Library - 2004 Book Reviews

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Quilting 101: A Beginner's Guide to Quilting
by the editors of Creative Publishing

Quilting 101 begins with the basics, the real basics, the components of a sewing machine. So, if you get a new machine for Christmas or your daughter or granddaughter does, this would be a great book to peruse. It proceeds from there to discuss, again, the basics: from equipment and supplies needed to fabric terms such as grain line, selvages, value, pressing techniques, and how to choose fabrics. And then it proceeds to teach correct rotary cutting and how to layer, quilt, and bind the quilt. It is quite surprising how many quilt books do not have any of those three important steps explained. The book continues with patterns starting with an appliquéd hot pad, all the way to place mats, table runners, lap quilts, and baby quilts. For a beginner, this book has great starting projects that won't be intimidating or too time consuming. Check it out! Well, in January at least.

Designing Quilts: The Value of Value
by Suzanne Tessier Hammond

The value of value cannot be better stated than by quoting from the beginning of this book: "It was in Roberta Horton's classes that I learned about the fickleness of value and color and about how they perform their chameleon acts depending on their surroundings." Roberta says it perfectly: often the effectiveness of a quilt is not because of its colors, but of the value of the colors. Take any piece of fabric and it may be a light fabric compared to the one beside it, or it may be a dark fabric.

This book discusses how to "read" the value of a fabric, tools to aid in this, and then the book will amaze you when you realize that every quilt in the book is made from the same basic block, what the author calls a shaded four-patch or "her" block. No quilt even closely resembles another; most are very scrappy, depending solely on value for their design. Throughout the book are wonderful tips, easily found because of the eye catching box in which each is contained. This author stresses that when using value for design, colors and fabrics in and of themselves mean nothing; the fabrics can be ugly and clashing, used together in one block, but when the value has been correctly selected, the overall stand back and say "OHHHH" affect will be there.

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Spectacular Scraps: A simple approach to stunning quilts
by Judy Hooworth and Margaret Rolfe

Now this book is going to try my moral integrity big time. How am I going to put it in the library when I really want to keep it right here and play? It approaches scrap quilts using nothing but half square triangles. It starts by giving you ideas of how to use scraps so the quilts sparkle rather than look like muddy waters by careful selection of colors. Follow that with the explanation that a half square triangle unit has four possible positions or directions and when four of these units are combined, there are 256 different 4-patch blocks, each of which is shown in a chart. Now hasn't that caught your interest! Then comes precise directions for 15 of the 4-patch blocks, and beautiful color photos. Last, but not least, are alternate methods of making half triangle squares with a positive and negative evaluation of each method. This is a book that you might not need in your personal library, but is perfect to borrow, get endless ideas that will be useful for countless quilts in the future. I’ll impatiently wait my turn so check it out!

A Nice Mix by Gerry Kimmel

Often when looking for an older book in the library to review, I first discard it just because it is “old” looking. Quilting has come so far in the past ten years that the older books don’t appeal to the eye, and often the directions aren't what we have come to expect. But then I stop and remember that we can take ideas from these books, add them to the ideas in the new books, and come up with wonderful, one of a kind simple masterpieces. A Nice Mix is just that type of book. I chose it at this time because of the simple appliqué patterns over pieced work in winter or Christmas quilts and hangings.

There is a delightful, whimsical tree block where the tree seems to be a freehand cut lightning streak with a free floating star above, yet there is no mistaking it for a tree. It would make a great quilt as shown, or just a nice block or motif in anything you might be making for the holidays. Check it out.

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MORE FAT QUARTER QUILTS by M’Liss Rae Hawley

This is the perfect book for the library thanks to our generous sponsors who donate fat quarter packets for door prizes. It is the second book in the series and the quilts are more sophisticated or complex than in the original book. I found them equally easy to make, directions well written, but the quilts far more spectacular. Throughout the book are “fat quarter adviser” boxes, each giving advice on how to select a group of fat quarters that will be particularly effective for a specific pattern. Of particular interest to me was the no “unsewing” version of a pretty bargello quilt. That will be my next quilt! Check it out! The book, not my quilt!

Strips That Sizzle by Margaret J. Miller

This is technically an older book, written in 1992, but new to our library and the focus for the October class. I can see why it is on the class list of supplies. Looking at it ,one chooses a whole different set of strips than before having looked at it. Basically left over scraps strips become the basis for truly exciting quilts. How can a book miss when chapters are headed Color Strategies, Sashing Strips that Sizzle, Border Ideas that Sizzle and Design Diversions? Each and every chapter looks at the ordinary strip and makes it extraordinary. How often do we take the time to think about making the sashing strips more than separators, but instead a part of the design excitement? This book helps you do that. Check it out!

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SEPTEMBER 2004

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Mad About Plaid! Quilts from Classic Fabrics by Debbie Bacon

Plaids! You must be kidding. They are hard to work with, busy, dated, difficult to cut. Well, after reading this book I’ve changed all my preconceived ideas. The book starts with a short history of plaids, saying they date back to the first weavings and are as popular today as then. And unlike prints, plaids don’t date themselves by looks. Next it addresses the issues I first raised. Hard to work with. Not if you are careful in choosing the patchwork block and understand about mixing and matching values. If you want a structured look, plaids help give that if you carefully follow the stripes in the plaids while cutting, but if you want a less formal look, just cut away. The eye will shift from broken line to the next line, adding interest and excitement. After the book’s informative introductions, patterns for 8 plaid quilts are given. Think I’ll rethink getting rid of or avoiding plaids in the future. Check it out!

Shortcuts To The Top by Donna Lynn Thomas

Being an older book, this goes into some detail about rotary cutting and basic techniques that some of the newer books “assume” everyone knows. It is a good book for beginner quilters yet if they use the new bright fabrics on the market, the quilts will never look as if they came from an old book.

The book is divided into 4 sections, not counting the introduction where the basic techniques are taught. These include Straight-Grain Strip Piecing, Bias Strip Piecing, Striped Squares and Triangles and Curves and Diamonds. Just using this book a beginner can advance to become a proficient quilter, moving up through the sections as each has a slightly more difficult concept. But those of you already into quilting, there are some very good patterns here. Check it out!

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Monkey Wrench - New Quilts from an Old Favorite by AQS

New Quilts from an Old Favorite is an annual contest in Paducah. The Monkey Wrench happens to be a name assigned to several different blocks down through the years, but two distinct versions, Snail’s Trail and Churn Dash are mainly featured in this book. One would think that if you say make a quilt using the Monkey Wrench block there would at least be a recognizable look to each quilt. The quilts in this book are truly amazing, not because of their difficulty but the imagination shown. The pictures are stunning, patterns are included, but what I also loved about this book is each pattern is accompanied by a full page biographical sketch of the quilter. Notice, I said quilter, not artist. Although they have won prizes, been included in this book, most are not Artists with a capital A. They are just quilters. In these sketches the quilters describe some of the thought processes, successes and failures that went into the finished product. I loved the story about the two friends getting together and ended up with a quilt aptly named Two Friends Monkeying Around and they actually included paper-doll-cut monkeys in their quilt just because they could! Check it out!

Stars and Stepping Stones by Marsha McCloskey

And this one is old, written in 1989. Not only is it old, but always ignored because quite truthfully, it has an ugly cover and a quick flip through passes right beyond the colored pictures, such as they are. But what a jewel of a book. Basically, it features three star patterns, and several “stepping stone” or as others call them, connecting block patterns. When combined, the results are stunning, whether using scraps or coordinated fabrics.

I use the book often as I have many requests for photo transfer quilts or ideas on how to make a memory quilt. If you use a sawtooth star block with the center occasionally a photo, and the connector the stepping stone block pattern, or maybe Puss in the Corner, you will have a unique quilt. Stars and Stepping Stones has been my inspiration for many philanthropy quilts, gift quilts and commissioned quilts. Check it out!

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JULY 2004

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Fun Photo-Quilts and Crafts
by Ami Simms

Another favorite author, Ami's books are well written with clear instructions. She shows infinite ways to use her ideas. This is the perfect resource if you are wondering what to make for your young or old family member, someone leaving home for the first time, a shower remembrance, or anytime you think photos would look great in a quit. Ami has imaginative, vibrant, yet easy settings using photo transfers.

Check it out!

Smashing Sets: Exciting Ways to Arrange Quilt Blocks
by Margaret Miller

Lets face it, anything by Margaret Miller is worth picking up and reading. Do I sound a bit prejudiced? I probably am, but I never promised an unbiased review. This book shows exciting ways to assemble an assortment of blocks. Some settings are not easy; in fact, most are a stretch. But what I discovered were ideas. I may not have the skills or the time to use her Smashing Sets, but I certainly learned how to improve my own sets. She teaches how to take a variety of sized blocks and assemble them in a unique way rather than the tried-and-true and sometimes boring four block by five block. She does not advocate forcing the blocks to be the same size, but changes the size of the background to fit the size and shape of the existing blocks. Check it out!

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JUNE 2004

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Ricky Tims' Convergence Quilts

Right on the cover Ricky describes his quilts as Mysterious, Magical, Easy and Fun. One of my friends in San Diego just taught a class using his method and the participants said it was the most fun they’ve had in a class and every one finished their wall hanging in the one day workshop. And I’m not talking about a 14” wall hanging but the one I saw was really a small child sized quilt. It truly is a magical idea In his book he teaches convergence (merging together) using two or more designs (fabrics) that are cut into strips and then merged together. The results are absolutely amazing. He states that there are No Rules, No Police and just a few basic guidelines. It has taken me way too long to write this review because I’ve gotten so caught up in reading his descriptions, background etc. I’m so glad I had to have it here at home to review it. I’m going to Check it out!

Scrap Quilts by Judy Martin

This 1985 book by Judy Martin is one many of you have in your library, just as the guild does. But often we forget to look back at our older books because they don't have the rotary cutting directions or the new speedier techniques. But stop and think. If you know the techniques, then you can personally apply them to the wonderful patterns for scrap quilts contained in this book. Stacked Bricks on page 55 is a wonderful pattern. It would be perfect if you are a person saving scraps from clothing you've made for your children/grandchildren. How do I know? Ask my granddaughter!

We think it is so new to include appliqué touches with pieced work as is being seen in all the quilt shows lately, yet Judy has a great pattern with color photo on page 37 doing just that. Just need an appliquéd border to go with your current quilt? There it is! Check it out!

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MAY 2004

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Floral Illusions
by Karen Combs

As Karen says in her introduction, she usually works with cubes and boxes to from optical illusions. This time she has formed optical illusions starting with a floral block, and by placement and color, has created illusions of motion and movement luminosity. Secondary patterns pop all through her quilts. What I found most fascinating was the combination of paper piecing and regular piecing to form the blocks and quilt. The patterns are shown in a way that it quickly encourages the quilter to take blocks from different patterns and arrange a unique quilt. Check it out!

Down the Rotary Road
by Judy Hopkins

This is always one of the first books I turn to when I need a new idea for a quilt. Of course, I like any of Judy Hopkins's books. What I like best about this book is that each quilt is different than the one before. There are many quick pieced quilts, from folk to fancy, as she says in her subtitle. One of my favorites is her split nine patch. It is a perfect scrap quilt. She has quilts featuring stars and pinwheels, plaid nine patch, etc., etc., etc. In other words thirty choices multiplied by as many variations as the quilter can arrange.

Check it out!

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Batik Beauties by Laurie J. Shifrin

Batiks are beautiful just sitting in your stash, but believe me, with this book, they are far more beautiful made up into a choice of 18 different quilts and wall hangings. The book not only includes gorgeous pictures, but Laurie gives advice on choosing and caring for batik fabrics, lists the required skill level for each quilt and detailed instructions on how to construct the quilt. Many of the quilts are simple to better showcase the fabric. Check it out!

Nature’s Patterns by Joyce R. Becker

The subtitle of this book describes the book well: Inspiration and Techniques for Quiltmakers. Each section starts with a spectacular photograph of nature and this is then used as an inspiration for a variety of quilts. The quilts are not necessarily your ordinary log cabin, monkey wrench or Ohio star type quilts, yet as you look at the instructions and suggestions, it all seems very doable. I have never had the desire to step outside my comfort zone to try something like this, until reviewing this book. What I found most amazing is how one photograph could inspire so many totally different looks and techniques, everything from string paper piecing to traditional blocks, yet all relating in some subtle way, back to the photo. Another nice feature of the book is the inclusion of personal commentaries by the various quilters as to how they go about using nature to inspire their choice of fabric and design. These quilts are not “pictures of nature”, one would rarely recognize what the original picture was from the final product, but they are very personal reactions to nature. Check it out!

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Quick-Strip Paper Piecing by Peggy Martin,
C&T Publishing, 2003

Can you imagine chain piecing a New York Beauty? That’s what this book teaches. Absolutely stunning stars, paper pieced, yet chained for a fast yet accurate block. The book is laid out so that the first stars are simpler, with clear instructions and wonderful graphics. Then the stars become more and more complex, but still, because of concise instructions, they are easy to do Included in the book are all the patterns with instructions for copying, small uncolored blocks for you to copy and then color to audition fabrics, and a wonderful gallery of quilts to use as ideas for designing your own quilts, or wall hangings. This book’s appeal is clear instructions for a new/faster way of paper piecing and a wonderful array of exciting, colorful quilts to look at.

Pieced Borders: The Complete Resource
by Judy Martin and Marsha McCloskey

While going through the library books to update the inventory, I found one of my favorite books, Pieced Borders. It is too bad that such a great resource has such an uninteresting cover because it isn’t one that catches your eye. Yet inside are wonderful ways to finish your quilts with a flourish. Far too often we complete the blocks for a quilt, sew them together and throw on strips of fabric to finish it, yet almost any quilt can be enhanced by interesting borders -- borders that complement the blocks and accentuate the work you have done on the blocks. This book not only has many border treatments, but the patterns necessary for many different sizes, and the instructions of how to make any border treatment fit your quilt. And one of the best features is how to take a small wall hanging such as many workshops have you complete, and enlarge it through borders to a useable quilt which will showcase your latest endeavor. Check it out.

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Archived Book Reviews ~ The New and the Old - 2004