Sew The Perfect Bag Sew News Martingale & Co.; $22.99
Who hasn’t sewn a bag? I have a theory about why women have so many bags, as well as shoes. They always fit! And if you are looking for another bag to add to your collection, Sew The Perfect Bag has some great patterns, 25 to be exact. The patterns, which originally appeared in the pages of Sew News, include a lovely sashimi stitched silk duping clutch, a messenger bag that’s full of pockets and an insulated wine or beverage carrier. You’ll also find a diaper bag with an attached vinyl changing pad and side pockets big enough for two full-size bottles. And if you’ve ever accidentally washed a wool sweater, you’ll find instructions for creating a felted tote. This is a versatile collection and you’re sure to find something that fits your needs.
Here’s a link, if you’d like to add it to your library.
Sew Into Sports: Quilts for the Fans in Your Life By Barbara Brackman
Kansas City Star Books; $19.95
Quilt historian Barbara Brackman is not a sportswoman, but that doesn’t stop her from making sports-themed quilts for charities and for her nieces and nephews. She points out that the raffle quilts that brought in the most funds were autographed sports quilts, noting that combining the sports fans and quilt fans really multiplies your audience. One potential problem for quiltmakers is the sports fabrics, and here Barbara says to “think defense” and manage “your players.” She includes eight projects suitable for the sports fans in your life. And, if you are interested in a charitable project, she’s included tips for gathering signatures. I loved the “Slam Dunk Show Quilt” with its hightop basketball shoes and autographed soles.
Here’s a link, if you’d like to add it to your library.
By Barb Adams and Alma Allen
Kansas City Star; $26.95
Barb Adams and Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs began imagining a country inn, complete with handmade quilts on all the beds, a delicious breakfast made by Alice, the cook, and the lovely grounds tended by Henry, the gardener. They took the feelings their vision inspired and translated it into this book, complete with a beautiful floral appliqué quilt in two colorways. Eleven other projects include four additional quilts, a monogrammed pillowcase, tea lights and lavender sachets. Nine breakfast recipes include Swedish pancakes, Belgian waffles and strawberry jam. I enjoyed how they wove a cast of characters throughout the book.
Here’s a link, if you’d like to add it to your library.
Simply Dynamic Sampler Quilts By Marianne Hatton
American Quilter’s Society; $26.95
Those of us who have been quilting a long time usually started by making several quilt blocks to learn a variety of techniques and then moved onto a sampler quilt. Samplers had a standard look: blocks set straight with sashing and cornerstones. Marianne Hatton introduces what she calls the “next generation” sampler without the sashing. One of the keys to Marianne’s method is her GridMap® technique where you create a map to follow to ensure your success. Includes instructions for basics of quiltmaking, including straight, curved and set-in seams, appliqué, borders and quilting. If you work with newer quilters or like teaching a sampler method, you’ll pick up some tips for your toolbox. Here’s a link, if you’d like to add it to your library.
By Pat Sloan
Leisure Arts; $19.95Here’s a link, if you’d like to add it to your library.
Who hasn’t heard the call of the jelly rolls, honey buns and layer cakes at the bakery, oops, quilt shop? Not sure what size each is? Pat Sloan has that covered in her most recent book devoted to the current trend of using pre-cut fabrics. To start, Pat has a chart listing 15 types of pre-cuts from the fat quarter that we all recognize to the sushi rolls that we may not. Once you’ve got the lingo, Pat offers complete instructions for nine pre-cut fast and fun quilt projects. I think my jelly rolls and charm packs have found a new home.
I made some bargello quilts back in the 1990s. My favorite now hangs in my cousin’s home. Most of the bargello quilts made during that time, while stunning, were fairly simple. Not so with Eileen Wright’s quilts. She takes the bargello technique and creates waves, twists and curves to end up with wonderful motion. If you are unfamiliar with the bargello technique, Eileen offers simple instructions to choose and organize your fabric and to create strip sets. She includes directions to complete 11 designs. With each she has a complete chart to follow so you can put the fabric strips in the correct order. If you are new to bargello, the last four projects in the book are suitable for learning the basic technique of sewing fabric strips into loops and then opening the seam between the correct rows to create the design. A gallery is included. Here’s a link, if you’d like to add it to your library.
Tile Quilt Revival: Reinventing a Forgotten Form Carol Gilham Jones & Bobbi Finley
C&T Publishing; $23.95
Tile quilts are a rather obscure form of appliqué quilts, according to Carol Gilham Jones and Bobbi Finley, who are reintroducing the art form. This type of quilt is constructed by appliquéing small cotton pieces in a random fashion onto a white background. The pieces are sewn leaving a narrow space between them creating a “grout,” as between tiles. Very little documentation on the limited number of known tile quilts is available. Many seem to be done in blocks and are reminiscent of crazy quilts. The book includes instructions for designing and creating a tile quilt, six projects and a gallery of contemporary tile quilts. I found the history fascinating, and I like the bright look of the light background.
Here’s a link, if you’d like to add it to your library.
Subtitled “Easy Quilts From Fabulous Fabrics,” this is a collection of 11 simple, fun quilts done in contemporary fabrics and colors. The patterns take advantage of charm packs, jelly rolls and layer cakes, though you can always cut your own pieces. This is a great book for the younger, novice quilter searching for a newer look. It still offers ideas for more experienced quilters. I loved the use of rickrack and the “Birthday Bash” quilt with its stack of wonky layered cakes. Here’s a link, if you’d like to add it to your library.
Many quilts include some form of “stitch-in-the-ditch” quilting, and Sue Patten has offered 45 designs she created to do more than that. In many cases her patterns let her do her ditch work and designs at the same time. She offers designs for sashing, cornerstones, triangles and squares. Many of the designs are accompanied by step-by-step diagrams so you can see how to recreate the design. Her “Tips and Tricks” section includes tips for altering and combining the designs. I loved the quilted pieces in her “Spines with Designs” section done in rainbow thread on a dark fabric, as they help you picture these designs on your quilt. The patterns can be easily enlarged or reduced and you have more than 100 options, whether you use the designs for longarm quilting, as Sue does, or for quilting by hand or with your domestic sewing machine. This is a great addition to your quilting design library. Here’s a link, if you’d like to add it to your library.
Once again, Kaffe Fassett and Liza Prior Lucy have produced a book that whets your color and design appetite. Kaffe’s ambition for the book was to draw attention to the basic shapes we use in quilting as they appear in our surroundings. To do this, he uses lots of architectural and nature photographs to highlight shape. The photographs of the quilts then cause you to focus back on the simple shapes, squares, rectangles, triangles, diamonds, quarter circles, and circles. Some examples: Kaffe’s quilt Bounce filled with circles and the photo of the installation at the Keukenhof Gardens in Holland of a “pavement” made up of upside-down flower pots; the quilt Striped Donut and the old door made of concentric squares cut from strips of distressed wood. The book includes instructions for 23 quilts. I believe the book has sharpened my design eye a bit, and I’m seeing even more geometric shapes in my surroundings. Fans of Kaffe and Liza will love the book. Here’s a link, if you’d like to add it to your library.
