Sewing Machines Books

The book was in better shape than I expected for the very low price. Looks almost new. It also arrived much more quickly than I expected.

Normally I would have knit a baby blanket vs. sewing one, but decided that I wanted to make a baby quilt.
I looked at many books and still found it to be somewhat confusing, all the terminology,, and intimidating at best.

I have knit log cabin squares ,so I did not think it would be hard to sew them ( I have sewn in the past so that part is not new to me)
It was fun to knit, and find it very enjoyable to sew the log cabin quilts!
I never was a fan of quilting before ,,,,and I still think that this will be the only pattern I will use and re use for quilts.
Most other patterns are SO time consuming and confusing to me.

I have known about the whole Quilt in A Day series since I had visited quilt shops and shows with friends who do quilts for church projects and had spent sometime looking at all the fun projects that are out there. Plus I got hooked on the Amy Butler line of fabric for skirts and halter tops (she designs them also) and she makes some to die for fabrics for awesome contemporary quilts. Check out her website to see some of her things.

The new mom wanted a quilt and even asked for one ( if possible) that a little girl could " grow with" ,meaning all her other baby quilts/blankets from before were small,,,,, and quickly outgrown from her first little boy.

OK, I thought,,,,,this is for a little girl now, lets see what can be done.
I went to the fabric shop with a knowledgeable friend and picked out the mom's chosen colors of lilac's and greens and the backing.

After getting this book as well as ordering the DVD ( that has even more info in it for 10$ from the company) I am pleased to report that I am NOT intimidated anymore and having a lot of fun sewing it up!
I did decide to do a wall hanging size ( vs baby size) as the baby can use this for play space when on the floor and also transfer it to her bed when she gets a little bigger.
I will not be doing the actual quilting the first time around , I am taking it in to get quilted, but the next one I am planning , I will do on my machine ~ that one will be a lap robe for my mother who also wants a light weight quilt rather than a knit throw.

I guess I will keep knitting socks , and sweaters but as of now,,,,I am HOOKED on quilting for beds and throws!

I want to thank the author for making this SO clear and SO easily understood that a person like me who has NO idea how to quilt feels confident in their very first quilt!
I think I am going to very much enjoy this new hobby!

I think the whole Eleanor Burn's line of books and DVD's are very good but the truth is,,,,you can make some pretty incredible Log Cabin quilts in many different patterns just out of this one book.
I LOVE It!

I bought this book several years ago, when I first started quilting. I made 5 quilts (for gifts) at one time with this pattern. I am a visual learner so the illustations and easy to follow directions were perfect for me. I especially appreciated the easy to follow instructions on cutting out, laying out and piecing the strips. They all came out beautifully. One tip; I do not have a quilting sewing machine and had trouble finishing the denim quilts by machine. So I tied these off. I prefer Eleanor Burns' books over others because of their simplicity.

I'm a new quilter and had been intimidated by the Log Cabin pattern. I took a class that taught this method at my local sewing machine center, and was able to complete a wall hanging (which at 68" x 68" is more like a throw) top in an 11 hour class including cutting and chattering time. I'm an Eleanor Burns fan for life now.

I am not an experienced quilter, but I have made several quilts. When I came across this book and thumbed through the pages, I was fascinated by her method. When I last made a king-sized quilt, it took me 3-4 years, mostly because I was discouraged by how long it was taking me to assemble it. I started with this pattern recently to make a king-sized quilt as a gift, and I am astounded with how fast I am progressing. With this method, you can work on it in short bursts if you want, but if you have an entire day, you can get a lot done! I highly recommend it! I look forward to using this method to make quick baby quilts in the future!

Very good book full of new ideas for how to use all of your scraps and left-overs from quiltmaking etc.Wonderful ideas and the results can even be used in many practical ways - and still they are very decorative. You will have tons of inspiration buying this book.

I'm very satisfied with my purchase. Delivery was prompt and the book was like new even tho it was described as used. I would order again in a heartbeat.

Our local quilt guild had a group of ladies who wanted to try this new "craft", a few of us purchased the book and gave it a try on one of our get togethers. You can master a basket in no time at all. I was able to make some really beautiful baskets.

Love the various projects to use my left over fabrics, great book to work with.

If the gal with the critical review would try the technique, she would soon figure out (if she has any imagination) that with just a little experimentation, she could create her own patterns for purses and totes. This is a fun and simple technique. Novices can produce pretty results very quickly. There are all kinds of possibilities.

I agree with most of the previous reviewers: the book illustrates things very nicely, with inspiring examples and clear directions that make it possible to quickly be creative. I've already (second basket) discovered that cutting strips on or near the bias reduces fraying to almost nothing and makes wrapping easier. I've had a great time playing with color, breaking all the rules (if there were any) with fun results. Now I'm experimenting with shapes, and with different ways to transition from one fabric strip to another, and from one cord to the next.

Some quilt shops sell very cheap but soft cording that doesn't hold it's shape very well (sometimes that's not important). Others also sell stiff but expensive cording that makes a nice firm basket. Lowe's sells some that is in between that is very affordable. Other hardware stores probably have still other types.

Experimentation is the fun of it. After working so hard on quilts to be precise, this is a refreshing change that takes little planning, preparation, or exacting method, and is a great way to use some of those fabrics that have been sitting in your stash for years. I love it.

I have half a dozen machine quilting books and have taken just as many quilting classes from nationally known teachers but this book is really the foundation of it all. If you can only buy 1 book, buy this one! It covers all the basics like stabilizing IN DETAIL. Many books skip this or are so vague that they are not useful. This book covers everything in detail. Read this book cover to cover and then practice and that is all you will need.

Really appreciated the highlighted tips. The photos were sparse, but the instructions are clearly written. I would have given 5 stars, but there is a considerable amount of reading to do. If you are more of a "hands on" person, then taking a class would be better.

I found this book very informative and interesting. Harriet Hargrave explains almost everything in detail and is excellent at not confusing you along with giving you her opinions on what she found to be easy but lets you make a decision as to what will work for you. I will purchase other books from her.

A must have if you want to do machine quilting. Every aspect is explained well from the tools to the actual techniques. Also have wonderfull library of photo's for inspiration.

This is a basic must-have reference by an expert machine quilter, that puts information and help in one place.

I thought I would always have to send my quilts out to be quilted, even though I had bought two quilting machines. This was expensive and not always satisfactory due to the results. So I finally broke down and bought this book. Now I do all of my own quilting, and because of the confidence gained by this book, have recently purchased a long arm. Harriet's ways are understandable, easy, and comprehensive. A real
"NEED TO HAVE" for any quilter!

I have this book and it is the bomb! I've used it for years and even bought the revision to it, it was so worth the money. If you only ever get one machine quilting book, this is the one to get.

Heiloom Machine quilting is just the best if you want to learn to quilt your own quilt top on your sewing machine. This book explains everthing so well and why you need to do certain things to get the job done. I just enjoy this book There are quilting patterns in this book to use and the step by step on how to do them.

harriet hargrave is a master, and continues to become even more amazing. if you are interested in machine quilting, get the next edition of this work--it includes her most recent tips, discoveries, etc.

From the outset, learning why some things are done this way rather than that, I wanted to gather and destroy the five quilts I've made because they don't even approach "good" quality (forget heirloom quality). Getting past that, there was really useful information that made completing the quilt I was currently working on much easier and showed why some of my earlier ones are in the shape they are (sigh - if only I knew then...). The information on batting was comprehensive and very helpful. I still prefer polyester for its economy and fluff, but am going to try cotton and now know what the differences are (besides price). I am not a total beginner but quilts are only one part of my sewing. I consider myself a "hacker" rather than a serious quilter. I have read other machine quilting books which were very good, but I would have to say this is the best, with the most practical information. Note: there are no patterns for quilts, though there are quilt photos throughout the book. There are quilting line patterns to copy, however, with directional arrows to guide your machine quilting.

I waited for this book with eager anticipation, only to find out that the item was delivered to a totally different address in another zip code. I contacted the shipper, who unfortunately said they could not reship another item as it was the only one they had, nor could they refund my purchase as it was not their fault for the misdelivery.

I wasn't planning on buying this book but did it to get to free shipping. Really glad I did. Excellent coverage of topic.

This is a wonderful book to fine tune your sewing skills. I don't do much vintage sewing but there was a lot to learn from this book, even though I have been sewing for fifty years.

haven't had a chance to look at book yet. Bought it because had taken some sewing lessons and this book was used so was familiar with it and wanted a copy of my own. Also, got one for a gift.

but everyone else has already covered it. I'm generally not impressed with most sewing or craft related books, but this one is exceptional. To begin with, the writing style is easy to read and follow. Next, the information order is logical and easy to implement. Finally, each stitch type is grouped in sections beginning with an overview and then breaking down by thread, needle, foot and fabric considerations.

The book looks simple enough for me to teach my granddaughters the basics of sewing. They are 7 and 11 years old. I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun sewing and teaching with the book

This is an absolute must have book for teaching children to sew. In fact I am also using it in my adult classes and the reviews have been very favorable from them as well.

My 8 yr old daughter got this from Santa and she has been through about half the activities already. Santa also brought her a sewing basket and all the materials needed for the different projects. She is becoming quite skilled and confident at using the sewing machine.

Great tools to help your child (or yourself) get used to using a sewing machine.

I bought the book for a grandchild who was interested in sewing. This book has wonderful practice pages for the beginner sewer. The book explains and illustrates in a very easy way for the beginning person. I think this book would help anyone who wants to learn to sew, yes, even an adult.

My new serger came with great technical documentation, but no examples of what the different stitches are used for, or really useful troubleshooting techniques. I figured out a little and then bought this book. All the information I sought is right here. Granted it's probably fairly basic stuff, but it's just what I needed to know and is presented in a very user-friendly manner. There are multiple examples of uses for various stitches (and plenty of pictures) that helped me connect them with their names so I could get more value from the documentation booklet supplied with the machine. This book isn't machine specific so using both together gave me the best results.

I greatly appreciate the troubleshooting section of the book as it describes what to look for first, second, etc, when you're not getting the results you expect, and again, lots of pictured examples to help you identify your exact problem. Since I'd just gone through one such episode, eventually finding the problem on my own, I knew this book was right on target (and if I'd had it sooner, I'd have saved that hour of frustration). There are also tips and tricks that have really helped me, such as how to change threads more easily. I must say the serger intimidates me a little, but this book has made the learning curve much shorter and I know I will continue to get use from it as my skills mature because there are examples of more complicated things I look forward to trying. I've found it well worth the purchase.

I own four serger books and this is by far the most useful. It is a great resource for those new to serging, especially if the instruction manual that came with your serger is inadequate. The book covers all of the basics needed for serging without previous experience - serger parts, threading, tension, basic operations, serging knit fabrics, rolled hems, troubleshooting, etc. The author is obviously quite experienced in pointing out common serger pitfalls to the beginner.

I already own a copy of this book so I purchased this for a friend who is new to the sergers. This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn how to use a serger. I have read it three times and each time I learn something new. Sergers are a very different animal than a sewing machine, so regardless to what brand you have this book will help you master how to use it and troubleshoot it when necessary.

I love this book! I borrowed it from the library after buying my first serger and would have thrown my machine out the window if I hadn't been able to refer to it.

It's a very comprehensive and clear reference for anyone who's new to serging and wants to get the basics right, such as threading and tension. The author has a very entertaining style, that makes the book fun to read, as well as informative.

I bought the hard cover version, which is well worth the extra money. As you become a more confident serger, you'll probably want to purchase a more advanced book, such as SERGER SECRETS, but this book will stand you in good stead for the basics.

I am new to using a serger and found this gem of a book to help me understand how to get the most out of it. The explanations are easy to read with plenty of photos for greater understanding. This handbook covers all you need to know about using a serger,from serger parts, threads, threading, tension controls and techniques. There's guides in the back to help with trouble shooting and machine maintainance as well. I have yet to find another book that explains so much about the functions and features of a serger in such a user friendly format. I'd recommend it to anyone who has, or is thinking of buying a serger - from beginner to advanced!

This is my absolute all time favorite machine quilting book. Even better than her other awesome book, Gaudynski's Guide to Machine Quilting. If you know the beginning basics of machine quilting, but want a book to take your quilting to the next level, this the book for you! I learned so much from this wonderful book, she has so many practical tips, things that nobody else tells you. It is inspiring. You will be delighted with this book! You will have so many of your questions and problems addressed in this book and the improvement you will experience in your quilting is amazing.Her 2 books are fantastic. Can't praise her enough. GET IT!!!!

The book has wonderful pictures showing examples, and clear and precise directions. The information given in the book is in easy to follow and easy to digest format. It is spiral bound. A must have for machine quilters.

This is an excellent book for those interested in quilting on their home machine. The writing is clear and the photographs provide further clarification.

I totally LOVE this little book. I suggest it to anyone who wants to machine quilt. This book is written for quilting on a domestic machine, but I just purchased a long-arm and this is my absolute favorite book. Her quilting is awesome and the pictures are great. She clearly explains several excellent "background" and "filler" patterns - all of which are easy to do. I was so tired of just settling for basic meandering. She talks a lot about the different threads she likes and why, and even gives a list of her favorites. You will not be disappointed in this book. And did I mention it is "spiral bound".

Like her original book on quilting on a home machine; Guide to Machine Quilting this well written text informs and inspires with generous good will. The photos of Gaudynski's wonderful work could be intimidating if not accompanied by her equally skilled coaching and incouragement. Her clear lucid text, wry sense of humor and "just do it" approach gave me the courage to roll up a queen size quilt loaded down with a couple of pounds of safety pins and begin. The result wasn't perfect, but the end was better than the beginning and that is the point Gaudynski makes; quilting is a motor skill and practice makes perfect. If you haven't already; do yourself a favor and get these books.

Seems like a thorough book. I haven't had the time to get to all of it. I will use it as a reference for my sewing projects.

You will buy several books on the craft of sewing, whether for pleasure or profit. I found this one to be of great value, and I find I am referring to its content often. It is always at hand.

This was a Christmas gift for my mom. She had borrowed the book once from our library and new it was a great book. She states it has amazing information on special on special sewing techniques, embroidery, etc... It has detailed pictures & instructions. Great book for beginners & experienced sewers. The seller I purchased from was great. The book was in superb condition, just as described, fast shipping also. Very happy with transaction, would recommend to others and buy from seller again.

With this book I belive I will improve my sewing! Lots and lots of information and different tecniques.

I would recommend this book. I bought two copies, one for myself and one for a sewing friend. We have both been happily browsing the book. It has so many great techniques and ideas that will complement our sewing. This will definitely be a good reference book to keep.

This is one of the more interesting free motion embroidery
Books. I think that any one who can sew can do these projects. They are well illustrated and directions are clearly given. No guess work.

I have tried several of the techniques and the author has made learning free motion very understandable and attainable. It is my favorite new quilting book!

This book presents good technical information on handling thread, etc. for free-motion techniques. I find the examples quite uninspiring artistically, though.

As a freehand embroiderer for more than a couple of decades, I purchased this book a few years ago and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I must admit that I buy books like this as much to enjoy reading as to learn from. Unlike a prior reviewer, I won't criticize Ms. Fahl for having a different artistic vision that I might have--and my work is quite different from hers. So what? This book is presented as a jumping-off point for the buyer's creativity. This book is a great companion to Ms. Fahl's DVD presentation on working with thread; I have reviewed it separately. For a beginner, this can be a very good first resource.

We just cannot get enough time to try everything in this book It is absolutely inspiring. It is exciting just reading it and makes one long to get to the sewing machine. Why do we have to do housework, cooking and cleaning when there are such exciting things to create. Thanks to Ann Fahl for the work she has put into this book.I will always treasure it as I learn the art of Thread Painting.