Quilting Books

Autumn is my favorite time of year, and when I saw this book, I just had to have it. I can't wait to finish my current project and to have the time to try some of the sampler quilts in this book. The directions are clear and concise, the pictures excellent, and unlike other 'autumn-centric' quilt books, this one isn't filled with drab pictures and quilt blocks using dark colors.

I particularly like the sampler on the front, the "apple pie" wall hanging. The only negative with this book, was the focus on the applique. I'd like to see a few more straight piecing projects. Still, this is a great addition to any quilter's library. 5 stars.

There is a gift idea as you turn each page. Three days after I recieved the book-I was able to give a friend a unique gift made from this book. Can't wait to make more gifts. Hope Lois' next book comes out soon.

I thoroughly enjoy this book and am currently making three projects for my home and for gifts. The use of color is very appealing, and directions are easy to follow. The Baking Day trio is a favorite. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to get started on some new fall projects for the home.

This book is packed with projects! First, you are presented with step-by-step directions for creating a beautiful fall wall hanging block-by-block. Then, as if that were not enough, the author embellishes on the blocks and guides you through constructing additional wall hangings, place mats, pot holders and a table runner. The directions are clear, concise and thorough. The projects are colorful and eye catching. This book will have you searching for fabric as soon as it arrives!

The cover quilt, in autumn shades, and colorful fall applique blocks, is what drew me to this book. I would still buy this book for this pattern alone. Plus it's laid out one block at a time, so that you may have your very own block of the month club right in your own home. Sewing an entire quilt at once is too overwhelming for me, but one block at a time is great. The print in this book is easy to read, and the directions are clear.
The applique patterns are clear line drawings that will
be easy to trace from the book to freezer paper. There are many smaller projects to make that compliment this grand wall hanging.
I may try one or two on my way to completing this quilt. I particularly like the sunflower wall hanging and the chickadees in the window wall hanging. There is also a wonderful baking day wall hanging for the kitchen, and a small squirrel wall hanging that is displayed on a branch hanger. Some of these smaller projects would look great in a mountain cabin or in an office to
bring a little of the outside season indoors.
The color illustrations are very clear. You can even see the quilting stitches on some of the wall hangings. I always have a hard time deciding what to quilt in the blank areas around applique, and Lois Fletcher has some great ideas for simple, yet effective quilt patterns in these spots.
For any of you dulcimer players out there,directions for an autumn leaves bell pull is included. If you were to widen this panel a few inches, it would be perfect to place your wall hung dulcimers over to give your instrument a little cushion against the wall.
I'm glad I bought this book.

A great book to share with children, or, in my case, grandchildren. Teaching children about greed and accumulating of "things" is made so much more enjoyable with this book. As an avid quilter, I have made many, many quilts for the grandchildren, and they can really relate to the story. A definite buy.

Wonderful story with a great illustrations for children of all ages. A perfect message of what is really important in one's life, not to be caught up with worldly things and to serve others makes one really happy.

Lovely story--luscious illustrations. I wish I could quilt as quickly as you can turn the pages and read the story.

This is the book that tells all about how the Quilt maker came to be who she is. We loved the "Quiltmakers Gift" and so we had to get this one too. We were not disappointed!

Heather mama of 5

The quiltmaker of this story was born into great wealth, living inside a city walled off from the outside and where everyone inside was also rich. She was so wealthy, she ran out of things to spend her money on and so began wondering what was on the outside. The town elders told great tales of danger and woe, so she and the other young people were afraid to venture outward.
However, she reached the point where her curiosity got the best of her and she managed to find a way out of the town. She was shocked to discover that everyone outside her former town was poor and forced to do without. Yet, even with their lack of things, they were all willing to help her when she needed something. This was a lesson she took to heart and eventually here wanderings took her back to her point of origin.
Once back in the town she tried to convince the elders to help the poor but they refused. Furthermore, when she left the town again she was not allowed to take any of her wealth and under no circumstances would she be allowed back in. This did not prove to be a burden as her pure heart caused even the animals to bring her what she needed. Her first act was to make a quilt for a mother and son who were huddled and freezing. Once that was done, her heart was warmed so from that point on she made quilts and gave them away. The joy of those acts made her realize that up until that point her wealth had all been a façade and now she truly understood what it meant to be rich.
This is a story told with such simple passion and elegance that it moves you. Charity is something that you do for yourself, because the act of giving away can give you more joy than the objects themselves could ever have generated in your life.

A good friend introduced me to this type of quilt construction and had loaned me her copy of this book.The instruction are very good and clear. This method is very addicting [most quilt makers will understand] I just had to have my own copy. The number of different patterns is very good.

The book was new, and a terrific buy. Will always check with Amazon before purchasing at other locations.

An excellent quilting book different to any others. Patterns are colourful and unique

some good ideas to use also for borders..I plan to do a little now and then on this quilt between other projects

I saw this on Simply Quilts and was so intrigued I actually wrote to the author asking if she gave lessons. Then I got the book and found you don't need a teacher. The instructions and illustrations are absolutely so clear that a child could make this quilt. Several reviewers mentioned using these designs on borders -- thanks, I had not thought about that -- good tip. One last thing, I have a sister who refused to learn to quilt. Guess what, she is making a "Simply Seminole" quilt. Gotta love that.

I love doing Celtic Appliqué and Beth Ann's designs are my favorites. She has a number of lovely designs in this book that I've made into wall-hangings, pillows and even patches that I then sew onto clothing. This is actually my second purchase of this book. I know the original copy is in my house somewhere, but I couldn't wait to start a new project!

This would be a five-star review if I were a machine-worked fan, but I love to do handwork. The author states on page 23 (too late; it belongs in the introduction) that projects can be hand appliqued and gives brief tips for the method, but the book focuses on machine work only. Readers are directed to use bias bars for making bias tape; no mention is made of alternate methods. That said, the book is an excellent resource for Celtic designs, with a variety of beautiful examples of the technique and patterns that can be reduced or enlarged. I have read several books on Celtic design; this is by far the best I have seen for its application of design to quilting.

This Celtic Book is a excellent choice for celtic quilting, From start to finish .Its great for beginners to advanced.
I Recommended it to my Quilting friends.
Thank You very much


Hilda wareham

This quilt book is so stunning with all the examples. Not only that, but being a beginner, this books spells things out pretty well. I did go get the other book she recommends as well. It's called Hand Applique. But that's if you want to know how to do Hand Apllique, and I wouldn't say that it deserves 5 stars.

Great source of information and inspiration for Quilters looking to think outside the box and or learn basic techniques in creating quilts with a Celtic theme.
Instructions are easy to follow and organized with easy tips to assist the Quilter in planning out and completing the project
.

I'm addicted to flower pounding. My kids love it, too...the only thing that gets washed after my kids do an art project is the kids . I've worked with alum tons before and if you're concerned that it's going to rot the fabric, just rinse it out. No big deal. This is a wonderful, wonderful book and I highly recommend it. Such a wonderful break from all the "same old, same old" that's already out there. You won't be disappointed with flower pounding.

I thought Flower Pounding the oddest title, until I saw it. It's a must buy book. It's beatuiful with easy-to-understand instructions and a dash of humor. I love quilts and gardens and this showed me a great new way to enjoy both. I'm doing a project this summer and hope to use it for a youth group activity next year.

I was fortunate to take a flower pounding class with Amy. It was such a delight to have the author demonstrate just how easy and beautiful this process is. By the end of class I had made my own gorgeous print. Everyone was delighted by the beautiful results and had a blast making their work of art. You will never again look at flowers the same way! (Irises are my favorite...so far.) In fact, you'll be itching to pound every petal you can get your hands on. When I got home that day my husband and 6 year old son asked to try their hands at it. I'm embarassed to admit it, but their prints were even prettier than mine. My son especially loved this project and can't wait to get more flowers. Kudos to Amy and Ann for creating a sensational new way to make breathtaking quilts the whole family can be involved in. (And for those of you wanting to take a class like I did, check out patchworktwins.com for their class listing.)

A friend introduced me to Flower Pounding. We are having a great time with this. The authors give a lot of great tips on their website. They also state that your Flower Pounding works of art are dry-cleanable. This is great news! We have also tried color copying our poundings to transfer paper and having them ironed onto t-shirts. It worked great. Now they truly are washable. I don't see why you couldn't iron them onto a quilt block too. The possibilities are endless with this technique. Thanks to Amy and Ann for making my summer and my quilting a lot more interesting.

You may be wondering what in the world "Flower Pounding" is. Put simply, it is the process of transferring plant pigments to specially treated fabric via pounding with a hammer to create floral imagery reminiscent of water color painting. When I read through the book I was amazed at the beautiful projects within and wanted one for my very own.

The book has a wonderful alphabetic index of common garden flowers in the back and all of the gallery photographs list the flowers used in the projects for reference which I found to be very helpful. Along with detailed visual instructions for every step of the process from fabric treatment through pounding to completion with outlining, there are numerous photographs in the book of scenes created by the authors, Ann Frischkorn and Amy Sandrin. They have also included instructions for nine projects complete with quilting how-tos and templates to get you started. And, lest you think that this a project limited to the spring flower season, there are examples using fall flowers as well as poinsettias.

The authors glibly suggest that once you try flower pounding, you will never look at flowers the same. I must say that they are right in this assessment. Just the other day, I was at Costco and I eyeballed the fresh flower bouquets as I walked by. But, I was not thinking how pretty they were, no, I was wondering how they would look pounded!

Try it and see if you don't start thinking the same way!

Great book, all instructions are very well written and patterns are well done, can't wait to get started on this project!

Love it

Perfect book for the beginning quilter who wants to make a first attempt at a Hawaiian quilt. This small blocks are perfect to get a taste of the techniques involved and to improve your skills.

I found this book to be absolutely great!! There is a great variety of easy, medium, and more challenging blocks to complete in this book. Also, there is a good variety of designs amongst the blocks. Each block is represented in color on the front and back covers. The rest of the book is in black and white. Root also gives you an idea of how each block could be quilted. Although I only have 1 thing that I would change, and it's probably just my own personal curiousity but nonetheless, I wish the blocks had a little tid bit of their own history saying why that design came to be immortalized in a quilt. The book still deserves 5 stars!

Very well constructed book, with excellent drawings of patterns and thorough instructions included. There are additional graphics depicting suggested quilting ideas, which, for the novice hawaiian quilter, such as myself, is an excellent tool to create an outstanding finished result. Her patterns are full sized so you do not need to re-size the patterns to use them. You can trace or copy them for use. Overall, an excellent hawaiian quilting instruction book.

I overlooked this book for a long time because the cover photo didn't inspire me, but when I finally took a look inside, I realized that it is a rich goldmine of quilt ideas! Not only that, but it has had a big influence on my approach to quilting. The result is that I'm now having more fun with my quilting. And, that is the purpose of quilting, right? This book is fun to read, too. Gwen has a great sense of humor.
If you ever get discouraged in the pursuit of perfection in quilting, or if you are tired of using patterns and want to design your own quilts, don't waste another minute before buying this book. It's worth twice the price.

I happened upon the Accidental Quilters list of favorite quilt books-and thank goodness!! She spotlighted this book, and I ordered it immediately for several reasons-but mostly because I was a beginning quilter, and the artist in me bulked at the thought of making a cookie cutter quilt-regardless of whether it would be my first or my fiftieth! I appreciate the time and talent that goes into making a quilt from a pattern, but that is just not me. Thank you Accidental Quilter, thank you Gwen Marsten! Fabulous!!

Beeing a self-taught quilter and a "one time is enough pattern-follower" I simply loved this book! If you buy quilting books just for the patterns this is probably not the book for you, but if you like me read books for inspiration you will love this one. The photos are simply wonderful and the author's way of working is very easy to follow. This will be one of the few books I will read and enjoy more than once.

I own more than 100 different quiltingbooks, and this one is simply the best. It has given me a new way of looking at quilting, the whole prosess of it.

It has liberated me from the usual way of looking at blocks, and I know that this book will help me to make unik quilts, quilts I can sell without thinking of copywrights...

I have only been quilting for a year, but I have made more than 80 different quilts from dobbelbed size to tablerunners and I needed something new. This book gave me that.

I like to be able to make a quilt in a week or shorter time, this book has given me inspiration for many new ones, I just love it. Many thanks to Gwen Marston for setting me free....

Good luck to all you happy quilters out there from Olaug Berg Haugland in Norway

This book is an absolute inspiration. This way of working is so wonderfully freeing and draws forth creativity long buried beneath a plethora of rules. It connects one to quiltmaking's past and propels you forward into a broader future. I would not be without it.

This book is great! Easy to understand instructions and inspiring ideas to boot! I've made several mini quilts using the concepts presented. It's one of my favorite books in my quilting collection!

In Points of View, Valerie outdoes her first book, Beyond the Horizon. She includes many more techniques and hints, along with gorgeous pictures of her work and that of others. It's a book to get lost in. Easy to translate the written word into real life works and be pleased with the results!

If you love making quilted landscapes or are interested in learning how to make them, this is a great book. You learn easy as well as a little more advanced ways to make them. You learn how to look at fabric and see possiblilites in it that you had never seen before. Follow the patterns and techniques to make your own piece of art and then check out the gallery in the back of the book. Amazing! I had made landscapes before getting this book, but I have learned so much more from it.
Kay S.

This is an excellent book for a beginner to practice landscape quilting.
The simple techniques that you can try will encourage you to then design and make your own landscape quilt.

Points of View is a wonderful book, rich in detail and information, and gorgeous photos of Valerie Hearder's quilts. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to do landscape quilting. Valerie's "viewfinder" idea for finding your correct section of fabric is great, the instructions are clear and easy to follow to make your version of each type of quilt.

This is my favorite although all of Margaret Rolfe's books are excellent! You won't be disappointed!

The cover of this book really does not do justice to the designs inside. They are truly beautiful works of art--unique and magnificantly simple in their construction. The Noah's Ark quilt is a classic. Particularly helpful are two examples of the same animal square with the different types of fabric. One can easily see the dramatic difference that selection of fabric and color make in the final design. As my first project as a quilter, I made the rooster from fat quarters as a birthday present for my sister. If I do say so myself, it looks fabulous! With Ms. Rolfe's techniques of foundation quilting you do not have to worry about cutting exact shapes (except once for the entire block), nor about grain of the fabric. Instructions are clear and easy to follow. For Xmas, I plan to make pot holders from the designs as gifs. I'm even thinking about tackling the Noah's Ark quilt--for myself! I ordered more of her books because I enjoy her easy-going manner to quilting and the professional looking results!

With this book you learn to easily foundation piece cats, cows, lions, monkeys, elephants, chickens, bunnies, pelicans, eagles, peacocks, butterflies, cardinals, hummingbirds, kangaroos, and soooooo much more with readily understandable instructions.

The book is a great reference for other sewing projects and consists of 112 pages so it's rather thin. The book covers basic embroidery stitches (chain, french knot, stem, and more) with directions and illustrations, ways to add borders with directions and illustrations, assembling the quilt top, binding, and quilting of the finished work. There's a section pertaining to fabric selection and sewing materials/equipment.

I'd never paper pieced in my life and this book covered all the bases to complete these mini-quilts in a short period of time with professional looking results. I've surprised several family members with my work!

If you need a quilting book with easy to make animals, purchase this book as you will not be sorry.

I had been looking for an "Elephant" quilt for my elephant crazed 3 year-old for some time. I finally decided I would probably have to make him one myself. I have intermediate sewing skills but had never quilted before. This foundation piecing method is the way to go! The blocks turn out beautiful everytime. It is so easy and very addictive! There are so many different animal patterns in this book, from farm animals to zoo animals, to Australian animals and more. Something for everyone!!

I had been looking for an "Elephant" quilt for my elephant crazed 3 year-old for some time. I finally decided I would probably have to make him one myself. I have intermediate sewing skills but had never quilted before. This foundation piecing method is the way to go! The blocks turn out beautiful everytime. It is so easy and very addictive! There are so many different animal patterns in this book, from farm animals to zoo animals, to Australian animals and more. Something for everyone!!

This book also is misleading in the title. It shows you how to piece a fabric quilt using paper to guide you. The patterns are good and can be adapted to paper for cards.

I have always wanted to paper piece, but it seemed daunting. I bought this book, along with the book "Quick Strip Paper Piecing" and they both helped immensely. The instructions were easy to understand and follow. This book was great for a beginner paper piecer and gave some hints I found very helpful (if you get the book, the idea of using the post card to turn down your paper and trim was excellent!). The strip piecing speeds up the process. The only downfall is that you do waste more fabric than with other processes. Together these books made it easy for a beginner paper piecer and I successfully created a queen size quilt for my brother!

First, what I didn't like. When it says foundations for one small quilt included--they mean, this book only shows you how to make one quilt and that's what is included! That's right, you only end up with the pattern for the heart quilt shown on the cover. And when they say small, they mean really small.

Why then did I give this one quilt, 16 page booklet book five stars? Because the instructions are very clear and has black and white photos and diagrams throughout to guide you. Even though you only have instructions for the heart quilt, you could easily apply the skills you learn to any other foundation paper piecing quilt block. I bought it to learn the basics of paper piecing and it teaches that, but you will need to get other books or patterns for any other quilts.

This is a great instruction tool for learning to paper piece quilt blocks. Carol Doak does a fine job of taking the quilter step-by-step through the process, and the photos are very well done. I am confident that I can do the project with the paper piecing pattern that is provided in the book. Many thanks to Carol Doak for this fine little pattern/instruction book! I recommend it to any quilter who wants to learn to paper piece, no matter what their quilting skill level is.

I was taught in a class how to paper piece and dreaded doing it on my quilt.
When I received this book it helped my confidence to paper piece.




Thank you,
Julie Yunker