Quilting Books

Heirloom Machine Quilting is just the best book I have gotten yet. This book helps you understand what to do and why if you want to quilt your own quilt top without having to have someone with a longarm machine doing the job for you. It has pattern for you to copy for the quilting and shows you how to sew them in a one- two- three.

I am fortunate to have seen the quilts in this book in real life when Ms Gravatt visited the London Quilters in the mid 1990s to exhibit her work. The workmanship is quite exquisite and these little quilts really are miniature replicas of full sized quilts.

The book contains patterns for 17 miniature quilts. The techniques used range from Hawaiian applique and traditional applique methods to Grandmother's Flower Garden using the English paper piecing method and even a delightful little Yo-yo quilt.

This book is not aimed at the beginner but at the quilter who understands how patchwork and applique quilts are made and planned and how to choose fabrics. Some suggestions are made at the beginning for finishing techniques and there are some general basic instructions but most of the quilts are complex enough that you will need to know what you are doing before you start.

That said it's a delightful book, beautifully photographed, which will grace any patchworker's shelves even if used purely as eye candy. And you never know when you will need to make that special quilt for a special doll!

Beautiful completed quilts ... Cutting directions are given for the best use of the fabrics ... Full-size templates ... Variations shown in different colors ... Old-fashioned quilts using modern techniques and materials

This is truly a beautiful book.

Joanne Goldstein is a very talented individual. THis book is a fine example of her work. Its contents are very inspiring and instructions very
clear.

Christmas 2008 is sneaking right up on us. If you need an idea for a gift for the season, this is a good book to have. It jumps right into the projects of which there are six.

A photo of the project, a skill level and the finished size start the directions. A paragraph about the project is next, followed by a materials and cutting list. These are written clearly. Making the quilt is the next set of directions and contains graphics to help you understand the written directions. Templates are provided but need to be enlarged. Finishing directions complete the pattern.

Tips are found throughout the book in a box with a red and white striped top. Beginner and Intermediate are the skill levels for the projects so you don't need to be a 20 year veteran to make any of these. The projects range from a card holder, to a Tree Skirt to a quilt. Each author has a good sized paragraph about how she got where she is.

Grab this book now and you will have wonderful presents to gives when the Season arrives.

I purchased this book after seeing the quilt on the back cover. What a stunner! I was equally impressed to find many other beautiful projects inside. I would recommend this book but try looking around for a better deal. I paid $30 for it and that seems just about right.

All kinds of sewing machines can be used for this free-motion technique for versatile no-mark feathers which eliminates backtracking and provides quick, eye-catching quilter's results. Libraries strong in quilting how-to guides will appreciate a step-by-step approach to creating machine-quilted feathers which blends colorful examples with charts and instructions for polished results.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I found this book useful not only to rug hookers but they are great patterns for needle punch too.