The Ultimate Quilting Book: Over 1,000 Inspirational Ideas and Practical Tips

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring by example
Review: This is really a great book that will sharpen your desire to design and create your own unique quilts. Illustrated with countless examples of old quilts, it inspires by example rather than strict patterns and instructions.

The first part of the book offers a brief history of quilting throughout the ages and the world. Emphasis is on the different styles, techniques and patterns that emerged, and is illuminated with numerous old quilts. A distinction is made between patchwork quilts and plain and appliqué quilts. The second part of the book concentrates on explaining the overall basic skills needed to make quilts followed by instructions for specific patterns and quilting projects.

In a way, this book has it all. The wealth of old quilts shown are most inspiring for the accomplished quilter. Meanwhile the skills and instructions offered are fine for the novice quilter, who at the same time gets exposure to beautiful examples rather than only being engulfed by utterly technical and uninspiring techniques.

Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Quilting Book
Review: This very large soft cover book has hundreds of pictures of a variety of quilts. Most of these are antique quilts with their age and place of origin indicated. The history included with some of these quilts is really fascinating.

Amish quilts are discussed, pictorial quilts, Baltimore Album quilts and some of the most elegant examples of broderie perse you will ever hope to see. Folk Art quilts with some really wild lime green and orange motifs, medallion quilts, crazy quilts and of course traditional patchwork and applique are also shown. The photos are clear and large. This book devotes half of their over 400 pages to quilt history and methods. No detail was too small to overlook.

The other half covers the basic techniques and tools needed to begin a quilt. This section covers everything from notions and equipment basics to colour values, template making, rotary cutting, machine and hand piecing. Easy patterns and projects are shown as well. Hand applique is covered as well as Hawaiian quilting. There are also over 40 full size stitch patterns included that can be traced off.

This book has absolutely everything a novice or advanced quilter could ask for. If you are serious about your quilting, I encourage you to have a look at this quilting encyclopaedia.