Quilts Through the Seasons: A Quilt for Each Month of the Year (Quilt in a Day) (Quilt in a Day Series) [Spiral-bound] Review

This is going to be one of my favorites from our friendly laid-back quilting instructor.If you've been longing for something a bit more meaty and advanced from Eleanor, this is the book for you.She will show you how to make things look more advanced than they really are by implementing her clever techniques.

Although I have always learned something new from her prior books (in her elegantly simple manner), I found the older patterns to be too elemental and chunky.There were not enough color changes or pattern varieties, and the blocks always seemed too large and too few; everything had that "very first quilt" look to it. Hence I shied away from her most recent publications and even sold or gave away a few of the old ones.

THIS book, however, is a very pleasant surprise.There are 13 designs, presented in order of the four seasons. You will find blocks based on crazy hearts, "log cabin" pine trees with appliqued cardinals, stars intermingled with 4-patch blocks, fish, flower baskets, and a Twin Sisters block based on a pattern from 1845.I'll save the rest so you can be (pleasantly) surprised!!

In typical fashion, Eleanor uses a range of simple-to-clever techniques: foundations, embellishments, folded borders, curved seams, fusible applique, equilateral finished triangles, and fussy cutting.She also includes her clever method for Flying Geese/Star Points which guarantees a perfect piece, and her fusible applique technique replaces the usual paper-piecing to create a fabulous Lady Liberty circular crown block.

As I mentioned earlier, Eleanor breaks away from her usual huge/chunky block size; most of the blocks are under 9 inches with one as small as 5 inches.She just had to include a block that measures 17 by 22 inches (in a cute fish pattern), but I'll allow her that!

As in her prior books, most projects feature her own fabric lines, but there is a wee bit less emphasis on floral here.And some projects are shown done up in batiks and tone-on-tones, demonstrating how you can personally tailor her simple patterns to your own fabric preferences.Directions are provided for a variety of quilt-top sizes, plus table runners and pillow cases.

Just a few less than positive things to note:The very first design is for a crazy Valentine, and she instructs you to use foundation piecing!!To me, it seems somewhat oxymoronic to call this "crazy" when the exact same foundation is used for every block.When I make this one, I will skip the paper-piecing and do it up in true "crazy quilt" fashion.Also, the publication is in a spiral ring binder; great idea but bad execution for clutzes like me.Once you have spiraled the front or back cover it never seems to go back into place correctly without you having to re-leaf all the pages.Small thing, but a possible minor pain for folks with MS or arthritis.And you will probably find yourself buying yet another rotary ruler (don't we have enough??!!) to take the best advantage of her technique.Finally, I would love to have seen the publisher put a photo of each project on the table of contents page.I've seen this done before and it really saves you from constantly flipping through the pages to find that one design you thought you saw but can't remember where.This would have been especially helpful given that there are 13 different projects here.

Now, so that I can leave on a positive note, let me end by saying there truely is something here for every one, regardless of you preference for fabrics, pattern styles, or block sizes.If you want to add a publication that is sure to become a classic, this is the one to buy!

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Product Description:
Offers a whole year of patterns in various skill levels and quilt sizes. Some patterns are designed to be quick and easy while others offer a challenge as skills develop. Autumn is harvest time with cool, crisp air offering welcome relief from hot summer days. Winter brings to mind a time of gathering with family and friends to celebrate the holidays. Spring is a rebirth of barren trees and frozen ground . Summer delivers warm sunshine and dreams of lazy afternoons.

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Quick Trip Quilts (Quilt in a Day) [Paperback] Review

A quilt pattern that has been an enigma to some and a complicated mess of little squares to others is now as simple as cutting and sewing strips together!Thanks to Eleanor Burns' methods, the quilts actually can come together in one day.Her "system" is also adaptable to bargello quilts, and any number of other designs.Ms. Burns also provides her simple and fast method for applique using fusible interfacing.The Waterlily Quilt design has been one of my favorites since I first saw it, but I knew I'd never have the talent for the piecework or the applique.Eleanor has again placed a complex design within my reach.This book is great for beginning and experienced quilters of all ages and tastes.Definitely worth adding to your bookshelf.

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Product Description:
Pack up your sewing machine and take a "Quick Trip" with Eleanor! Quick Trip Quilts is a strip pieced pattern with three layouts. The traditional "Quick Trip" is based on a "Trip Around the World" format.A Bargello effect is achieved with the "Quick Quarter" pattern, and for the artist in you, piece a "Water Lily" which adds a bit of applique to a rippling water background. The patterns are easy enough for a beginner but will challenge seasoned quilters to achieve just the perfect effect for an inspiration quilt. Eleanor's technique for this quilt is fun and so easy that it is truly a "Quilt in a Day." Let your personality shine through in your quilt by fabric selection and placement. Yardage and cutting charts are included for all five-quilt sizes with bonus instructions to make table runners from your scraps. The book features sample quilts that symbolize locations from the desert to the sea. Take a trip to your sewing room and create your dream vacation wit!h a Quick Trip Quilt!

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Grandmother's Garden Quilt (Quilt in a Day) [Spiral-bound] Review

I was delighted to find this book.for years I have admired quilts made with 3-D flowers, but feared that they were too difficult of a challenge to take on.Burns and Knoechel have provided me with an easy-to-follow guide to constructing these flowers--and, yes, I have been able to actually make several of them (as samples) in a short time.
Besides the pattern for the main quilt, the book provides detailed instructions for two other projects and photos of others that provide inspiration to use the included patterns as a springboard for original applications of their designs.I found all of the instructions to be very thorough...and very easy to follow.The authors have kindly provided color photographs to "show" as well as "tell" through the applique process.
I would recommend this book to any quilter, from beginner to advanced, for its combination of technical instruction, quilt history and imagination stimulation.

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Product Description:
The authors update a remarkable 1928 Nancy Page design with color photos of old-fashioned flowers in pieced baskets and six pages of instruction per flower.

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