The Quilter's Guide to Rotary Cutting

Rating:
Summary: Rotary cutting for very traditional quilts
Review: I accidentally picked up both the first and this newly revised edition at the library and found the revised edition very like the first. There are some new shapes and quilts but the techniques remain the same. The author does introduce the concept of speedily cutting out pieces for quilting but does so with line drawings only. Considering that her method often involves the use of tape to outline the shapes to be cut, I think at least one photograph would've been beneficial in illustrating this method. Obviously it MUST be good since this is the second edition but I was unfortunately unimpressed by it. The 20 quilts - rated from beginner to advanced - are also average, not too exciting. The Piney Woods quilt, rated "beginner" doesn't have adequate instruction on how to piece the tree trunk piece for speed cutting. and I assume the blocks requiring applique, inset piecing and partial seaming are for instruction in those methods but, again, a photograph would've served well in these instances. The author states that hand sewing certain pieces, like the hexagon, by learning to eyeball the seam allowance is easier than inset piecing on the machine but even after re-reading the paragraph, I still didn't quite get it. I wonder at some of these selections for beginners working alone. Overall, I think a Leisure Arts book on scrap quilting would be a better introduction to speed cutting and/or piecing, even without the rating system or lengthy introduction.

Rating:
Summary: Rotary cutting for very traditional quilts
Review: I accidentally picked up both the first and this newly revised edition at the library and found the revised edition very like the first. There are some new shapes and quilts but the techniques remain the same. The author does introduce the concept of speedily cutting out pieces for quilting but does so with line drawings only. Considering that her method often involves the use of tape to outline the shapes to be cut, I think at least one photograph would've been beneficial in illustrating this method. Obviously it MUST be good since this is the second edition but I was unfortunately unimpressed by it. The 20 quilts - rated from beginner to advanced - are also average, not too exciting. The Piney Woods quilt, rated "beginner" doesn't have adequate instruction on how to piece the tree trunk piece for speed cutting. and I assume the blocks requiring applique, inset piecing and partial seaming are for instruction in those methods but, again, a photograph would've served well in these instances. The author states that hand sewing certain pieces, like the hexagon, by learning to eyeball the seam allowance is easier than inset piecing on the machine but even after re-reading the paragraph, I still didn't quite get it. I wonder at some of these selections for beginners working alone. Overall, I think a Leisure Arts book on scrap quilting would be a better introduction to speed cutting and/or piecing, even without the rating system or lengthy introduction.