathy sent me a free copy of this book, as well as a digital download, so I can assure you they are both equally stunning.

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts by Kathy Seaman Shaw as featured by floresita on Feeling Stitchy

Just so you know, the book link above is an Amazon Affiliate link - clicking through the link and buying costs no more for you and is one way to support our volunteer reviews.

Kathy is also doing a giveaway on this post - so stick around to win a digital copy of this truly stunning book!

Kathy Shaw teaches Crazy Quilt and Embroidery techniques on her site - you'll want to visit her for one more chance to win a copy of this book on her blog tomorrow: https://shawkl.com.

Now, some of you may be thinking - quilting? Crazy quilting? What does that have to do with embroidery? Crazy quilting remains a technique I have yet to try. But whether you are new to crazy quilting, seasoned, or have no intention of ever crazy quilting - this book is a wonderful title for you to explore!

Let's have a look inside!

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

One of the strengths of this book, and what I know will interest all embroiderers, are the wonderful stitch templates!

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

These stitch templates are easy to photocopy or print (I'll show you how I used mine later on) and they provide a very helpful framework for where your needle should go in and out of the fabric to achieve a perfect stitch.

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

If you are a crazy quilter - these designs can be stitched on the borders of your fabric pieces to embellish them, and Kathy gives excellent instructions on placement.

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

There are 36 stitch templates in all - with her directions they are all easy to achieve. I found myself drawn to stitches I had tried in the past, but wasn't happy with - like herringbone and feather stitch...

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

Kathy provides full instructions for using each of these stitch templates, so there is no guessing at all!

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

Now, here is the stunning part - using those base stitch templates, Kathy has created 480 different designs!

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

Each design is very carefully illustrated, and is a wonderful springboard to creativity!

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

For each design, Kathy includes a detailed color-coded line drawing, stitches, and suggested materials used.

There are also stitched examples so you can know exactly what your finished stitching could look like!

My stitching

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

I decided to explore a stitch I've never been comfortable with - feather stitch - and see if I could improve my stitching with the stitch templates...

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

I printed my templates on regular copy paper, then cut and taped them into place on my fabric. I used a large, thick needle to punch holes in every dot...

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

Then I used a chalk pencil to color in each dot on my fabric - you could also use a water soluble pen or heat erasable marker...

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

A few hours later, I was stunned to see the neatest feather stitches I'd ever attempted!

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

Then, using Kathy's seam designs as inspiration, I began adding embellishments...

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

Here are my three experiments with the templates - as you see I used templates 2, 3, and 4, stitching one unembellished row, and one embellished one.

Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts

I had SO MUCH FUN with this project! Now you see why I would recommend this book to any stitcher, beginning or advanced - quilter or non-quilter - there are so many different ideas contained in this book to inspire your embroidery and embellishments.

Kathy has done an incredible job with this book, and I highly recommend it - if you're looking to improve your stitching, your crazy quilting, or just looking for some creative exercises, this book will do the job!

The Giveaway!

Kathy is giving away 1 free digital download of this book to 1 lucky winner on this blog!

To enter - leave a comment on this post and tell us: are you a crazy quilter, embroiderer, neither, or both? We will draw 1 winner and announce them soon!

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