It has been a very long time since I posted a book review. I think that’s because so much craft information is now online fewer folks are writing books. Or maybe I just don’t need another quilting book so haven’t been looking!
However, this summer I ran an impromptu quilt camp for a couple preteens. At one point, one of them asked, “How do you know all this stuff?” Hmmm. That got me thinking. Years ago I had a classic quilt book, but that was before rotary blades. I wondered, “Is there a book now that can answer questions you might not know you need to ask?”
It turns out there is! Christina West and Kacey Cruthfield have written The Quilting Book which is a guide to almost everything quilting! Yes, you can look up stuff online, but what you probably need to know is all right here.
There are descriptions of the different types of fabrics used in quilt. Quick! How many of you know what lawn is? Not the grass!
What is a fat quarter or fat eights? They tell you!
There is a discussion about different batting types (with photos), two ways to unpick your mistakes with a seam ripper, and how to cut accurately.
Some of the features I love that I always need to look up:
How to make half square triangle one at time, 2 at a time, 4 at a time, 8 at a time, as well as the strip tube method. Each is beautifully illustrated. And there is a chart near the back of the book in the Resources section with cutting instructions for HSTs from 2 inch finished size to 10 inches for each of these methods.
How to make flying geese one at a time and 4 at a time and again, a chart for cutting flying geese from 1 x 2 inches to 8 x 16 inches for both methods of construction.
How to make square in a square blocks 2 ways with a chart with cutting instructions for both methods for 2 inch to 10 inch blocks.
Think how much time you’ve already saved by picking up this book rather than hunting online (and getting distracted!) looking for a site with instructions on making multiple blocks at once!
All the information you need to piece a quilt, sandwich it and quilt it are included in the book. The illustrations are very clear photographs and simple colored graphics.
Do you want to try foundation piecing? Or try English Paper Piecing? Do you want to try improv? They show you how.
The book includes 9 complete quilt projects using a variety of techniques, and several small projects from a bag to a jacket decoration.
At the back of the book is a modest gallery of classic quilt blocks. Each block as a diagram of the finished block, and next to it, an illustration of the block broken apart into its components.
I’m so happy to have found this book. I originally purchased a copy to see if it could help the children who, thrilled with their first quilts, want to make more! It definitely will help answer their questions if I’m not available. It’s an awesome resource.
The book is so good in fact, that I went back and purchased one for me to keep and one for a friend who is always asking, how do we {fill in the blank}?
Online resources are great, but leaning over, grabbing this book to look up fabric requirements, or review a piecing technique is so great.
So yes, if you are looking for a comprehensive quilting book, easy enough for an older child or grandma to understand, get yourself a copy!
FYI: This is an honest review. I have no connection with the the publisher DK nor the authors. They didn’t ask me to review the book or send me a free copy. I found “The Quilting Book” on Amazon and purchased it myself.