Quilting Books

Linda Causee's name will be readily familiar to any avid quilter: she's written other popular quilting books but QUILTS A TO Z: 26 TECHNIQUES EVERY QUILTER SHOULD KNOW is more than a design guide: it provides specific instructions and tricks and tips for cutting, piecing, and assembling quilts. Each A-Z letter stands for a new quilting technique -and each featured quilt includes a materials list, directions, and easy color illustrations of both processes and finished products. Even quilters beyond the novice stage will find plenty of direction and insights, here.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Quilts A to Z isn't an ordinary quilting book. Rather than giving you a set of patterns and instructions for a set of quilts, it focuses on teaching techniques -- 26 of them -- that "every quilter should know." It succeeds admirably.

Each technique has a short description and explains why and when it's important. It also includes a relatively simple project to let you try out the technique. For example, "B is for Borders" demonstrates how you can make an entire quilt almost entirely from borders, starting with a 24"x20" piece of landscape fabric in the middle. "F is for Foundation Piecing" includes a simple quilt using that technique.

The book covers both the basics (such as crazy quilting and rotary cutting), and variations that may be on your "one of these days..." lists, such as trapunto or kaleidoscopes. Even if you don't make any of these projects (and I'm not sure I will... I just keep telling myself I might), it is _really_ fun to read.

I purchased this book unseen and was bissfully enthralled when I finally viewed it. WOW! The work showcased is diverse and thrillingly divine. Use of colour is totally inspiring - exquisite - a colour "hit" (for you colour junkies out there). For me this book evokes a great feeling of spontaneity, but also respect for true craftwomenship in colour and design - the artists make it look sooo easy!

The photos through out the book are very clear so the quilting can also be seen well on most pieces. Some of the photos could have been bigger (where there is more than one quilt per page), but generally the photo size has been chosen with great skill balancing maximum number of pictures per artist with maximum detail.

All the quilts are DEFINITELY contemporary ie not traditional, although I would have called Rennee Gosse's (France) "boutis" pieces more traditional. I have seen a similar technique called French trapunto.

It was the most wonderful surprise to discover that each artist provides a project and shares their secrets to recreate that fabulous project. All the projects are a joy to look at and are crying out to be started. In particular, Anne Woringer (France), Dorle Stern-Straeter (Germany) and Odile Texiers (France) projects are truly sensational and I thank them for being so generous in sharing techniques that can only be considered as THEIR OWN as they are the trademarks of each of the mentioned artists work. So, so amazingly exciting!!!

Beginners or unconfident sewers/quilters may not find the projects easy or detailed enough as the directions are brief, although, I consider them precise enough, enabling me to reproduce the particular technique I'm interested in. Personally I really like the layout with minimal, to the point text supported with diagrams. Again the spontaneity of the works shines through as many of the artists improvise as the work is created.

This "treasure" has not left my bedside all year and has been like a key opening creative floodgates. Numerous blocks and quilt designs have gushed forth from reading this fantastic book and realising the unending possibilities for the techniques demonstrated.

Anyone who likes contemporary works, consider this a MUST for your bookshelf. A true delight, a visual feast and high powered fuel for creativity. I can't wait for the next book in the series (yep, that IS a hint! - please I beg you!)

With one glance, I was pulled in and fascinated by this unique book that features a variety of contemporary European quiltmakers. Each quiltmaker is profiled and a gallery of exciting work is displayed. In addition, each artist shares a project. Each project is well-illustrated and many detail interesting techniques as well as insights into how other quilts were constructed. The layout of the book is stunning--beautiful, rich color and crisp, clear photographs. It's a joy to look at as well as to read. Quilts from Europe is a wonderful addition to any quiltmaker's library.

Quilts In America is a needlecraft treasury spanning nearly three hundred years of quilt history, techniques, patterns, and styles since America's colonial roots. Black-and-white and color plates illustrate a wide variety of historic quilts, while chapters discuss the evolution of quilts as both a practical craft and as folk art. Co-written by the director of the Textile Conservation Workshop in South Salem, New York, a nonprofit regional conservation laboratory devoted to rare and fragile textiles, Quilts In America is both an enlightening read and a reverberating experience especially for quilt lovers everywhere, and the vintage designs in the plates will prove inspirational for anyone interested in creating new quilts in historic American styles.

a "must" for anyone interested in American art...or quilts in general. a consummate body of work that both surveys the topic and gets into details only when appropriately necessary. written with a passion and sensitivity that sheds new light on some very old cloth.

A book I come back to again and again for its photographs of beautiful quilts. The beautiful applique quilt on its cover is worth the price of the book. Also a good source of dating fabric. Very inspirational book. It's interesting to read about the quilters and see their photographs alongside of their quilts.

When one sees the history and artistry behind the antique and vintage Ohio quilts, she/he is encouraged and amazed at the "UN-covering" (no pun intended) of the gone, but not forgotten artist's tricks of the trade.

The authors have uncovered an incredible amount of information regarding the quilters, textiles, history of quilt patterns, history of Ohio and various counties and cities....but most charming to me is the discovery of antique recipes for various dyes and incredibly, the recipe for the indelible ink, which was used to write on quilts.

There is not only a vast amount of information, but some of the lovliest quilts ever photographed, in my opinion.

As a quilter, who has won blue ribbons for reproducing antique quilts, I am thrilled to have this delicious potpourri of Ohio history and artistry. It makes me proud to be an Ohio quilter.

this is an excellent example of what a state quilt survey can accomplish. not only are the quilts interesting, beautiful and inspirational (i'm seriously considering making two quilts based on quilts in this book), the family histories are fascinating. there are wonderful photos of many 19th and early 20th century quilters, their families and homes, and excerpts from letters, diaries and wills.

several quilts are, to use the work accurately, each unique. any quilter who has read more than one book on the history of quilts knows that many quilts appear in several sources. i haven't seen some of the quilts in this book in any other source (though i haven't read every quilt book--yet), which is surprising, since they are excellent examples of design and workmanship.

there are applique and pieced quilts, some with stuffed quilting--a term the authors prefer to 'trapunto,' rightly arguing that the italian term refers to a specific style of quilting. the detail photos generally show the quilting designs clearly.

the text is well written, the research is thorough, and the authors' conclusions from the data are not colored by romanticism (there is often enough drama and eventfulness in quilters' lives to make any romanticizing not only unnecessary but demeaning).

well worth studying.

If you are from Tennessee, or even if you just love quilts and folk art, you will enjoy this book for the information and fabulous pictures of the rich heritage of quilting. This project contains not only pictures, but information about particular quilters and their lives. A fine mix of utility quilts and extraordinary quilt designs are included in this book. The collection comes from a survey of 1,425 quilts documented from various counties of Tennessee.

Not only does this book have beautiful pictures of a wide variety of quilts, it covers the history of quilting. It brings alive the rich tapestry of quilting and why it has evolved from a necessity in women's lives to an art form. It is both a wonderful pictorial review of quilts and a great leaning tool.

This book is by far the most beautiful and informative book I have ever owned. It is also the biggest and heaviest book I have ever carried out of a store. It is full of wonderful prints of quilts of all kinds and from history as well as today. The text is fascinating as you read about the truth of the history of quilting, about quilts done by the people of different modern cultures and about the trends and exciting things happening in quilting today. I am sure this book will bring hundreds of hours of enjoyment both in the reading and in the gazing again and again at the prints

This book contains more photographs of antique quilts than any other book pertaining to the various quilt documentation projects, with just the right amount of text. WELL DONE in every way!

This is a beautiful book with wonderful pictures and text. It is "one of the best" new books on the market. The pictures show lovely old quilts--some are old patterns that a person will recognize and some a fascinating combination that will be new to most quilters. Definitely a book worth owning!

I received my book in record time. It is in great shape! This artist is unbelievable and inspiring. This is a terrific book for my craft/enjoyment library!

Refreshing style. I have viewed some of the author's work at the craft show held each year at the Barker farm and it is breath taking.

This is my second book from this artist and it is absolutely gorgeous. The book came right on time. It's in great shape and a truly beautiful addition to my craft/enjoyment library!

Please refer to my review of Quiltscapes(I)- These are books of beautiful art, even if you do not quilt.

"Raising the Surface is a book for everyone who is fascinated by texture in embroidery. Starting with making backgrounds, the book guides you through low-relief stitching. It continues through the application of various media to raise the surface, culminating with three-dimensional items, such as vessels, bags and masks" (joggles.com).

Sadly, dealers are taking advantage of consumers with their outrageous price-gouging. Thankfully, for now, this BOOK is AVAILABLE NEW for $25.99 through joggles.com. Maggie Grey's work is simply stunning.

this is a mind opening book. I am a doll artist opening up to fiber art and this book is filled with beautiful pictures and techniques.