Jo Ann :
We used quilts made by my great-grandmother when I was a child. Her crazy quilts were made just as Kathy describes, but also included a thin layer of batting. The foundation was necessary because, traditionally, these quilts included many types of fabric. I remember velvets, silks, wools, and cottons in hers.
Here's a link you may find helpful:
http://www.nmia.com/~mgdesign/qor/styles/crazy/crzayqlt.htm
The top is created on a foundation. This foundation is a fabric that might help someone more knowledgeable to dat the work. The crazy pieces are sewn on in a flip and sew method--like paper piecing only on a fabric foundation. The embroidered embellishments are adde. Then the backing was put on--no batting as it is heavy enough without because of the nature of the fabrics. The center layer--the foundation--is connected to the top fabric by the sewing and embroidery stitches. It is connected to the backing by tying--FROM THE BACK. The tying thread go through the backing and the foundation and, unless by accident, do not show on the top. So the top is not directly attached to the backing.
This is not the only way to connect a crazy quilt, but it is one of the traditional ways that it was done. What you should do depends on what your goal is. I did an all cotton crazy style quilt and used brightly colored threads and fancy machine stitches to quilt and embellish at the same time. It worked for that particular quilt and was functional.
Kathy in Washington State
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