Seniors at Vicksburg Senior Center have gone crazy – crazy quilting, that is.

Isabel Adams, president of Vicksburg Quilters, leads a group of seniors each Tuesday as they learn a Victorian technique called crazy quilting. They are making Christmas stockings to give as gifts.

“Crazy quilting is a style of quilting where you apply different kinds of fabric to showcase embroidery stitches,” said Adams. “It stimulates their creativity,”

Where traditional quilting is time-consuming and complex, crazy quilting is less so. Traditional quilting involves sewing two layers of fabric and the batting between them together. Crazy quilting entails sewing different materials, such as lace or velvet or even beads, to a muslin backing.

If you goCrazy quilting will meet at 11 a.m. each Tuesday through the end of June, and a crocheting group meets at 11 a.m. each Wednesday. Both are at the Vicksburg Senior Center, 801 South St., which is open to anyone 50 or older. For information, call 601-630-8059.The technique does not require a sewing machine, though some opt to use one.

Adams’ mother-in-law, Alice P. Adams, who was visiting from her home in Lake City, Fla., chose to use a quilting needle so that her stitches can’t be seen. She used beading and daisy-shaped lace to adorn her Christmas stocking.

“I want it to be gaudy,” she said.

The activity is ideal, Isabel Adams said, because it allows seniors to be creative and thrifty by using materials they already had at the Senior Center.

“Everybody’s pattern is different because they can do whatever they want,” said Eunice Lewis.

Adams began the crazy quilting class at the beginning of May and will continue it through June.

“I had participated in Senior Center activities, painting, decoupage and embroidery before, and I felt it was my turn to give something back and teach them something,” she said.

Adams also teaches a crocheting class in the Senior Center.

Lewis has already crocheted five afghans, a baby blanket and several scarves and caps.

View EntireSeniority Section”You’re never too old to learn something new,” she said.

The group meets every Wednesday to crochet together and then play cards. They even have a nickname.

“We call ourselves the Happy Hookers,” said Jan Burk, 56, referring to the crochet hook used to make stitches.

“I like it because it gives you something to do,” said Lewis, who works on her crocheting at home.

Senior Center Director Jennifer Harper said, “They are a fun group. They’re challenging. I have to come up with new stuff all the time. Knitting is the next project slated for the crafty seniors.