Quilting Books

I loved this book! Not only are there clear instructions on several quilt patterns, I just love the anecdotes included on each page. There were testimonials and poetic lines and just great thought provoking thoughts included. I recommend this kind of book to anyone looking for a smile.

Oxmoor Publishing and Leisure Arts present a collection of projects with the same great appeal quilters loved in their earlier publication, "Quick and Easy Scrap Quilts". This new title includes 21 quilts and a table runner plus embellishment for a shirt and note cards. It is geared to tops that can be completed in a relatively short time working individually or with friends wanting to participate in a fabric exchange or a quilting retreat. As the editor says, projects geared to helping you relax and quilt.

Both applique and piecing projects include a variety of styles--traditional, country/homespun, contemporary, and whimsical-appropriate to the skill level of beginners and more experienced sewers. For example, pieced quilts feature homespun plaid log cabin blocks, traditional patterns like Rail Fence, Birds in the Air and Sister's Choice along with Depression era baskets and a contemporary, colourwash Courthouse Steps. For those wanting more of a challenge, there is a lovely traditional Tree of Life quilt that includes suggested quilting designs.

Those who like applique may use traditional methods or try any of the soft-edge, fusible web or freezer paper techniques that may appeal to beginners or those in a hurry. A colorful double four-patch top has a folk art border of soft edge applique held down by a utility stitch of floss or pearl cotton. Note cards and garments are embellished using fusible web. A 1920s era Day Lily quilt is finished using a hand or machine buttonhole stitch. For traditionalists there is a stunning red and green hand appliqued Princess Feather top that also includes a suggested hand quilting design pattern.

The last 21 pages give helpful information on fabric preparation, cutting and sewing techniques, quilt construction, binding and quilting, hanging sleeves, and care and cleaning.

There is something about friendship quilts that touches our hearts. Seeing those names from the past we wonder about these people. What were they like? What were their lives like? Linda Otto Lipsett wondered too and that wondering became this book. In "Remember Me" , she tells the stories of seven women and their friendship quilts. Along with the women's stories are beautiful pictures of their quilts as well as great old photographs of the women and their times. In order to write this book Lipsett interviewed numerous relatives and others who remembered these woman. Through the stories in this book we become aware of what it was like to be a woman during the times when these quilts were made. Somehow reading these stories written on such a personal level makes their lives so very real.

This book will intrigue any reader interested in American history, quilts, or the art of the human soul. A book is more than paper and ink, as a quilt is more than cloth and thread. Lipsett illuminates the lives of women who worked the names of loved ones and pieced together patches of remembrances into treasured friendship quilts. Historically the lives of the women were often fraught with hardship and deprivation. This book shares the beauty and joy these women created in the form of friendship quilts. For many women of the era, the quilts they left behind were the only concrete evidence that they ever existed. The cameo biographies bring the reader into the lives of these women. The photos and explanations emphasize the significance quilts have played in the lives of people. A wonderful book.

We live near Amish country (in Pennsylvania, even!), so this was like a neighbor's tale for my grand-daughter. She had just taken a few quilting lessons to make her baby brother a log cabin quilt for Christmas (well, it started as for her parents, then shrunk to baby brother, and from Christmas it has now moved to someday), so this story of a log cabin quilt really hit the mark. It was beautifully illustrated, strong family and faith values and left you wondering what really happened.

Excellent children's book explaining Amish people and their beliefs. Short story that would keep the interest of a child but also teach them Amish words and ways. Illustrations are excellent. I purchased this book for my grandchildren and am sure they will enjoy it as much as I do.

There is nothing ordinary about Riva, alter ego of art quilter Ruth Reynolds! You'll have a constant grin on your face as you follow the flamboyant Riva and her girlfriends, portrayed in Reynolds' fabulous art quilts, cartoons and commentary, through the trials and tribulations of every-woman's daily life... Riva tells it like it is, honey... but like no other quilter ever has! You don't have to be a quilter to love Riva ...everyone will be amazed at Reynolds' creativity and sense of humor! I've been a Riva fan for several years and highly recommend her to everyone!

Fun, fun, fun! Is the quilt world's losing its girdle the 90's equivalent of burning its bra? That would add an interesting twist to the Woodstock quilt. Ruth's talent in cartooning and humor add so much to the world of quilting. Riva takes leaps beyond a book on piecing or applique- she provides us with content and inspiration- the essence of self expression. Many of us who know Ruth through Quiltart will agree- this one's a winner!

I was very pleased and surprised at the number of projects in this romantic collection. Fans of Paula Vaughan will enjoy and appreciate the background information detailing her life and inspiration for her beautiful artwork. Projects range from quick and easy, perfect for novice quilters and needlework artists, to full size quilts that will showcase the quilter's experience. All of the projects have detailed instructions, in color, carefully written for those who have difficulty taking on a new technique. I was especially pleased with the time saving techniques used, including rotary cutting and strip piecing. Even an old favorite, Double Wedding Ring, is made easier with an innovative technique using strip piecing and templates. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the look and feel of Victorian romance. Any of these treasures the reader chose to complete would certainly become a family heirloom to be passed down for generations to come.

So far I have found no-one who comes even close to producing
any-thing so pleasing on the eye,or so interesting to work.
Her pictures come alive under your fingers.
I have her patterns shipped over from the states.
I live in England and have found nothing likeit over here

This book is simply written, very easy to understand and brimming with information for the beginner quilter.

I am a relatively new quilter, and left-handed to boot. Most other quilting books I've read have illustrations to demonstrate cutting techniques, but the pictures feature the right hand only! Alex, being a lefty herself, thoughtfully includes rotary cutting illustrations for both the right AND left-handed among us. It really helped me with my cutting! I highly recommend it for new quilters and lefty quilters alike. :)

Hello, I am the author of this book and wanted to take this opportunity to explain the benefits of bar or strippy quilts for the beginning to advanced quilter. Each row uses simple blocks that will increase your piecing skill but won't bore you by stitching dozens of the same block. Each row is like a mini quilt and each row urges you on to the next row. If you stitch one row per evening by the end of the week you have a quilt top! For the advanced quilter these quilts are easily put together from your fabric stash and the "instant" gratification is fabulous! Use any theme fabric and try the fusible interfacing method to personalize the quilt top for that special someone. I have also included a block index for designing your own row quilt. There is lots of information and suggestions to inspire you in this book and I hope you will enjoy creating fun, one-of-a-kind bar quilts. PS: I would have liked to not rate my book and let you decide but I had to so modesty aside I do think it is a fabulous book!

The quilting projects in Row by Row are wonderful just as they are, but more than that, they can be expanded upon or adapted to whatever your tastes and interests are. You will find some great ideas for using up those "theme" fabrics and fat quarters in your stash. There's also an easy process for personalizing your quilts-whatever your message is, you can say it with fabric! I can also see where these projects would be great for guilds and quilting groups. I can't wait to get started!

I originally learned of this book while searching an online catalog for genealogy resources. I picked it off the shelf of the library where I was researching and instead of just copying the pages with information about my ancestor, I stopped to look at the whole book. I sat on a hard wooden chair for about a half an hour, reading about the story of the quilt, and reading about the lives of the women who made it. I finally decided to buy a copy. It's a beautiful book, a beautiful quilt, and a joy to read.

Quilts are a lot like people. They are not overnight undertakings. They seldom turn out the way they were intended. Colors change when you run short of fabric. Edges misalign where you least expect it.

When Carol Nielson and her husband inherited an album quilt-half a quilt, to be precise-she had no idea of the journey on which the fragile folds of appliqués and painstaking stitches would call her. Created in 1857 by the women of the Salt Lake City LDS 14th Ward, the quilt was raffled off to raise money for the poor, the Perpetual Immigrating Fund, and for various Mormon charitable enterprises. Each block was designed and signed by one of the women, many of whom were wives of leading church authorities.

Nielson's desire to find the quilt's other half, and to find out more about the women whose legacy she had-both literally and figuratively-inherited, led her back in time through countless lives of hardship, joy, and spiritual conviction in the face of adversity.

Filled with detailed photographs of the quilt and images of those who stitched the blocks, this book is a stirring read, a rich and beautiful testimony to women whose hands shaped not only thread and cloth, but also a state, forging a community with their pioneer spirit.

"Carol Nielson has not only brought together two halves of a quilt, she has restored a forgotten community of women. Her patient research has transformed a family relic into a communal treasure."
-Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, author of A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812

"A vital contribution to Utah's rich history adding to an unfortunately under-appreciated and under-documented part of our history-frontier women."
-William Slaughter, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Historical Department

"A compelling and thorough study of a quilt, the pioneer women who stitched it, and ultimately, the Mormon experience that defined them."
-Kae Covington, author of Gathered in Time: Utah Quilts and Their Makers, Settlement to 1950


Carol Holindrake Nielson has a BA in English education from Utah State University. She has been a teacher, tutor, and an historical interpreter at Mount Vernon, Virginia. She lives in Layton, Utah.

78 color photographs, 45 halftones

I really liked this book for several reasons. It gives extremely concise and clear cutting charts for the size quilt you wish to make. The examples shown in the book are extremely colorful and show good use of using mulitple fabrics and scraps.

One of the designs in the book titled 'Skyrocket' shows an alternative to the traditional 'Ohio Star' which is one of my favorite blocks and I can't wait to start working on this one!

I personally do a lot of 'Strip Quilting' which saves me a lot of time and I can get more done. I know short cuts for sewing and piecing on some of the examples and instructions in the book. But for even a novice or beginning quilter the instructions the book has are quite suitable.

For the advanced quilters out there, this might be a handy reference guide with beautiful examples of color and fabric use.

I love this book! I was having a hard time figuring out what to do with all of the fat quarters of fabric that I collect and this book gave me the answer. All of the quilts are beautiful. She gives great directions - from cutting up your scraps to making the actual quilt. I can't wait to start making one of these quilts. She also shows the each quilt using a different color theme. It is a great book - I highly recommend it if you are a fabric collector like me!

I LOVE this book. The directions are clear, the quilts are all beautifully illustrated and include templates. There are some unusual patterns included as well, like a 1920's teacup quilt. In addition, there are size variations included so that you will know how to take a twin pattern and enlarge it to a king-size etc., The book will also tell the reader IF it is not recommended that a pattern be enlarged. This book is a keeper!

What a great use of scraps. I have never owned a better scrap book than this one. I want to make almost every pattern featured! I wonder where I'll find the time!