1 comments about Art Glass Quilts: New Subtractive Appliqu Technique.

1. I love this book. The instruction is so clear and very easy to follow. I was able to finish my quilt top in 8 hours (I have neither quilt or sew before). I hope for more of this kind of book. Highly recomended.
   Amy

4 comments about A Dozen Roses: Beautiful Quilts and Pillows (That Patchwork Place).

1. This book is so lovely and it contains a wide variety of quilting and sewing projects for people of all ability levels. The photography is beautiful and the instructions for each project are very detailed and precise.
   
   One great thing about this book is that there is a wide range of projects for everyone. Some of the projects are traditional (such as the Bed of Roses Baby Quilt) and others are more modern and funky (such as the Roses and Ribbons Strips Pillow). There are projects that could take several months to finish and others that could be completed in a matter of an hour or two.
   
   The authors also explain the inspiration behind their projects and give interesting background information. For example, the Rose of Havana Quilt was inspired by Azulejo tiles from the Moorish period in Spanish history. There are also many interesting legends relating to roses scattered throughout the book.
   
   I love this book and enjoy flipping through it to look at the gorgeous projects. I think my first project will be the Rose Petal pillow to add a romantic touch to my bed.



2. It is rare to find a quilting book that has more than one or two projects that appeal to me. In "A Dozen Roses," there are six that I'm already buying fabric for! The quilts are beautiful and reflect an artful style that is easy to achieve for quiltmakers who buy this book. There are instructions for coordinating projects - simple but which add just the perfect touch. Knitters will love the knitted pillows. The authors have put together a fantastic book, with great tips and techniques. Love it!



3. Jennifer Rounds and Catherine Comyns' A DOZEN ROSES: BEAUTIFUL QUILTS AND PILLOWS offers some eight quilt projects from a sampler and baby quilt to a coverlet, plus four coordinating pillow designs to be used with such quilts. Packed with full-page photos of finished quilts, inspirational roses from real-life, and diagrams and patterns, A DOZEN ROSES comes filled with different ideas and variations perfect for quilters who love flowers.



4. This is a spectacular collection of beautiful quilts and pillows. It is definitely not for a beginner quilter. There are a lot of pieces for almost every project in the book. I was disappointed that the paper piecing templates did not have color placement guidelines. Painless Paper-Piecing is a new way to paper piece without having to rip off all those pesky foundation papers. Preparation is necessary, but the results amazing.

5 comments about Simple Strategies for Scrap Quilts (That Patchwork Place).

1. This book didn't give me any new ideas for scrap quilts. Just the same old ones you see over and over again, like split-rail fence, bars, and double four-patch. As long as you separate the warm from the cool colors and buy more light fabrics instead of dark (quilters tend to buy too many dark fabrics!) you won't go wrong in making a successful quilt. I was just hoping this book would provide some fresh inspirations.



2. Quite a nice book for designing scrap quilts that look scrappy but blend colors and similar fabrics at the same time. Helps make more co-ordinated quilts from all the scraps in your stash. I liked this book.



3. Lynn Roddy Brown's book is excellent for the beginning scrap quilter or for those who have been mystified by how to use their ever-growing stash. For the experienced quilter, it serves as a great reference and jumping-off point. The author introduces the color theories of several well-known quilters and explains different approaches, but lets the reader choose her own way. Her method of starting with one size strip of each fabric speeds up the cutting process while her sewing and trimming techniques lead to accurate blocks. Clear, well-written instructions along with the author's tips on fabric collecting and necessary tools make this book a wonderful resource.



4. Lynn Roddy Brown is a veteran quilter, and it shows in her fabric selection, pattern design, and ability to describe a process clearly. In 95 pages, she presents eight different types of quilts with different color treatments for each. In addition, she gives background information on understanding scrap quilts, collecting fabric, basic quiltmaking, designing scrap blocks, and finishing the quilt. Her section on pairing and grouping fabrics is very well-done.
   
   The range of ideas in Scrap Quilts is considerable. We are doing one of her projects now. Drawings are clear and even include the pattern of each fabric (rather than just a color). Lynn shows how super a scrap quilt can be. This is a solid book.



5. This little book may have simple patterns, but the quilts end up to be simply beautiful! You won't have to go out and buy a lot of fabric to make the quilts. The title is descriptive and I have enjoyed making the quilt pictured on the cover from my scraps. The pattern required very little of one piece of fabric and I have plenty to choose from. I am very pleased and look forward to choosing another pattern in the book for my next quilt.

2 comments about Patchwork with Pizzazz: Over 60 Colorful Quilted Projects for All Seasons.

1. This is one of the best books that I have bought; I love the way the book covers so many types of bags and tips on making them. The selection of bags is great.



2. While the photographs are beautiful, and there is a wide range of appealing projects, both quilts and handbags, the quality of the instructions leaves a lot to be desired. There are photographs of finished projects, but very few illustrations of the actual steps required to sew them together. Also, I have found several errors that took multiple readings to untangle. The size of the finished bag is not given, so you must read through the instructions to see if the bag is the size you want to make.
   That said, I still recommend this book because of the great variety of attractive bags it provides. Just be aware that because of the way the instructions are written, it is probably not a good choice for beginners. But if you have sewing experience and can "read between the lines" to understand the construction of the bags, they are easy and quick to make and turn out well.

1 comments about Basic Quilting: All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started (Stackpole Basics).

1. Compiled, edited and arranged by quilting expert Sherrye Landrum, "Basic Quilting: All The Skills And Tools You Need To Get Started" is a fundamental introduction and instruction manual on quilting specifically designed for the novice beginner. Aspiring quilters are provided with expert and seasoned advice on choosing fabrics, batting, backing, thread, and quilt designs. Complete, illustrated, and methodical instructions are given for specific 'novice friendly' projects such as creating a pot holder, making a tote bag, quilting a table runner, and more. With expert contributions by Charlene Atkinson and photographs by Alan Wycheck, "Basic Quilting" is an ideal, spiral bound, instructional manual for anyone aspiring to acquire the basics of quilting that launch them into the creative and valued needlecraft hobby of quilting.

3 comments about Dear Hannah: In the Style of Jane Stickle.

1. What an amazing book! Better than I had hoped, this book contains 144 block patterns, including 72 appliqued flowers, birds, and animals, and 3 dozen pieced blocks. There are a number of different quilts pictured in the book made up using some or all of the blocks, in different layouts and colourways. There is even a redwork version! When purchasing I thought I would be working on one quilt for a while but now I have been inspired to do half a dozen different quilts from this book. Absolutely fantastic and great value!



2. If you love Dear Jane, you must have this one too....I really enjoy it and hope to do the quilt some day...have to finish Dear Jane first.



3. I LOVE her Dear Jane book but this one I don't like at all. It's mostly applique blocks which are ugly in my opinion. I didn't see any blocks I really cared to spend any time on. The letters to her grandchild were a sweet idea but this book is one of my LEAST favorites.

5 comments about Cookies 'n' Quilts: Recipes & Patterns for America's Ultimate Comforts.

1. I am a beginning quilter, and this book has projects that I can do easily, plus others that will challenge my abilities, but also teach me new skills (such as set-in seams). I also appreciate how Judy Martin gives yardage in length and in fat quarters.
   I am ordering a muffin top pan soon so that I can make many of the cookie recipes (lots of butter in these recipes, but yummy!)



2. I am a beginning quilter, and this book has projects that I can do easily, plus others that will challenge my abilities, but also teach me new skills (such as set-in seams). I also appreciate how Judy Martin gives yardage in length and in fat quarters.
   I am ordering a muffin top pan soon so that I can make many of the cookie recipes (lots of butter in these recipes, but yummy!)



3. First of all, I do not care for any of the cookie recipes in this book. I haven't made them all, but the ones I have tried were simply too rich - and yes, there is such a thing, at least to some tastes! Also, many of the recipes call for "unusual" ingredients or equipment such as cinnamon chips or a muffin-top pan, and these things may not be readily available to those who live in small towns or outside the US.
   The quilt section, however, was better. Most of the quilts are lap or wall sized, with a couple of bed sized quilts thrown in. Some are appropriate for an advanced beginner, while others require a certain amount of experience. They all have a more or less "scrappy" look to them. They are all nice quilts, though I don't think any of them are really outstanding. There is only one quilt, a log cabin variation, that I actually plan on making. One thing I really do like about this book, however, is that the fabric requirements are given in both yardage and fat quarters. I have the feeling that if you want to replicate the look of the quilts in the book, you would use fat quarters.
   This is a perfectly respectable book, and certainly nice to have if you collect quilting books. But if you plan on choosing only a few excellent books, I would try to find something different.



4. I admit that when I first ordered this book, I didn't think that I would really be interested in the recipes. I was so wrong, the cookie recipes are really wonderful! I think that both chocolate and quilts are a comfort in my life.:)
   The quilts are equally wonderful and quite simple to piece for an intermediate quilter. I love the Log Cabin that looks like a Snail's Trail or Virgina Reel. Can't wait to make this one! The more I look through this book, the more I like it. Imagine a Log Cabin block with a leaf in the corner. It makes a stunning quilt! Can't go wrong with Judy!



5. Great resource, combining beautiful and clever quilting patterns with some great cookie recipes. An excellent addition to any quilter's library.

4 comments about Twist 'N Turn: A Fun Way to Frame Quilt Blocks.

1. Love this book. Fun, easy ways to set odd quilt blocks. Give it a try.



2. This was a great purchase! I am thrilled to finally be able to complete some unfinished quilt projects which otherwise would have remained UFO's forever! I recently acquired 16 'friendship' blocks through my quilt guild with each block varying in size, making them difficult to put together into a quilt top. With the help of the methods in this book I very easily completed a lovely quilt - each of those blocks fitting in perfectly with little effort! Easy for beginners as well as 'seasoned' quilters like me. HIGHLY recommend this book for any quilter's library!



3. Ms. Craig wrote this book about 10 years ago when faced with making a quilt from blocks that weren't all an accurate and equal size. It really works. If you've ever won your quilting group's block-of-the-month and dispaired of some way to get them together because of disparate sizes........this is the book for you. Even better, it's sooooo simple too!



4. This book is an excellent source to use when dealing with quilt blocks that are not all the same size or when you want to put a different twist on a quilt project. I recommend this for beginners or experienced quilters.

1 comments about Quilt Savvy: One-Patch Scrap Quilts.

1. Pat Yamin's new book is a treasure for any quilter who wants to be able to make a quilt with minimal stress. She shows you how to use one template to make a variety of beautiful quilts.
   
   There are lots of color pictures that show traditional patterns made in todays colorful fabrics. Of course, the quilts would be lovely in more traditional fabrics, too. This is a great book for beginners. However, the more advanced quilter will be challenged, too. I can hardly wait to get started on some one-patch quilts of my own.

3 comments about Borders & Finishing Touches, Vol. 2.

1. If you are looking for a good reference for techniques and also for some great patterns for borders, this is the book for you. Also, if you want to make that great Windmill Log Cabin as shown on the opening of Simply Quilts, Bonnie has included all of the instructions to make this quilt. I liked the border patterns especially ... some of them are borders from prizewinning quilters like Linda Roy's Best of Show quilt, Spice of Life, and Gladi Porsche's beautiful appliqued border in Keeping Autumn with Me. Bonnie has designed some new borders too. I'm glad to have it in my library.



2. Choose from a range of designs and techniques to provide a professional finishing touch to a quilt in Bonnie K. Browning's Borders & Finishing Touches 2, a collection of ideas which uses an easy paper-folding technique to make all borders fit perfectly. Designs created by Browning use novelty bindings, scalloped edges and more to provide lovely quilt borders. Patterns, color photos, and suggestions for alternate uses of the bindings make for a 'must' for any quilter who wants to add polishing touches.



3. Every project lurks around in my sewing room till it is completely finished. I was inspired to complete several more of my quilts after seeing the methods used in this book. Very thorough and great pictures.