To the Victorians the word "crazy" not only meant wild but also broken or crazed into splinters; a good description of the look the various triangles and other odd shapes gave to these quilts. Although Crazy Quilts may appear haphazard they were carefully planned. Hours were spent cutting shapes and trying out various arrangements of the pieces. It was a challenge to create unique ways to embellish the quilt.
Animals and flowers were the favorite embroidery patterns. Some quilters believed that embroidering a spider on it's web would bring good luck to the quilter. Crazy Quilts occasionally included emboidered verses and information recording family events.
Crazy Quilts were also popular for fundraising. Sometimes churchwomen would even write to famous people asking for a piece of clothing that could be incorporated into the crazy quilt they were making to raise money to help the missionaries, build a new church or other worthy cause. What a great conversation piece such a quilt would be!
Originally these quilts were made by those women in the wealthy classes who had the time and the money for expensive materials. Before long, other women got on the fad and found ways to make their own Crazy Quilts. Some were made from the fancy clothing of th day that had been discarded or passed on to less affluent relatives. Those women who could get a hold of old fabric sample books felt themselves lucky indeed.
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