Quilting Books

I purchased this book as a gift for a friend who has recently taken up quilting because I have found that I constantly use my copy as a reference it is probably the best book to keep on hand..lots of information set out in an easy to read format. cheers and happy quilting... Christine Cooper

I thought this book was ok. It does have a lot of information about quilting terms. It more of a book to look up things you might not understand when you are doing a project. I bought another book at the same time and it is a good book to have with it.

A friend recommended this book -- it is the Quilting Bible, as far as I am concerned. Concise, descriptive. I don't know how I got along without it!

I'm very new to quilting and this was the first book I bought. It has real, "applicable" tips and information that I think even a more experienced quilter could find handy. Everything from what needles to use for hand quilting, how to put on a binding to how to make biscuit quilts. Her instructions are easy to understand and follow as well. I'm using this book constantly as I make my first quilts. I highly recommend it!

Great book for the beginner as well as the expert. It shows detailed information with photos so you get an accurate picture of how to do it. Make those precious gift items that will be treasured for years to come. I ordered the book and gave it away. After my friend showed me what she made I had to go out and get one of my own. It gives such detailed photos that it makes the craft easy and fun. I have made numerous things now and given so many as gifts. I have save so much money by making these things myself and in the long run they mean so much more to the people I give them to. They have told me they will keep them in the family for years to come. If you think you don't have the talent -- don't worry. I thought that too about myself. But, with the easy to follow directions the only talent you need is knowing how to read. Plus, you will enjoy every second and get a real sense of accomplishment with the finished product. Great gift item for that stay-at-home loved one who can't get out. Even for the busy person who thinks they don't have time because this book makes the steps simple to follow. Well worth the money.

This big book has tips and helpful guides for every step of quilting from start to finish. Highly recommend

I really love the book and it was a great deal. This shipping was quick and the whole process was so easy.

This book is absolutely wonderful. Concepts are presented in a lesson format, teaching you to cut pieces, piece by hand and machine, draft templates, speed piece, paper piece, various styles of quilting (hand, machine, trapunto, and more), and much much more. If you work through the first few lessons, you'll have enough information and experience to tackle a fairly complex quilt. Working further into the book you'll learn techniques you never thought you'd care about... until you make your first quilt!

In fact, by the time you finish all the practice blocks, you'll have enough blocks for your own sampler quilt!

This book is definitely the first book you should buy if you're learning to quilt, like I am. I've already finished piecing my first quilt top, hae it basted to the batting and backing, and today I'll start quilting by hand. This is something I never thought would happen.

If you can only get ONE book on quilting, THIS IS THE ONE!!

Quilter's complete guide is the first quilt book I ever got and it is just the best. It show you everything a new quilter need to know and has a step by step way of learning how to quilt, if you can not get to a class.Each block is shown and there are step by step lessons, you will have a great looking quilt top if you do the blocks and learn how to quilt. Fons and Porter just do a great job.

I recently got interested in quilting and purchased this book. To my amazement it has all the basic information that you need to complete a quilt from beginning to end. There is information for several different quilts so not only is this a good reference book, you can go though it and get ideas for many quilts. I'm glad this is in my new library.

I'm a new quilter and had been intimidated by the Log Cabin pattern. I took a class that taught this method at my local sewing machine center, and was able to complete a wall hanging (which at 68" x 68" is more like a throw) top in an 11 hour class including cutting and chattering time. I'm an Eleanor Burns fan for life now.

I am not an experienced quilter, but I have made several quilts. When I came across this book and thumbed through the pages, I was fascinated by her method. When I last made a king-sized quilt, it took me 3-4 years, mostly because I was discouraged by how long it was taking me to assemble it. I started with this pattern recently to make a king-sized quilt as a gift, and I am astounded with how fast I am progressing. With this method, you can work on it in short bursts if you want, but if you have an entire day, you can get a lot done! I highly recommend it! I look forward to using this method to make quick baby quilts in the future!

Great book with step by step instructions, this would be my pick for the first time quilter. It shows at least 100 different layouts for you log cabin blocks. It is wonderful.

No way one day!. But... in three days I made a 60x60 lap quilt over New Years. With an unfamiliar sewing machine on a dining room table. I think it could be done in two in my own studio.

What this did was give me confidence to go home and finish my QS Triple Irish Chain.

I recommend this book highly for beginner quilters. Sometimes you read instructions and wonder what the quilter was smoking. Not Ms. Burns.

If a guy like me can do it, anyone can.

t in san jose

If you are a quilter and you haven't made this quilt, what are you waiting for? You have to make this quilt pattern at least once in your life. If you are thinking about quilting and can sew a straight line, this is where you want to begin.

It's easy, simple, the results are beautiful. I've made many of these as gifts; I've given the book and fabric as the gift.

This book taught me to be a stripper over 20 years ago. (Read the book you'll understand "stripper".)

Fabulous. Love all the pictures and the artists description of her process in creating her work.

Everyone else who has reviewed this book say is great. Maybe it is, but because I haven't received anything I guess the only thing that I could say is "don't buy anything here, you'll get nothing".

For anyone in art quilting or wanting to be, this book gives an in depth look into the thoughts and creations of Nancy Crow. The color in the book is excellent and there is an abundance of pictures. This is a "Must have" for anyone who loves color and fabric and original art.

Nancy Crow is the ultimate quilter's quilter. Her advice, thoughts and pictures of her work and projects are more than any quilter could hope for. This book will enhance any quilter's library.
It was one of the best b-day presents I've ever received.
Diane

Amazing book. great information, stories. Lots of pictures of striking quilts show-casing the progress of this wonderful artist. Also shows pictures of Nancy Crow's studio and timber frame barn - must be an amazing place to create. This book is a wonderful value and very inspiring to any artist regardless of preferred media.

If you are really into felted wool this book contains nice little wallet type bags that are stunning. Sally Mavor's work is awe inspiring and worth the price of this book. Everything you could wish for

If you want to look at truly innovative and beautiful art, this is the book. I love to look at art books, as well as make stuff, so I found this book truly satisfying. You must have it in your collection, if only for your own satisfaction. The artist has included extremely good instructions for making the dolls and background. I may get around to it...someday.

Felt Wee Folk is one of the most inspirational books I have come across in a long time, I just love it. Readers can't help but be captivated by these little Wee Folk and their magical world. The book contains lots of ideas for different characters, including ideas for both boys and girls. Also included are other projects made from felt like badges and purses that are equally enchanting. I can't wait to start some projects from this book for my children. Highly recommend this book to other craft people, particularly hand sewers.

Felt Wee Folk is a lovely book filled with photographs and easy directions for making pipe cleaner figures, some as small as 1.5 inches. My daughter loves playing with the flower fairies I've made for her. There are other felt projects as well, although I haven't tried any yet. I'd give the book five stars if I didn't have to flip back and forth across a couple pages for directions, but the more dolls I make, the less I have to do that.

This book was an excellant purchase. It is detailed in showing you how to created these lovely little dolls, with exceptional patterns for clothing in such a wide variety. The possibilities are endless limited only by your own creativity. This book is a must for anyone caring to create these adorable little collectible dolls.

Masters: Art Quilts from Lark Books is a sumptuous visual feast for quilters and non-quilters alike. The gorgeous work featured is innovative and inspiring, and the profiles of each of the 40 featured quilters adds enormous depth to the entire presentation. This beautiful coffee-table release deserves a place of honor in your living room. Don't miss out! I'm also very excited about another release in Lark's groundbreaking Masters series: Masters: Beadweaving Masters: Beadweaving: Major Works by Leading Artists (The Masters), curated by eminent beadweaver Carol Wilcox Wells.

This book is full of inspiration for the adventurous quilter. The photographs are really great.

As reviewed in Melisse Laing's "Stitches & Stuff" column in The Daily News, Longview, WA on August 26, 2008:
"Masters: Art Quilts" by Martha Sielman is a collection of the works of 41 artists who are working today as art quilters. Many are well known - Jane Sassaman, Hollis Chatelain, Yvonne Porcella, Caryl Bryer Fallert, to name a few.
Others you will enjoy getting to know as you read brief biographies and comments from the artists and see color photographs of their works.

This book is one of the best I have seen on contemporary quilt making. Martha Sielman chose the creme de la creme of the quilting world to include in the book- an arduous and difficult task I think! This is a book that you will look at again & again and always find something new. Fabulous! Well done! A must have for any contemporary quilter's library. Also, I think, a "must have" for libraries....come to think of it !

"Masters: Art Quilts" is one of the most fantastic books I've ever seen; incredible photo imaging, wonderful commentaries about the artists, and the book is beautifully organized. "Masters" is inspirational - think of it as artistic "eye candy",,,,,, I'll treasure it forever ! Congratulations to Studio Art Quilts Associates (S.A.Q.A.) executive director, Martha Sielman, for providing all of us with such an outstanding book ! Kathy Harte, From the Harte Design Studio, Anchorage, Alaska

Every single detail was handy and useful. It inspired me to achieve perfect results from the very beginning of any project. Simply the best in perfect hand quilting!

I read thru this book in one afternoon. The illustrations and explanations are great.

I found this to be and excellent book. It is full of useful information, techniques and pros & cons on the use of some products. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in hand quilting.

This book helped me with my quilt stitch, but there is just no way a book can really teach a person to quilt. You need to be able to see it in action. But from this and another book I bought I now know I was pulling the quilt too tight in the frame. Beyond the actual quilt stitch there were many great tips. I am glad I bought this book, but I wish my grandmother was here to teach me the actual stitch.

Here's why: 1. It's easy to read. The writing is there to convey information in an understandable easy way. I couldn't put the book down...it's that good.
2. The information is EXCELLENT. Few, far too few books are able to pack in good solid information you can really use. I was thrilled to get some solid infomation and why different threads, batting, etc., are appropriate for hand quilting. 3. In this book you won't have to plunder your way through useless paragraphs to get to the important stuff. It's right there without wasted wording and reading. 4. It's logical and makes sense. What a novel idea eh? 5. There are diagrams where needed and they do help. 6. The layout is excellent and comfortable. 7. Here is the biggie...YES it did help me, very much. I strongly recommend this book for quick solid information on threads, needles, fabric, thimbles, marking tools and batting. I found the section on marking especially helpful.
Thank you Roxanne...or rather your daughter for forcing you into writing this book. You go girl!!

Seven Sisters is quite an enjoyable read. This book introduces some new characters to the Benni Harper series and makes for an mildly suspenseful read.

"Seven Sisters" is the seventh novel in the Benni Harper series. Benni Harper, a lifelong resident of the mythical Central california Coast town of San Celina, is a former cowgirl, a quilter, and now has a job as the curator of San Celina's folk art museum. Benni, who was widowed when her first husband died in a car accident, has been married to San Celina's cheif of police Gabe Ortiz for several years at the time of this story.

The story starts off with a bang when Gabe's nineteen-year-old son Sam tells Benni and Gabe that his girlfriend is pregnant, and they plan to marry. The story rapidly becomes very complicated when the identity of Sam's girlfriend is revealed. She is Bliss Girard, one of Gabe' rookie policewomen and, more importantly, a grand-daughter of the Brown family, one of the town's oldest and most powerful families. When one of the extended members of the Brown family is murdered at the engagement party for Sam and Bliss, the family struggles with the realization that there is most likely a murderer among them. As the police search for the murderer, the Brown family tries to keep all their secrets hidden. And Benni Harper struggles with trying to maintain a balance between her natural sleuthing capabilities and her role as the police chief's wife and future mother-in-law to one of the Brown family grand-daughters. Benni also experiences more than a touch of jealousy when Gabe's gorgeous ex-wife Lydia comes to San Celina to meet her son's fiancee.

The California setting is richly described with the conflicts between cattle ranching, horse racing, and grape growing.

Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. As I mentioned above, "Seven Sisters" is the seventh book in this series but it was the first one that I've read. What a happy discovery to find a whole new series with a wonderful setting and a richly developed cast of characters. I'm looking forward to reading all the other books in this series!

I started reading the Benni Harper mysteries "in the middle" of the series. I was hooked and immediately bought the whole series so I could follow the storyline thread. Her stories are very different from other mysteries with "predictable" plots but if I were to expand on that, I'd give away the unfolding of the Seven Sisters story. Actually, Earlene Fowler has a marvelous gift for drawing one into the lives of her characters. She makes me laugh, and provokes a "being there" frustration (empathic with Benni's frustration)with the events. Her stories are not all nice and neat - hey, life isn't nice and neat. But they aren't what I would call icky, gruesome and gory either. If she has written a series of "chick-lit" mysteries, it's chick-lit at it most fun. Her subject matter is also fascinating as a learning experience. That's from a fan who is nearly as old as Dove! Don't pull just one book (such as Seven Sisters) from the series - start at the beginning and become part of the community - flawed tho it may be. It's laugh-out-loud funny, snuggle-up-under a quilt comfort, confusing and unnerving chaos - and an absolutely marvelous read (even if, but please don't, read out of the series order). I'm so glad I discovered Benni Harper and her family and friends!

This is the seventh book in the Benni Harper mystery series and takes place in San Celina, California.

Benni Harper the curator of the local folk art museum and her husband Police Chief Gabe Ortiz seem to have worked out a lot of their earlier marital problems when Sam, Gabe's son tells them that his girlfriend Bliss is pregnant. Bliss, happens to be a member of the very wealthy and influential Brown family.

Both families seem to rally around the young couple and even Gabe's beautiful ex-wife appears for the first time in this series. At a party celebrating Bliss and Sam's engagement, a Brown relative is found murdered. Benni tries not to become involved in the case, but is forced into helping by Ford Hudson the officer in charge of the homicide investigation.

This interesting story is a little darker than the other mysteries that Benni had been involved with and takes us into the tangled web of old family secrets and the truth about the seven sisters.

I love this series -- I am an unabashed fan. Even though I figured out the mystery very early on, I still enjoyed it very much.

This book is the rare mystery where the murderer never gets a legal comeuppance.

I thought I would always have to send my quilts out to be quilted, even though I had bought two quilting machines. This was expensive and not always satisfactory due to the results. So I finally broke down and bought this book. Now I do all of my own quilting, and because of the confidence gained by this book, have recently purchased a long arm. Harriet's ways are understandable, easy, and comprehensive. A real
"NEED TO HAVE" for any quilter!

I have this book and it is the bomb! I've used it for years and even bought the revision to it, it was so worth the money. If you only ever get one machine quilting book, this is the one to get.

Heiloom Machine quilting is just the best if you want to learn to quilt your own quilt top on your sewing machine. This book explains everthing so well and why you need to do certain things to get the job done. I just enjoy this book There are quilting patterns in this book to use and the step by step on how to do them.

harriet hargrave is a master, and continues to become even more amazing. if you are interested in machine quilting, get the next edition of this work--it includes her most recent tips, discoveries, etc.

From the outset, learning why some things are done this way rather than that, I wanted to gather and destroy the five quilts I've made because they don't even approach "good" quality (forget heirloom quality). Getting past that, there was really useful information that made completing the quilt I was currently working on much easier and showed why some of my earlier ones are in the shape they are (sigh - if only I knew then...). The information on batting was comprehensive and very helpful. I still prefer polyester for its economy and fluff, but am going to try cotton and now know what the differences are (besides price). I am not a total beginner but quilts are only one part of my sewing. I consider myself a "hacker" rather than a serious quilter. I have read other machine quilting books which were very good, but I would have to say this is the best, with the most practical information. Note: there are no patterns for quilts, though there are quilt photos throughout the book. There are quilting line patterns to copy, however, with directional arrows to guide your machine quilting.

"Look in your heart. What's there?"
"What's there is trying to keep my family together. Trying to heal the rift in my family. It seems like all my life, I've been trying to make sense of it, to piece it all together."
"Like the quilt?"
"Yes, like the quilt."

Hannah Chelmsford has to hold her family together. That is why she has never been able leave her father's house, to find a separate life for herself. She has become aware of the fact that her family is painfully broken, that there is an undercurrent of secrets and anger in her house, and that she, who has been the one to take care of her brothers and sisters since her mother's death, has to hold all the pieces of her family together, like the many pieces of a quilt.

Set in the post revolutionary war era, A Stitch in Time is very opulent story, abundant with human feelings. Hannah's family has long struggled under a heavy secret, a secret that destroyed her parents marriage and even now seems to be tearing apart her family. Hannah and her two sisters, Abby and Thankful, are making a quilt. At first, only pieces for family are going to be put into it, but they decide to add people who have meant something in their life, those whom they trust. When events tear the sisters far apart, their parts of the quilt link them together, and Hannah hopes that some day the quilt will bring them together again.

I love how Ann Rinaldi weaves so much into the story, which I couldn't put down until I had turned the last page. Nathan Chelmsford, Hannah's father, is distant, cold, indifferent, overbearing. He refuses to allow Hannah and Abby marry the men they wish. He is cold and indifferent to Lawrence, because he wishes to paint rather than become a merchant. He is cruel and hardhearted to poor Cabot, whom he seems to hate beyond all things. To Thankful, the only child to inherit his one blue and one green eye, he places all his fatherly love, seeing her as his only perfect child.

Abby elopes with a young Southerner. Lawrence, Hannah's older brother, goes west with their father and Thankful, where he hopes to paint the Indians. Guilt and anxiety plague Hannah, who fears for Thankful's safety. But what could she do, when spiteful and vindictive Thankful threatened Abby's happiness if she was not allowed to go west with her father?

Louis, a young man Hannah was once engaged to, shows up at her door, asking her to take in a half-Indian baby, Louis' child, whose mother was killed by Kentuckians during a raid on a Shawnee village. Can Hannah take the baby for Louis, when there will be danger both to her and the baby in Salem? Many of the townspeople have loved ones in the west, loved ones who are in constant peril from the Shawnee Indians . . . What if they take out their anger and fear on the baby?

And Richard Lander. Hannah's good friend since childhood. Already, he has asked her to marry her twice, once when she was four and he was ten. She has such confused feelings for him, especially when rumors spread about the mysterious destination of his ship, which only his investors, his crew, and he himself know. Can she learn to trust him, and to place her heart in his hands?

This is the first book by Ann Rinaldi that I have read, but I enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading the two other books in the Quilt Trilogy, Broken Days and The Blue Door. I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction would love this story, which gives a very accurate depiction of the post revolutionary war era in Salem, Massachusetts, and the kind of life the townspeople would live during that time. This is definitely a book better suited to teenagers than younger readers, because it deals with some mature and serious subjects.

The story of a rich New England family in the post revolutionary war era. It centers around three sisters who are beginning a quilt together. Only people who have touched their lives will contribute a piece of fabric to the quilt. The sisters seperate but you realize the families will be reunited in books later in the series. This novel seemed more contrived than most of Rinaldi's novels but still thrilling. Worth a read but if you haven't yet become a Rinaldi fan I would recommend Cast Two Shadows or A Break with Charity first.

I really enjoyed reading the book, A Stitch in Time. I would mostly recommend it to somone who enjoys historical fiction, like me, but the themes of trust, family, and romance can be enjoyed by all. Teenagers ages 12-16 would especially like it because they could see what life for someone their age would be like in the late 1700's. The plot has many twists and turns and has a surprise ending. This book has two sequals that are also worth reading!

I LOVED this book as it says in the title its the perfect book. I first found it when my school librarian reccommended it for a trip i was taking at first i was skeptical i mean come on "The Quilt Trilogies" where do u get a name like that? when i picked it up BOY did i feel stupid! I couldnt put it down and was really really upset when i finished it (i wanted more about Hannah and Richard!:( ) i had to wait 2 days to go to the library to get broken days i was disappointed with it it wasnt nearly as good as A stitch in time to me at least id reccommend A Stitch in Time to any one who can read not just historical fiction readers btw from how she describes him - if he didnt have long hair Richard sounds kinda hott!!!

This book was great! WOW! To tell you the truth, it wasn't one of the best Ann Rinaldi books I've ever read, but hey, it passes. Fifteen year-old Hannah Chelmsford has a mixed up life: a seperated family we could call it. Her father is a mean old man who won't allow either Hannah or Abby(his oldest daughters) to marry who they wish, he won't let his son Lawrence marry or paint, and his youngest son he hates beyond all things. Thankful is his favorite, and the only "perfect" Chelmsford in her father's eyes. Well, Hannah's mother is dead, and she takes it as her job to hold the family together. She even starts on a quilt with her two sisters. They each have a cloth, and patch together peices of people they love and trust in their lives. When her youngest brother, Cabot, runs off to sea, a secret about their mother is revealed, and Hannah finds her true love, Richard. Later in the story, we find out that when father, Lawrence, and Thankful were on their trip west, Thankful is taken by Indians. Read this to find out the rest...it's great!