Country Living Making & Displaying Quilts [Hardcover] Review

Looking for inspiration to get yourself quilting again?The illustrations are lovely - beautiful settings too.Old world.. and more contemporary.Great coffee table book for people like myself who sometimes just like to flick through and see beautiful things.Instructions and information - all round a lovely book.

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Product Description:
Aspiring quilters will love this practical, aesthetic, and magnificently photographed introduction to the craft. Every page showcases the most beautiful pieces to illustrate the various facets of this ever-popular art, including color, pattern, and texture. Color-from the bright blues and pinks of Amish designs to the subtle transition from light to dark in Log Cabin motifs-has always been one of the most exciting aspects of quilting, and you'll be inspired to play with different combinations. See how to create gorgeous patterns on the quilt itself, and how a mix of quilts can enhance your decor. Try new fabric textures, and learn about tied quilting, quilting stitches, and breaking the boundaries of tradition. Twenty projects, including an Evening Star and a Jewel-Bright Mosaic.




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Liberated Quiltmaking II [Illustrated] [Paperback] Review

My copy arrived today and I love it. I have been a fan of Gwen Marston for a long time. She is a master quilter with a sense of humor. Whether you are a new or experienced quilter, you will find something here to love. Gwen is an excellent teacher who shows you useful techniques for piecing "by eye," and she answers many practical questions that will enable you to confidently design and make your own unique quilts. If you want to move beyond following patterns, this is the book for you! I have been a quilter since 1966 and I'm loving all the inspiration in this book. It makes me want to start a new quilt right now.

Here are some examples of her advice: "You don't need to choose all the colors before you start sewing." "It's harder to make a mistake than you think." "It's easier to err by playing it too safe: over-coordination can lead to the "color by number" look and a monotonous quilt." Her approach will loosen you up to have more fun making quilts.

The photos are beautiful. There are string quilts, basket quilts, star quilts, housetop/log cabin quilts, medallion quilts, some applique, traditional but liberated flying geese, and more. I particularly like the liberated chair quilt on page 122. This book is fun to read and she makes me laugh. It's the next best thing to attending one of Gwen's retreats. You can dive in at any point in the book.

This book will energize your quilting. I highly recommend it; you won't be disappointed.

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Product Description:
At long last! Gwen Marston has updated her signature Liberated Quiltmaking! The fascination with Gwen's Liberated Quiltmaking has generated a demand for more, more, more! Introduced in 1996, her distinctive methods for creating original quilts are expanded in this new volume including Liberated Square Within-a-Square, Liberated Medallion, and Recut Blocks and Sashing. Gwen presents nine Liberated Quiltmaking processes and each is clearly illustrated with step-by-step instructions, pieced samples, and loads of example quilts. Multiple techniques and variations are given. Liberated Quiltmaking II provides a way of working without using templates or set patterns. Truly original quilts result that engage the quilter's intuition and emotion as well as technical skills.

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A World of Quilts: 10 Projects Using Ethnic Fabrics [Paperback] Review

Beth has included such beautiful quilts in this book.They aren't too complicated for beginners and yet provide interesting arrangements for experienced quilters as well.I just finished taking her class for one of the quilts in the book, "Underwater Grotto".The finished products of all the students were stunning.I also saw several of the quilts featured in the book on display in the store.They look even more amazing than pictures captured in the book.

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Product Description:
Transform exotic fabrics into gorgeous quilts! Thesespecial tips, techniques, and patterns feature fabrics from all overthe globe, from Africa to Asia, India to Indonesia.
-Choose from 10 bed quilts, throws, and home accents
-Beginner-friendly designs show you how to make the most of unusual colors and textures
-Learn to choose blocks and quilting designs that will let your ethnic fabrics shine

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Scrap Quilt Sensation [Paperback] Review

These are the same designs I've seen with regular calico and plain fabrics over and over again.The only difference are the batik fabrics.Maybe I've read too many quilting books in my day, but there's nothing fresh and exciting about these patterns.The projects are as follows:simple squares; squares and diamonds; Jacob's ladder; strictly triangles; triangle dynamics; galaxy of stars and scraps; dark stars; splashes of color; sampler quilt; cropped pinwheels; stars, pinwheels and color blocks; snail trail, and triptych wall hanging.

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Product Description:
*Using up fabric scraps is a priority for quilters and patchworkers
*Shares contemporary quilts based on traditional designs, a trend in the quilt-making world
Featuring master quilter Katharine Guerrier's unique contemporary twist on traditional designs, Scrap Quilt Sensation! includes eleven step-by-step projects that utilize scraps for stunning results. With advice on selecting the right fabrics from the quilting stash and how to combine them for the best effect, as well as guidance on how to experiment and create small-scale quilts for maximum inspiration, this guide will inspire quilters everywhere to take a second look at their stash bag and to start quilting.

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A Bouquet of Quilts: Garden-Inspired Projects for the Home [Paperback] Review

This is a marvellous book of -- unfortunately -- too few patterns.Japanese quiltmakers combine "new" traditional blocks such as baskets and log cabin with vintage-looking fabrics and somehow create really fresh-looking quilts.Cutting directions are a little clunky and pure applique would seem to be a lot simpler than some of the patchwork piecing that's shown.Nonetheless, some smaller versions of the quilts in the book are going to make it to my short list of projects to try.

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Product Description:
All the joys of a summer bouquet can be yours year-round with unique designs from Quilts Japan magazine. Here's a new take on traditional western quilting as Japanese quilters share their fresh, unexpected vision and fabulous finishing touches with enchanting results. Nine projects offer lovely designs for floral and garden-themed quilts, pillows, and more. Suitable for all skill levels, techniques range from traditional piecing and applique to trapunto and paper piecing.

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More Nickel Quilts: 20 New Designs from 5-Inch Squares [Paperback] Review

This is a wonderful book, every bit as great as the first! The techniques are easy to follow, but are also enjoyable for more advanced quilters. It is an excellent way to use up scraps and More Nickel Quilts has more of a variety of color themes- brights, 30's, and more. It also has the math for each quilt in several sizes, so you can make a wall quilt or a queen size, which is nice. All the quilts are beautiful, it was hard to choose which one to start with! I'm making "Butterfly Waltz" right now and it is gorgeous; I can't wait to make the rest. You don't have to start with the first book, although it is a must have too!

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Product Description:
You can bank on quilting success with this treasury of new Nickel quilts! Discover new techniques, fresh fabrics, and unique styles in this fun follow-up to the popular book Nickel Quilts.
- Twenty new projects each include directions for three different sizes, all made with 5" squares
- Quilts feature scrappy looks plus designs that use batik, reproduction, and lodge-style fabrics
- Blocks are made with one or more of eight basic units; two-at-a-time techniques make construction a breeze
- Directions for 4" and 6" squares make it easy to customize quilts to your fabric collection

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Nickel Quilts: Great Designs from 5 Inch Scraps [Paperback] Review

If you are like me, you have fabric pieces of all sizes, from tiny scraps to major yardage, stashed on shelves and in boxes and drawers all over your house. This book is perfect for people like us. The quilts are beautiful and surprisingly simple to construct, for the most part. The authors devote the first part of the book to a series of techniques for converting 5" squares into checkerboard blocks, half-square triangle blocks, quarter-square triangle blocks, and "picket fences" as efficiently as possible. These directions are very complete and well explained. They also suggest buying a little extra fabric each time you shop, and ctting off a five-inch strip right away. Plus they give great instructions on how to hold a 5-inch square swap, including how to keep track of everybody's contributions.
Then, in the second part, they give directions for a series of quilts from very easy to a little more complicated (though none of them are actually difficult). Even the easiest quilts are surprisingly complex-looking, and all of them are designed to be made in three sizes. The color scheme of most of the quilts shown is medium-to-dark traditional prints on cream, but there is no reason not to choose a completely different scheme. (I am thinking about oversize splashy prints on a black-and-white background for one of the simpler quilts, for example, or bright plaids on batik.) Now all I have to do is start cutting...

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Product Description:
Discover scrap quiltmaking at its best with an all-new system for making traditional quilts that sparkle! Start by cutting 5" squares from stash fabrics. Once you have a stack of squares, half the work--the cutting--is done.
· Choose from 20 big, beautiful patterns that each include directions for three different sizes
· Use just eight units to make every quilt in the book; then mix and match them into dozens of other creative settings
· Alternate unit sizes are provided for 4"and 6" squares for even more options
Transform stash fabrics into dazzling scrap quilts with this timesaving technique!

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Rotary Magic: Easy Techniques to Instantly Improve Every Quilt You Make (Rodale Home and Garden Books) [Paperback] Review

I'm not a perfectionist sewer so I figured my attempts at quilting would be laughable.And they were.Thanks to this book, I learned simple, time-saving tricks that made even me, a questionable seamstress, producegreat results.This isn't your usual quilting how-to book:it coversEVERY aspect to finish a great quilt top including pointing out commonerrors before you have a chance to make them.If you only buy onehow-to-cut-and-piece book, this is it.For machine quilting, I looked toRobbie and Tony Fanning's book on machine quilting and haven't beendisappointed since.

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Product Description:
Great Rotary Cutting Secrets-- Plus Piecing, Pressing & Finishing; 12 Gorgeous Projects

Hundreds of tips, tricks, and techniques guaranteed to INSTANTLY IMPROVE every quilt you make!

Rotary Cutting Secrets: Rotary cutting is a breeze once you know the secrets for choosing the right equipment and cutting accurately, comfortably, and safely.

Pressing Simplified: Perfectly flat blocks are easy to achieve with tried-and-true methods for pressing.

Perfect Piecing: Even tricky piecing techniques are a snap when you follow the step-by-step photos and illustrations.

Tips and Tricks Galore: Your quilt will be square, flat, and beautifully bound after you've put the easy tips and tricks into practice.

12 Projects for You to Make: Easy and accurate directions make these quilts go together in a snap, no matter what your skill level is.


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Stitch 'n Flip Quilts: 14 Fantastic Projects [Paperback] Review

Here are some excerpts from my review of this book. You can see the complete review on the Quilter's Review website.
"Every once in a while I read a book that inspires me to put aside all my works in progress to start something completely new. This is one of those books....
"Stitch 'n Flip combines techniques of paper piecing and log cabin. But it is easier than paper piecing in several ways. Instead of paper, Stitch 'n Flip uses a muslin foundation that becomes a permanent part of the quilt, so you don't have to tear out all the paper after sewing and assembly....
"Like the log cabin block, the center piece determines the next piece to be attached, so the pieces are assembled clockwise or counterclockwise around the center piece. The difference is that the center piece is not always square. Because of this difference, each quilt you make using this technique can look completely different....
"If you want to try something different, try this new, easy method and produce a quilt that looks much harder to make than it is. Check out Valori Wells' Stitch 'n Flip!"

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Product Description:
technique and bring new flexibility to a popular quilting style.Fourteen appealing projects include quilts, pillows, placemats, and a table runner, each with fully illustrated steps that lead to dramatic results, yet are quite easy to follow. Both modern and traditional designs are shown, many inspired by nature, featuring flowers, wedges, stars, and diamonds.

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Spectacular Scraps: A Simple Approach to Stunning Quilts (Milner Craft) [Paperback] Review

This book is based on 2 principles:half-square triangles and 2-color quilts.There are 256 ways to arrange 4 triangle blocks (4x4x4x4=256).The book diagrams all 256.My only complaint with the book is that I wishthis diagram was larger.The authors cover fabric selection, half-squaretriangle techniques, and basic quilt instructions in the beginning.Sincethese are scrap quilts, exact yardage requirements are not given; anestimate is.There are 15 gorgeous quilts complete with instructions andcolor photos.The quilts vary in size from a 36" square toqueen-size.Instructions are only given for one size of each quilt.Tofinish off the book, a gallery of quilts is included without instructions. Just looking at the gorgeous photos in this book will certainly inspire andmotivate you

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Product Description:
A guide to creating scrap quilts from your discarded pieces of fabric, using four-patch blocks made of simple half-square triangles. It demonstrates how to sort your pieces of fabric into two colour families, make the blocks, then repeat, reverse and rotate the blocks for different design possibilities. The volume includes 15 step-by-step quilt projects all with easy-to-follow instructions.

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Time to Quilt: Fun Quilts and Retreat Ideas for 1 or 101 (That Patchwork Place) [Bargain Price] [Paperback] Review

Time to Quilt not only shows you how to plan a quilt retreat with your quilting friends, but offers resourceful solutions to make more time to quilt at home without feeling guilty. I followed the books advise and scheduled time for my quilting by putting it on the calendar, planning ahead to have the kids and husband busy with their own activities out of the house. Then I indulged on my pleasurable project in good conscience.
Time to Quilt has a wide variety of quilt designs and projects from large to small, with suggestions on what to do with leftover blocks too! My favorite is the playful ice skate table runner as the quilting makes a "figure 8". Can't wait to make the footwarmer soon.
Everything about the book is beautiful: the photography, graphics, friendly writing style. The book has a positive, open feeling to it. Really clear and easy to follow instructions with good illustrations. Terrific tips on basic skills as well as how to put a group quilt together when blocks are not quite the same size.
The book has recipes peppered throughtout. My favorites are the mix-in cookies and Scrapsoup. For the Pollo con Salsa recipe, you don't even need to defrost the chicken. It was so easy, it gave me more time to quilt!

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Product Description:
Picture a place where phone calls, emails, dishwashers, and family vans seem a million miles away. A room fills with the hum of sewing machines and the conversation of quilting friends. With this book, you'll find easy and practical ways to plan and host a modern quilting bee.
- Packed with ideas for retreats of any size and for any budget, from full-fledged group getaways to a special afternoon of quilting at home
- Beautiful make-it-in-a-weekend projects include seven quilts, plus table runners and creative gifts
- Find tips for choosing locations, coordinating quilt groups, planning meals, organizing charity projects, and much more--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Freddy & Gwen Collaborate Again: Freewheeling Twists on Traditional Quilt Designs [Paperback] Review

Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran have produced another wonderful, inspirational quilt book.Suggestions and possibilities are offered rather than straight, how to instructions.Gwen reminds us of how we can learn so much from looking at older quilts and Freddy serves up her usual saturated color blast.This book is a real feast for the eyes,and the mind as well.It is filled with wonderful photos and personal stories from Gwen and Freddy both.This is a fine companion to their Collaborative Quilts.

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Product Description:

Award-winning authors Freddy Moran and Gwen Marston reunite for a follow-up to their successful Collaborative Quilting. This time the duo uses historical quilts for inspiration and collectively gives them their own modern interpretations. Separately, Gwen offers unique insights about historical formats, while Freddy imparts her extensive knowledge about color and pattern. Then the two join forces, often using well-recognized historical quilts as inspiration for new, bold, and modern interpretations. Each author shares 20 of her own creations, along with an additional 30 collaborative quilts-and every project comes complete with patterns for shapes, pieces and blocks.



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Pretty Little Mini Quilts (Pretty Little Series) [Hardcover] Review

"Pretty Little Mini Quilts" is the latest Lark Book from the "Pretty Little..." line. These books are always little treasures that contain an eclectic assortment of whatever the "Little Book" is covering. The book itself is a comfortable to hold size of 8.24 inches X 8.25 inches (20.955cm X 20.955cm). The book's description "...more than two dozen talented designers create 31 mini quilts that look to the past as they rush forward to a fresh future...". An apt description since the books contains the best of traditional, what I like to call 'traditional with a twist, and whimsical art quilts. There really is something for everyone in this lovely little book!None of these small art works is larger than 36 inches (91.4 cm) in length or height.

The basics pages covers everything that you might need or want to know about how to create your own mini masterpiece. Covering what basic sewing tools you will require (measuring tape, scissors,pins, tailor's chalk, rotary cutter and mat etc etc. All types of quilting materials (cottons, linen, fleece felts, interfacings, fusible webs) are covered as is a really comprehensive section on quilting techniques that covers both machine and hand stitching and how to build a quilt; piecing, attaching borders, appliqueing, embroidering etc. A jam packed how to section that is condensed yet very thorough.

Each quilt pattern relates the things that are needed to make the quilt, the finished size, and detailed instructions for each step of the quilt journey!This is a small book that packs a lot of enjoyment between its pages. You will find yourself returning to it often for a fresh idea or a new technique. I think it would make a welcome addition to any fiber, quilt and/or textile enthusiast!

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Product Description:

Pretty Little + Mini Quilts = ONE BIG SUCCESS! Right from the start, crafters embraced Lark's Pretty Little series-and they'll love this exciting new entry, too. Acknowledging the widespread popularity of quilting today, Pretty Little Mini Quilts focuses specifically on this hot trend in stitchery.Mini quilts are no larger than three feet in length or height, making them perfect for quilters in the mood for a smaller, quicker project. These wonderful, modern designs-suitable for beginners and intermediates-are the creations of 25 leading artists, many of whom have a prominent online presence. The featured techniques, all explained in the Basics section, include machine and hand quilting, piecing, embroidery, fusing, embellishing with beads and other materials, and trapunto.



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Whip Up Mini Quilts: Patterns and How-to for 26 Contemporary Small Quilts [Hardcover] Review

Making quilts has kept me entertained for more than 30 years, and this book full of fresh, fun and improvisational quilts is a welcome addition to my library. It has a wonderful and extensive introduction - basic tools and techniques are covered as well as more advanced topics such as embellishing and even fabric dyeing. There is a great glossary of quilting terms, a resource listing for books and for supply sources and a designer bio section. The format is very useful: the wire binding allows the book to lie flat and there is a handy pocket inside the front cover for the pattern sheets.
And the quilts! These little pieces really inspire me to try something new - not just to copy someone else's design and fabric choices, but to actually create my own work. The small size of these joyful works is just right to send me to my fabric stash to try a out a new idea. There are a wealth of creative techniques, including some - take a look at the Concentric Circles, for instance - that I haven't seen before and can't wait to use. There are works by some of my favorite quilt artists (thanks Victoria and Kellie!) as well as by people I'm not familiar with but will be following in the future.
Whether you are new to quilting or have been enjoying it for years, I'm pretty sure you'll find something here that will have your fingers itching to stitch up a new project - and isn't that what we all really want, no matter how many works we already have in progress? Happy quilting!

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Product Description:
Kathreen Ricketson, founder of the internationally popular Web site WhipUp.net, presents 20 contemporary quilts from across the globe in this charming, easy-to-follow guide. From the lovely English Garden Quilt to the playful Road Transport Pillow, the projects collected in Whip Up Mini Quilts cover all sorts of themes and looks. With plenty of step-by-step instructions and helpful how-to illustrations, this book showcases an artful approach to design basics while outlining the fundamentals of quilting techniques. Best of all, it all comes in a user-friendly format with lay-flat binding and pattern sheets tucked into the front pocket.

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