Quilt Block History of Pioneer Days [Paperback] Review

I was asked to present a quilting demonstration for 144 4th graders during their "Pioneer Day" study.As references I secured several books, magazines, articles, etc.The Quilt Block History of Pioneer Days was by far the best.The projects outlined in the book for children to do corresponding with the story were easy to do and could really help today's child relate to life in pioneer times.

I would recommend this book for anyone interested in quilting history, but especially for adults working with children.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Quilt Block History of Pioneer Days [Paperback]



Buy cheap Quilt Block History of Pioneer Days [Paperback] now

Quilting Designs from the Past: 300+ Designs from 1810-1940 [Paperback] Review

This is an excellent book on quilts and quilting.If you are interested in quilt history, it is very well written and has a great deal of information on the history of different quilting styles, patterns and fashions.The pictures and illustrations are fascinating.If you want to make a reproduction antique quilt or quilt an old top, this is the best, and possibly only, source for period authentic quilting patterns.And the instructions on how to transfer, scale and mark the top are clear and easy to follow.This is a must-have book for any quilter or quilt history fan.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Quilting Designs from the Past: 300+ Designs from 1810-1940 [Paperback]

Product Description:
Make your quilts look like antiques with over 300 historically accurate quilting designs from 1810-1840.

Buy cheap Quilting Designs from the Past: 300+ Designs from 1810-1940 [Paperback] now Get 34% OFF

Around the Quilt Frame: Stories and Musings on the Quilter's Craft [Hardcover] Review

I bought this book so my kids could give me something nice for Christmas.The idea was ot put it away and not read it.No chance of that!I thought, "I'll just read the first few lines... Well, just this page... Just the first chapter??!!"
I couldn't put it down.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Around the Quilt Frame: Stories and Musings on the Quilter's Craft [Hardcover]

Product Description:
Inspired by the sense of community forged by the millions of women who have gathered with friends to quilt throughout history, Around the Quilt Frame draws upon this common bond, connecting today's quilters in a more symbolic way.
This unique compilation of essays and stories about quilts and quilting blends light-hearted tales with more philosophical pieces. From a variety of well-known quilting writers, including Helen Kelley, Ami Simms, Lisa Boyer, Patricia Cox, Jean Ray Laury, and Sandra Dallas, these pieces expertly stitch together a mix of contemporary and vintage pieces to create a patchwork of treasured and timeless tales.

Buy cheap Around the Quilt Frame: Stories and Musings on the Quilter's Craft [Hardcover] now

Treasury of American Quilts: Including Complete Patterns and Instructions for Making Your Own Quilts [Hardcover] Review

the first half of this book is quilts--wonderful photos of quilts (and also a few embroidered bed rugs) on each page. the quilts range from the late 18th century to the mid-20th, applique, piecework, amish, hawaiian, original and commercial designs. the captions contain the usual information about dates and maker (if known) plus informative and frequently entertaining comments by the authors. the second half of the book has instructions for several of the quilts.

this book is copyrighted 1982, and, comparing this and other quilt books from about the same time to those published more recently, i am struck by the differences--the earlier books, such as this one, seem to offer a far broader range of styles and types of quilts (most remarkably individualistic), as well as more of them--it's as if the attitudes and standards in the quilt world have hardened and narrowed when it comes to which quilts deserve publication. while i have seen a few of the quilts in this book reproduced in other publications, many of the quilts are new to me. two of the most magnificent log cabin quilts i've seen are in this book, as well as a range of applique, from naive to baltimore album quality, that is unsurpassed. why more of these quilts have not seen further publication is a mystery.

aside from the captions, there is no text in the first half of the book. the space is given to the photos of the quilts.

the instructions date from before the time of the rotary cutter. much as i love my rotary cutter and rulers, i deplore the apparently complete dependence on them. these instructions offer templates for the piecing, and shapes that are not broken down into half square triangles or simplified out of character. templates are not frightening--they can be more efficient that ruler cutting. and y-seams are not difficult, they just need a bit more attention. patterns for a few applique quilts and a few patterns for quilting are also included.

this is a book that should be in every quilter's library. there is inspiration on every page. and, since the used prices start so low, there's no excuse not to buy it!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Treasury of American Quilts: Including Complete Patterns and Instructions for Making Your Own Quilts [Hardcover]



Buy cheap Treasury of American Quilts: Including Complete Patterns and Instructions for Making Your Own Quilts [Hardcover] now

Necktie Sampler Blocks (Love to Quilt) [Paperback] Review

This is an excellent book for sampler quilting in the traditional sense. Ifound it to have good instructions and illustrations that are easy tofollow; however, if there are ties that are in fragile condition I don'trecommend this book as one to follow. I do recommend this book to anyonewho desires to cut up neckties for piece quilting.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Necktie Sampler Blocks (Love to Quilt) [Paperback]



Buy cheap Necktie Sampler Blocks (Love to Quilt) [Paperback] now

More Biblical Quilt Blocks: New Inspirational Designs [Bargain Price] [Paperback] Review

I have the first book this author wrote, and was extremely disappointed to find out that at least half the blocks in her new book are repeated from her first book. I feel that the title is misleading. Several of the authors of multiple volumes on the same subject are in my library. Examples would be Bethany Reynolds, Marsha McCloskey, Sharyn Craig, and Carol Doak. In each and every case, the blocks or techniques do not repeat the items that appeared in their earlier books. Therefore, it's logical to expect that a book entitled "More Biblical Blocks" would haveadditional blocks to the ones you already have.

Have you ever bought a CD of an artist you liked to find out that half or more of the songs were repeats from one you already owned? Well, this is the equivalent. Since the book isn't cheap, it's doubly disappointing.

Whereas I do agree that the directions are guite good, they are no better than those contained in many other books on the market by other authors, so there is nothing remarkable in that arena. If you have this author's "Biblical Blocks" book, I'd recommend skipping this one. If you're considering buying one of her books, buy only this one and skip the first, so it can have value to some. I, however, feel ripped off.

Click Here to see more reviews about: More Biblical Quilt Blocks: New Inspirational Designs [Paperback]

Product Description:
Comforting, breathtaking, inspiring-these are just a few words that fans use to describe the popular book Biblical Blocks. Now Rosemary Makhan returns with all-new blocks that celebrate favorite Bible passages in fabric.
·Discover the special meaning behind 32 time-honored quilt blocks
·Feature blocks in six projects, including large samplers and quicker one-block quilts
·Stitch designs such as Job's Troubles, King David's Crown, and Road to Paradise--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Buy cheap More Biblical Quilt Blocks: New Inspirational Designs [Paperback] now

Threads from the '30s: Quilts Using Reproduction Fabrics (That Patchwork Place) [Paperback] Review

This book was well written, easy to follow.With so many repro fabrics available today, possibilities were endless.The projects in this book brought you back to when your grandmothers were quilting.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Threads from the '30s: Quilts Using Reproduction Fabrics (That Patchwork Place) [Paperback]

Product Description:
The small-scale motifs, bright colors, and simple repeat designs of '30s fabrics evoke childhood memories of grandmother's quilts. Now today's quilters can bring back the charming feel of '30s quilts with this unique collection of patterns that celebrate an innovative time in quiltmaking history. Includes:
- Ten '30s-style quilt projects from some of the quilting world's most popular designers, including Nancy J. Martin and Carol Doak
- A fascinating history highlighting fabric designs and colors of the 1930's
- Ideas for mixing and matching '30s-style fabrics with today's fabrics for unique results

Buy cheap Threads from the '30s: Quilts Using Reproduction Fabrics (That Patchwork Place) [Paperback] now

Making History -- Quilts & Fabric from 1: 9 Reproduction Quilt Projects Historic Notes & Photographs Dating Your Quilts [Paperback] Review

If you want to learn to date fabrics found in quilts and cotton clothing, then this book is a must have.MAKING HISTORY Quilts and Fabrics covers the topics in the same detail and stylistic manner of America's Printed Fabrics, for the years 1890 to 1970. With this book, Barbara Brackman essentially finishes her update of Clues in the Calico, (1989).

If I were to use one word to describe the book's text, it is concise.She gives us a great deal of meaty information by combining period fabrics used for clothing, interiors furnishings, and quilts with interior and architectural design schools and wraps them into a synopses of their influence on patterned fabric's scale, color, weave and print.

Large swatches of original fabrics and reproduction prints are featured in exacting color photographs. Smaller quilt pictures show vintage ones. What is great, especially for someone new to dating fabrics, is that she goes back to the beginning dye history of a color and brings it forward to the focus of the years the chapter covers.

Barbara writes that her personal mission when doing research for this book was the discovery of why the look of quilts changed so much in the early 20th century, compared to the years before it. This book is a very interesting read as it draws from the greater field of textiles and interior design, with a wider focus than reproduction and antique fabrics and quilts.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Making History -- Quilts & Fabric from 1: 9 Reproduction Quilt Projects Historic Notes & Photographs Dating Your Quilts [Paperback]

Product Description:
The comprehensive guide to fabrics and their influence on American quilts from 1890-1970.Includes 9 quilt projects.

Buy cheap Making History -- Quilts & Fabric from 1: 9 Reproduction Quilt Projects Historic Notes & Photographs Dating Your Quilts [Paperback] now Get 34% OFF

The 1776 Quilt: Heartache, Heritage, and Happiness [Paperback] Review

Pam Holland's '1776' quilt swept the Best in Show at four major US Quilt shows when it was first unveiled to the public. "The 1776 Quilt: Heartache, Heritage, And Happiness" is the profusely illustrated and personal story of how she made this award winning quilt, along with the history of a true masterpiece of needlecraft which was originally made in 1776 by Sorbian soldiers on the battlefield as they awaited invasion, and Pam Holland's dedicated determination to recreate it as a means helping herself to put her own life back together after the untimely death of her daughter. Included are step-by-step directions to make the full quilt (plus six smaller quilts using the design motifs of '1776'. Superbly enhanced with the inclusion of full templates, color photos, and historical notes, "The 1776 Quilt" would grace any personal or community library Needlecraft reference collection.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The 1776 Quilt: Heartache, Heritage, and Happiness [Paperback]

Product Description:
Pam Holland's personal story of the famous 1776 quilt will capture the imagination of every quilter. Besides sharing the amazing history behind the antique quilt's construction on the battlefront by Sorbian soldiers-who used materials from their uniforms to piece it together-this book also shares the technique Holland used to successfully replicate the quilt. Quilters who are looking to incorporate her new technique-called inlay applique-into their own work can use the included patterns, each of which were inspired by the original 1776 quilt. Featuring both incredible designs and a compelling story, this is a captivating read for quilters and historians alike.


Buy cheap The 1776 Quilt: Heartache, Heritage, and Happiness [Paperback] now

Easy & Elegant Lone Star Quilts: All the WOW Without the Work! [Bargain Price] [Paperback] Review

The title of this book says it all.I've made two quilts so far following the pattern in this book and they are beautiful, yet each looks quite different.The fabrics you choose make the difference. I'm a beginner quilter and I had no problem following the instructions.The pattern included in the book lets you make any size quilt you want.If you've always liked the lone star pattern but been put off by all those little pieces, this book is for you!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Easy & Elegant Lone Star Quilts: All the WOW Without the Work [Paperback]

Product Description:
- Super-speedy: a star per night, a quilt in about two weeks
- 6 inventive full-size patterns
Some quilters love piecing and pinning and pondering. Others need to see results fast. This book is for the second group. With six full-size patterns, Shirley Stutz shows how to use large-scale prints for quick, elegant Lone Star quilts-one day, one star, sixteen days, one bed-size quilt. Now that's fast!

Buy cheap Easy & Elegant Lone Star Quilts: All the WOW Without the Work [Paperback] now Get 60% OFF

The Civil War Love Letter Quilt: 121 Quilt Blocks Inspired by Love and War [Paperback] Review

This is not a quilt pattern book. Those who want a quilt pattern will be disappointed.I thoroughly enjoyed reading the diary entries and planning a quilt from the patterns pictured. It is possible to transfer the designs to patterns if you are patient and have some quilting experience. A wonderful addition to any quilter's library.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Civil War Love Letter Quilt: 121 Quilt Blocks Inspired by Love and War [Paperback]

Product Description:
*The paper-pieced block patterns featured in this book are interchangeable with all of the 6" blocks featured in The Amish Circle Quilt and The Civil War Quilt Diary
*Features Civil War reproduction fabrics, a popular choice among quilters and available at most quilt shops and fabric stores
The Civil War Love Letter Quilt is a history book, quilting guide, and touching tale of the love shared by Civil War soldiers, their sweethearts and families. In the same innovative approach as other books of the popular letter and diary quilt-book series by Rosemary Youngs, this new guide showcases 121 different paper-pieced block patterns with the actual letter that inspired them. The collection includes love letters from:
*President Rutherford B. Hayes to his family
*Newton Scott to his childhood friend, whom he married upon returning from the war
*David Winn, a soldier who ultimately gave his life for his country

Buy cheap The Civil War Love Letter Quilt: 121 Quilt Blocks Inspired by Love and War [Paperback] now Get 34% OFF

Quilts from the Civil War: Nine Projects, Historic Notes, Diary Entries [Paperback] Review

"Quilts from the Civil War" not only contains project for reproducing numerous quilts of the 1850s and 1860s, it also contains an excellent discussion of the role quilts played in people's lives.Barbara Brackman describes quilts made for freedom fairs, by the Sanitary Commission for use by soldiers, and quilts made to express patriotic fervor.Brackman goes beyond a mere discussion of quilts, however, to discuss the development of chemical dyes, women's involvement in the war effort in general, the effect of the blockade on southern textile production, the need to hide quilts from occupying Yankee forces, and even the relationships that developed between quiltmakers and soldiers who received the donated quilt.
Brackman also examines the argument that quilts were used as clues for slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad, and concludes that these tales likely were a myth.(Nevertheless, she includes a Jacob's Ladder-style quilt that honors the Underground Railroad.)In evaluating this theory, she discusses the history of the Log Cabin quilt.
Period photographs of women and children, engravings of Sanitary Fairs and other gatherings, photographs of original and reproduction quilts and original dresses beautifully illustrate this book.Excerpts from journals, letters and newspaper articles and reprints of ads calling for the production of items for soldiers add further interest.
Brackman provides a unique timeline that combines both traditional historic events, such as "March 4, 1864 - Grant becomes Commander-in-Chief of the Union Army" with social or women's history, such as "August 1864 - Ladies Christian Commission of San Francisco sponsors a Grand Fair" and "October 5, 1864 - Mary Jones of Georgia records paying $16 a yard for calico."
Footnotes provide directions for those interested in further research.
One drawback is that the projects contained in the book do not faithfully reproduce the historic quilts.Some are fairly easy to adapt to make more authentic, such as the Underground Railroad quilt, which adds 8-pointed stars to a Four Patch in a Strip pattern.Since the book contains a picture of the original, a quiltmaker can easily see that by leaving off the stars, she can make a quilt that's closer to the original.Other patterns will take a little more ingenuity to adapt, but again, pictures of the originals should help.
Those mostly interested in southern quilts would probably do better with "Southern Quils: Surviving Relics of the Civil War."Brackman concludes that few quilts were produced in the Confederacy due to blockade-caused shortages of fabric, needles, thread and other necessities.
For those interested in trying some of the projects contained in the book, the directions are clear and easy to follow.Brackman provides strip quilting directions for some of the quilts (such as the Underground Railroad) but not for others where this technique could speed production (such as the Log Fence).The appendix contains excellent information on batting, quilting styles, binding and other details to give quilts a more period look.
Overall, despite projects that are more inspired by historic quilts than faithful reproductions, "Quilts from the Civil War" is an excellent source of information about textile production during the 1850s and 1860s.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Quilts from the Civil War: Nine Projects, Historic Notes, Diary Entries [Paperback]



Buy cheap Quilts from the Civil War: Nine Projects, Historic Notes, Diary Entries [Paperback] now Get 10% OFF

The Civil War Diary Quilt: 121 Stories and The Quilt Blocks They Inspired [Paperback] Review

A few of the diary entries were interesting to read (I especially liked the story of the china doll), but the quilt blocks were a major disappointment. Each block was named after an entry in the corresponding diary entry rather than by its commonly used name. No patterns given for the blocks, only a line diagram and a small picture of an actual fabric block. Civil War Women by Barbara Brackman is a much better choice for historical background, diary entries and actual patterns.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Civil War Diary Quilt: 121 Stories and The Quilt Blocks They Inspired [Paperback]

Product Description:
The Civil War era was a time of great tragedy and triumph, and for a diverse group of women it was a distinctive thread in their lives and their quilting. Quilters and historians alike will appreciate the timeless lessons shared through actual diary entries and 121 related quilt blocks featured in The Civil War Diary Quilt, from Rosemary Youngs, author of the innovative book, The Amish Circle Quilt.
This reference incorporates instructions, list of supplies, a photo gallery, and 121 quilt blocks inspired by actual diary entries from 10 women living during the Civil War. Readers meet a variety of women including Mary Austin Wallace through her stories about running a 160-acre farm in Michigan, while her husband is away at war; 17-year-old Emma Florence LeConte as she recounts the day the Union army set a path of destruction through Columbia, SC; and Rachel Young King Anderson who moved away from Tennessee with her husband and children to start a new life. In addition to the 121 blocks that make a full quilt, this must-have reference includes smaller projects that use the same blocks.
-Actual diary entries of 10 women living during the Civil War create a unique historical reference
-Includes 121 full-size quilt block patterns that can also be used to make smaller additional projects

Buy cheap The Civil War Diary Quilt: 121 Stories and The Quilt Blocks They Inspired [Paperback] now Get 32% OFF

120 Patterns for Traditional Patchwork Quilts [Paperback] Review

A friend loaned this book to me and had to remind me to give it back to her.There are some really great patterns in the book ranging from easy to advanced.Beginning and advanced quitlers alike can find something to use from it. This is a quilter's definite must have.

Click Here to see more reviews about: 120 Patterns for Traditional Patchwork Quilts [Paperback]

Product Description:
Full-size patterns with clear, simple guidelines, and tables listing pieces per block, pieces per quilt, and total yardage. All patterns, whether classic or unusual, are accompanied by a brief history of the origin of the pattern.

Buy cheap 120 Patterns for Traditional Patchwork Quilts [Paperback] now