A crazy quilt is a quilt that does not follow a regular pattern.  Instead, it has different types of fabrics cut up into shapes and sewn together to form a fancy design. Very skillful makers cover their quilts with decorative stitches, flowers made out of silks and velvets, and ribbons signed by friends or famous people.

Mary Louise Orr’s quilt inspired the start of a pen-pal friendship between two ten-year-olds, her daughter, Ethel Orr, and Helen Keller.  Ethel Orr wrote to Helen Keller requesting her signature, “My mother is making a Crazy Quilt and I would like you to sign the silk ribbon that I put in the envelope.  When it comes back to me, Mother will sew it on one of the quilt squares with some pretty velvet flowers around it.”  Helen Keller wrote back that she was unable to sign the ribbon because she was just learning to write in pencil and could not yet sign her name in ink.

Helen Keller lost both her vision and hearing when she became very ill at the age of 1 ½.  Helen was able to communicate by signing the manual alphabet with her hands.  Helen also learned to write in Braille and with Square Handwriting.  Helen wrote to Ethel in Square Handwriting. She used a writing board with grooves as a guide and drew square block letters.