Quilting Books

Sharing Grandma's Gift is a book that speaks of a love that transends all. With each stitch of the quilt you see how the stories of a family are woven together and passed down from generation to generation. A gentle tool for opening up communication with children on the difficult subject of death. A book that shows that love facilitates healing.

What a wonderful story of three generations of family values and tradition. Parrish has taken a very delicate subject and treated it with sensitivity, wisdom and love.We are able to experience loss thru the author's eyes.Sharing Grandma's Gift is a must read for families with children,faced with the passing of a loved one. R.Devorkin

I found the art and drawings excellent. They are so well done, I swear I know that little girl.

From the time I first read the first draught of this book I knew it would be a special gift to be a part of it's creation. Sharing Grandma's gift is a true story about a gift from the heart. Shelley has captured the love of a family and the importance of tradition with her words. As the Illustrator of this book, I am of course partial to the Beautiful illustrations and design of the book that I was blessed enough to be able to produce for this project. From the beautiful story of three loving generations of women, to the hope Shelley gives to the children she has granted wishes for through Make a Wish Foundation. The true gift has been given to us to share in this story and pass on to our own children.

The book is well illustrated and written. It has easy to challenging projects for all interests. I want to make most of the projects that are in the book

SHOWSTOPPING QUILTS contains a Baker's dozen of quilts to piece by using foundations. Foundation piecing helps the quilter make sure each block is exactly the same as the next so more than one person could work on the same quilt and all blocks would be exactly alike. From simply elegant baskets to complicated Mariner's Compass Medallion, any of these 13 will make beautiful quilts to keep for yourself or give as a gift.

The first three pages explain the basics of foundation piecing while the next three talk about labels to put on your quilts so future generations will know who, when, where and why the quilt was created.

The next several pages talk of quilt designs such as Stars, Starburst and Mariner's Compass. It also provides background on how the patterns were "born". On the project pages, each one has a materials lists, cutting instructions, which foundations to use (all are provided in the book), block construction and how to assemble and finish the quilts.

Which of the 13 will you start first?

Tricia Lund and Judy Pollard's SHOWSTOPPING QUILTS TO FOUNDATION PIECE displays some gorgeous quilts and offers up tips on how to produce 13 quilts which feature feathered stars, pinwheels, and more. Step-by-step lessons on foundation piecing techniques tell how to change color, design, and more to produce outstanding quilts, and provide fine examples for any quilter seeking superior art.

Great book with a nice variety of patterns for paper piecing. I can't wait to complete some current projects so I can get started. Not all patterns are my taste but those that are make the entire book worthwhile. Not your run of the mill paper piecing book.

Excellent book for quilters who need specific guidelines . I needed this for a class I was taking , could not find it locally , and Amazon came through for me. The detailing and pictures take you step by step.

Stars Across America has beautiful quilt patterns with a star representing famous women in our American history. Along with the easy to follow directions for the quilt is a written history of the woman highlighted with their own star design. Each quilt has it's own unique border also. I made the Eleanor Roosevelt Star quilt and enjoyed the straight forward directions that even a beginning quilter such as myself could make with few mistakes. If you like stars, quilting, and some interesting historical information this is a good book

As always, Eleanor Burns writes a good quilting book. I absolutely love stars in a quilt, so this satisfied me.

Eleanor Burns has been around a long time and knows her way around a quilt pattern. Her instructions are suitable for beginners and the designs are beautiful enough to interest even the most experienced quilter. She continues with her traditional approach and classic patterns, but with some design twists.

Once again Eleanor Burns has written an easy to use and easy to understand booklet. This time Sunbonnet Sue and Sam are so cute and this method makes it fun to do handwork again. You can apply this method to other applique work and that makes me want to get out my needles again!

When the bidding on e-bay went sky high for the same item, I was pleased to find it at Amazon for a reasonable price.
The book is in super condition and I am very happy

Eleanor meets Sue in one of the most delightful of her quilting how-to books. If you're familiar with Ms. Burns' books and/or videos, you know that she's getting better with almost every volume...clearer instructions, more detailed illlustrations, and enticing photos of the finished projects. An added treat in her Sunbonnet Sue volume is the clever series of illustrations featuring the famous little faceless lass engaging in the various steps in quilt-making (Sue earnestly plugging away at the sewing machine, etc.) This would be an excellent addition to a quilting library, and even a great first-time quilt project. Thanks to Eleanor's consistently excellent instructions, you'll be able to follow along with no difficulty...and even a chuckle or two.

I bought this book for myself because of Eleanor Burns. Her books are so easy to understand. The book is in black and white with some color photos of Sue & Sam. You get directions for a wall hanging (18 X 32 1/2) all the way up to a double coverlet (76 X 89). This book tells you how to make the patterns using an interfacing you have to trace the pattern onto. I have gone to Eleanors website and bought the preprinted fusible interfacing. Makes it much quicker and easier IMO. This book reminds me of the quilts my grandmother used to make. A little old fashioned, but you can change how the Sue's and Sam's look by using different material and things like lace, buttons, ribbons, and rickrack. The book does come with a pattern for Sue & Sam and a kite & tie.

This item was purchased for my wife, who had briefly seen a copy locally, and wished to have her own edition.
Since receiving it, and having had a chance to read it more thoroughly, she is delighted with the product, as it contains material information which enhances her knowledge of the subject in which she is interested.

It may not be that appropriate to say I have purchased a good book, but I reckon it is a worthwhile present. My wife got it for her 43rd brithday. She found that she could make a good start with the book and with the help from her friends who were into quilting, she made her first project with patterns from this book. I am proud and happy to have purchased it for her. She had also passed it around and many of her friends had found great inspiration with it. I strongly recommend others who like to make a start or get ideas to have this book.

In addition providing many patterns for Sues and Sams and possible variations, this book provides clear directions for needle turned applique. This applique method produces incredible results and is not really that hard once you get the hang of it. Sue Linker is an expert applique artist and her work is just stunning. The directions in this book tell how she does it!

Lots of how to plus many ideas for making both Sue's and Sam's. Lots of easy to use patterns.

This book has so many great patterns, I am working on the appliqued tea cup and saucer pattern for my mother. Unusually complete, the book not only includes the fabric requirements and templates, but suggested ways to quilt the top are also included. Each pattern contains a different recipe for muffins, as the author believes when friends gather to quilt, food should also be included. I have tried several recipes and the coconut, strawberry and pecan muffin is my favorite. I made a batch and took it with me to a quilting class and everyone loved them. The beer and cheddar muffins come in as a close second. Loved the book, the lines of verse were very heartwarming and I am going to embroider the "tea in the garden with mom and me..." verse on on my quilt to my mother.

I like the patterns in the book. My tastes are more on the brighter side of fabrics. So I will be making something in brighter colors. All the patterns are beautiful.
~Donna

This is a wonderful book for those who like applique. The patterns are beautiful florals with unique borders. They are a little advanced so they might be challenging for beginers.

These "theme" quilt books are often fun and entertaining. This one not only provides the directions for quilts for quilters of varying abilities, but gives recipes and tea tips as well. Gardeners will find that the quilts run true to a gardening theme, and are well designed. Begin one in the depth of winter, and dream of draping it over your porch chair as you sip a special afternoon snack. What fun!

I cannot exactly call my copy a coffee table book. I keep mine on the top shelf; because after reading it and looking at all of the beautifully photographed quilts, I think I would kill anyone who put a coffee ring on it. Excellent stories and descriptions from a well educated woman on the subject of quilts (and not only Texas ones!).

What a beautiful book about quilts and Texas! Kaylackie has done a wonderful job of weaving the stories of quilts into the history of Texas. The photos are gorgeous and the narrative is always interesting. This book should appeal to anyone who loves quilts and/or Texas. I'm buying several for Christmas gifts. Great job, ya'll!

What a wonderful legacy, Marcia Kaylakie has created a beautiful book capturing the Texas history and colour from all it's regions. The stories behind each carefully chosen quilt are well written and complimented with beautiful photography. Previous reviews of this work speak volumes, so it is was an easy decision to buy this book and I am not disappointed.This is a beautiful volume and to the author and her assistants, well done.
I enjoy the fascinating stories mixed with the historical content,history can often be a 'dry' subject, but definitely not, in this case. I would recommend this book to all the quilters who love diverse stories and rich pasts. Enjoy......

A very readable from cover to cover photo book of quilts of yesteryear to quilts of today and all in the Lone Star State. Marcia Kaylakie defintely did her homework and reserached each quilt front, back and between the designs. Each quilt tells an amazing chronicle of the quilter and the who took the time to make a piece of history. This book makes a wonderful gift for yourself and your quilting friends for Christmas. I plan to put one my quilt table in my studio and buy 2 more for my quilter friends. Happy Holidays!

I bought this book after wearing out my library's copy. I use it as an introduction to a quilting unit I teach with gifted children, and open the box of tissues before I ever open the book each year. It is poignant and wonderful, and the author's vivid language is a reader's (and teacher's) dream.

This is a story about one summer that 2 brothers share. One of the brothers has cancer and the other brother tells the story of what he learned during his brother's illness. He learns how to make the bed while his brother is in it and he learned how to smile when his heart is breaking inside. This is truly a tale of brotherly love!

Cancer is so real in today society. Each family is touched with it in some way. This book is really heartbreaking and will make you count your blessings if your children are healthy.



Yes. I have never read a book quite like this one. There are books that help kids deal with the death of grownups but I'm not sure there are many that deal with terminally ill children and their feelings.

"That summer began like always, with hoots and shouts, all of us running in the sun, freed from school..." But, as his brother, the narrator tells us, on the fourth of July, Joey "took sick." He went to bed and stayed there. When he perked up, the whole family was filled with hope, and when he got worse again, they realized the awful truth. "What do you do when you know you are leaving the world, when your heart hurts with grieving? Joey was leaving. It was clear as the rain that stung his window that summer." Gram sat by his bed keeping vigil and quilting, and when Joey couldn't sleep, Gram taught him how to quilt. And so that summer, he sewed the pieces of his young life together, all the things he love, "a patch with an owl because he loved its call, the cow he squeezed from clay (first grade), and his fishing pole and a lightning bug and a country road and his baseball glove..." Author, Tony Johnston, and illustrator, Barry Moser, invite the reader to share in this very intimate and moving experience. Mr Johnston's quiet, understated, and eloquent text is at times both poignant and uplifting, and rich in beautifully poetic figurative language. Mr Moser's stunning artwork captures the special moments of Joey's life in dazzling full-colored illustrations, juxtaposed with touching and emotional gray and white "snapshots" that seem to be pulled from the family photo album. Together, word and art paints a remarkable portrait of life, strong love and loss, told with great insight, wisdom, and truth. Perfect for youngsters 5 and older, That Summer is an inspiring story that deals with the sensitive subject of the death of a loved one with honesty and respect, and should help open important discussions. As Barry Moser writes in his dedication... "For all the courageous people who care for terminally ill children, with my deepest respect and admiration." An amazing book that shouldn't be missed.

"That Summer" is a poetic blend of the carefree days of a childhood summer disrupted by the reality of terminal illness. The narrator's brother, Joey, becomes ill during summer vacation. As his illness progresses, he begins to piece a quilt: "Cut scraps into shapes of all the things you love," Gram said,"then join them with thread." Illustrated with beautiful graphite and chalk pictures by Barry Moser, Tony Johnston weaves a story of a brother's love, a family's loss, and a patchwork of memories through powerful figurative language: "...that summer, a gleam of guilt glided through my heart like a gleam of snake down a hole." This is one of the most moving childrens' books I've ever read.

Book is very imformative - beautiful pictures - and as always with Thimbelberries directions superb.

Thimbleberries New Collection of Classic Quilts presents 28 more of Lynette Jensen's best- selling Thimbleberries quilt designs. Full-color photographs and step-by-step instructions with diagrams walk the reader through the creation of advanced aesthetic designs including those of a bittersweet vine, a geometric print symbolizing the Northern Lights, ideal patterns for holiday accents, and much more. A superb sourcebook for intermediate to advanced quilters, Thimbleberries New Collection of Classic Quilts does presume that the reader already has a basic understanding of the fundamentals of needlework and quiltmaking.

Seasonal selections - different sized patterns - some applique - beautiful photos - great quality

This book has new ideas for traditional designs. I look for things that will inspire me with color or design. This is an inspiring book.

I love looking at this book. However, being a novice quilter and not having made any of the quilts in this book, I don't know if the directions are great or what. What I can say is that the pictures are great, the designs are wonderful, and the typography is easy to read.

Many patterns for all seasons, good directions, could easily be made into runners or large quilt.

I was able to see most of these quilts in person, and all I can say is WOW! As a Thimbleberries lover, I was thrilled with the designs. Many of them are from previously published large size patterns, but Lynette does a great job at making them 'pint-size' and choosing such wonderful fabrics for each of them. This is one of my most treasured TB books (and I have them all!)

This quilting book is great. Especially if you are looking for the smaller sized quilt pattern for a wall hanging. Many seasonal projects. I would definatly recommend.