Jennifer Clouston started quilting after the birth of her first child. Now that her kids have flown the nest, she keeps busy teaching, quilting, and writing. She is the author of Foolproof Crazy Quilts and Foolproof Crazy Projects, and she and her husband live in Australia.To see more of Jennifer's work visit www.jenniferclouston.com.

• Contents [Chapter title] Acknowledgements Introduction A Brief History of Crazy Quilting Choosing Fabrics and Foundation Piecing Choosing Fabrics Foundation Piecing Requirements for each Crazy Hexagon Method Seam Treatment Requirements Basic Sewing Supplies Needles Threads, Requirements Silk Ribbon Requirements Beading Requirements Embellishing Requirements Crazy Hexagons Hexagon 1 Hexagon 2 Hexagon 3 Hexagon 4 Hexagon 5 Hexagon 6 Hexagon 7 Hexagon 8 Hexagon 9 Hexagon 10 Hexagon 11 Hexagon 12 Hexagon 13 Hexagon 14 Hexagon 15 Hexagon 16 Hexagon 17 Hexagon 18 Hexagon 19 Hexagon 20 Hexagon 21 Hexagon 23 Hexagon 24 Hexagon 25 Embroidery Stitch Dictionary Single Feather Stitch Double or Multiple Feather Stitch Straight Feather Stitch Knotted Feather Stitch Herringbone Stitch Whipped Herringbone Stitch Chevron Stitch Detached Chain - Lazy Daisy Chain Stitch Whipped Chain Stitch Lazy Daisy/Bullion Combination Stitch Weather Stitch Zig Zag Stitch Chain Feather Stitch Fly Stitch Stab or Straight Stitch Fern Stitch Colonial Knot Stitch Pistil Stitch Stem Stitch Blanket Stitch Closed Blanket Stitch Open Blanket Stitch Blanket Stitch Fan or Pinwheel Stitch Up and Down Blanket Stitch Cretan Stitch Whipped Spider's Web Stitch Bullion Knot Stitch Alternating Chain Stitch Cretan and Herringbone Stitch Combination Stitch Silk Ribbon Stitch Dictionaries Threading and Knotting Stitch Threading the Needle Stitch Knotting the Ribbon Stitch Fastening Off Stitch Stab Stitch Twisted Stab Stitch Bent Stab Stitch Whipped Stab Stitch Padded Stab stitch Whipped Chain Stitch Ribbon Stitch Padded Ribbon Stitch Loop Stitch Loop Stitch Bud Plume Stitch Ruched Roses Stitch Coral Stitch Curling Backstitch Stitch Spider Web Rose Stitch Loop Stitch with Colonial Knot Bead Stitch Detached Chain Stitch Bullion Detached Chain Stitch Fishbone Stitch Fern Stitch Split Stitch Beading Instructions A Few Points to Keep in Mind Single Bead Beaded Backstitch Beaded Sequin Beaded pointed Petal Beaded Rounded Petal Bugle and Seed Bead Chain Beaded Tassel Bugle Fan Sequin Fun Bugle Bead Leaf Beaded Chain Beaded Grape Beaded Bee Beaded Feather Upright Bugle Bead Beaded Forget-me-not Beaded Daisy Daisy Chain Freeform Bead Cluster Inspects, Webs and Miscellaneous Embroidery Instructions Dragonfly Spider Round Spider Web Straight Spider web Agapanthus Fushia Detached Chain Butterfly Delphinium Small Beaded Bee with Organza Ribbon Leaves Tiny Beaded Bee Silk Ribbon Bee Detached Chain Ribbon Butterfly Loop Stitch butterfly Ribbon Stitch and Fly Stitch Combination Rose Buds Detached Chain Bud Colonial Knot Bud Embellishment Instructions Buttons Plain Buttons Tied Buttons Bow Buttons Single Bead Button Simple Beaded Button Upright Bugle Beads and Beaded Tassel Beaded Pointed Petal Button Button Cluster Layered Button Stab Stitch Couching Knotted Couched Ribbon Couched Bow Couched Ribbon Garland Charms Couched Braid or Trim Ric Rac String of Beads Freeform Flower with Beads Center Ruched Slik Ribbon Garland Finishing and Joining the Hexagons Requirements for the Completion and Joining of the Hexagon Method Gallery Crazy Quilts Crazy Wall Hangings Crazy bags Crazy Trinket Box Indian Work About the Author

May 14Crazy quilting can be very free-form and experimental, but there are some essential fundamental techniques which can be finicky and hard to master. Jennifer Clouston's book attempts to demystify the processes involved, and does so very successfully. An interesting potted overview of crazy quilting leads on to effective guides on materials, foundation piecing and seam treatment, and also a rather brilliant idea for storing scissors and thimbles for easy access, which we won't give away here... There's an almost forensic dissection of the constituent parts and techniques for many blocks, accompanied by some excellent, detailed photographs, that will prove extremely instructive and informative for quilters of all levels. Overall the book is a good exploration of a sometimes overlooked, but nevetheless fascinating, area of quilting.