5 comments about Liberated Quiltmaking II.

1. I was disappointed by this book because many of the quilts were featured in other books that I already own. Sorry Gwen, but compared to Liberated Quiltmaking (I) the book is mediocre.



2. I couldn't wait to get this book because Gwen Marsten's original Liberated Quiltmaking is my all-time favourite quilting book and most the inspirating. Many of the seminal pieces from that book are reprinted in Liberated Quiltmaking II. From my perspective, few new ideas are offered in II. If you missed your chance to own a copy of the original book grab this one; but if you already own the first, only buy this if you're a collector.



3. I have read all of Gwen Marston's 'Liberated' quiltmaking books, and this is just wonderful! It is full of 'out-of-the-box' ideas, many of which were covered in her first Liberated Quiltmaking book. I wish they would bring her first book back into print, which is the best of the best in this quiltmaking style. But since the publishers haven't, this is the next best thing!
   
   Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys creating quilts, not just copying someone else's pattern. I refer to this book often for ideas for different components of the projects I'm working on. I loved the last chapter which highlights some Liberated quilts by other gifted artist-quilters.
   
   Thanks to Gwen Marston for inspiring more quilters to expand their creativity!



4. It's always a shame when one's favorite books go into out-of-print mode. Especially when you refer to them very often, it's nice to know that another is available on order. Liberated Quiltmaking II is better, though, than reprinting the original, in that we see that Gwen has only sharpened her eye and techniques over the years since the original liberated book appeared. Gwen's ideas were radical thinking and sewing in the early '90's. While some famous quilters have "borrowed" Gwen's original approach to quiltmaking and called it their own, it's nice to see the source still has juice! Highly recommended for all levels of quiltmaking and quilt collecting.



5. Gwen Marston has done it again! Another fabulous book. I have all of her books and this one is over the top! Thanks Gwen!

5 comments about The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt: Letters from 1920s Farm Wives and the 111 Blocks They Inspired.

1. Such a shame that a book about such a beautiful quilt has NO instructions or no measurements for making its blocks. Today's quilters use rotary rulers and cutters for cutting strips, squares, and triangles to precise measurements for making quilt blocks. I can't understand why she authored a quilt book that does not give instructions and measurements, rather than having everyone who attempts to make this quilt to go through each block to calculate every measurement and angle.
   
   I am a member of a group who began working on Farmer's Wife blocks at the start of the year, and we are all disappointed in the author's unconventional "instructions" for making quilt blocks. She does not seem to be in tune with conventional quilting methods and techniques. Mrs. Hird, your book should have been advertised as a project for hand piecing!



2. Wonderful insight into lives less than 80 years ago. How far we have come in life and quilting.



3. I absolutely LOVE this book. It is so interesting to read how ladies back in the 1920's made their quilts and to see some of the blocks that they made.



4. I received this book as a gift. I loved the stories, the pictures of the blocks and finished quilts. I will probably make this in the future;HOWEVER, I have had trouble running the CD, the first time I tried it worked but I did not have time to print each individual template ( could not several be on one page?). When I went to use it tonight, the disc snapped in half inside the disc hold while running. Any way to get a replacement? For future reference, I feel it would have been helpful to have measurements for each pattern piece that could be rotary cut, thus eliminating printing so many templates. Thanks



5. I am thoroughly enjoying this book. It has inspired me to try to make a quilt like this one. The letters from the farmers' wives are wonderful. Even if you don't quilt, you would love reading it.

5 comments about The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns: 4050 Pieced Blocks for Quilters.

1. This book shows every imaginable design and then some, not a beginner book as it's short on how to's. Experienced quilters can use to create their own blocks. Fun to look through.



2. This book is very complete with types of blocks and history of each block with all the names the blocks are known by. It is very heavy. As a new quilter I guess I wanted a little more pattern/construction help. It will be a great book to have as I progress in my quilting.



3. Excellent book. A heavy book, but if you are wanting to find and a particular type of block or an individual quilting lbock for a quilt top, then it is most likely in this book. The grid sheets are a great resource to use in making the blocks also. Well worth the money I spent to have this in my quilting book library.



4. This book is marvelous, a real source of inspiration for every quilter. I am very grateful for the immense endeavour spent by Jinny Beyer to get this book published. The price? very reasonable, even cheap for what it offers.
   Yan



5. This book is inspirational and the gold standard of quilt blocks. If there is one book for the serious quilter to own, this is that one. Jinny Beyers process for looking at a block and converting it to a pattern is outstanding. The indexes and guides within the book cover just about any type pattern style I have dreamed up. This will keep me happy for years.

5 comments about Cozy Modern Quilts: 23 Easy Pieced Projects to Bust Your Stash.

1. Crazy Modern Quilts offers over twenty easy pieced projects to compliment any decor with sizes ranging from wall and lap quilts to table runners and placemats and directions using easy straight-line piecing. Sidebars of materials and easy directions on piecing and construction make for an easy presentation perfect for any general needlework library.



2. It's not always easy to find quilt patterns suitable for contemporary décor or men's offices but this book fills that bill. Lots of crisp, geometric patterns made from simple squares and rectangles have great visual impact. The 23 projects include wall and lap quilts, table runners, and place mats.



3. The piecing for these patterns is easy enough for an experienced beginner but the end results look complicated. Well written with lots of illustrations.



4. What a fun book. Great color combinations and easy to use.
   Can't wait to get started...



5. This is a great book to use up scraps of material you have left over and the patterns are easy to follow. Her color choices are great too!

5 comments about Stellar Quilts.

1. Judy has out done herself again. Absolutely marvelous book filled with great quilts. Any serious quilter will want this book to add to their collection.



2. I highly recommend this book if you are an intermediate quilter who wants to challenge yourself.



3. This is another excelant book by Judy Martin, challenging yet inspirational. Want to start another quilt now.



4. I have no problem admitting that I am biased when it comes to Judy Martin. As an author, she goes way back on my bookshelves - back to the 80's. She is a master at designing extraordinary quilts using ordinary blocks and basic techniques.
   
   Given that I have 4 of her books already, I snatched up "Stellar Quilts" as soon as it became available on Amazon. It is very similar to her earlier publication "Scraps", but obviously focuses on star shapes in refreshingly not-so-obvious ways. I would rate this book as somewhat advanced, but not exclusively so. If you are a quilter who has truely mastered the 1/4 inch seam (I know, I know, we all like to think - or assume - we have ...), this book will challenge you to stretch your knowledge of the fundamentals.
   
   Using spectacular sets, curious shapes, optional templates, and a multitude of color/set variations, Judy Martin delivers a thoroughly top-notch publication. The first 10 pages of introduction are simply the most informative and useful I have ever read in a quilting book.
   
   If you were to judge this book by thumbing through it, you might be a bit alarmed at the colorful assortment of templates and unfamiliar shapes you see. Martin provides rotary cutting details as an option to using the templates, and even these illustrations might cause you to gulp a bit audibly. But the idea here is to test and push yourself a bit, and Martin's text will tell you all you need to know and give you confidence to do more.
   
   And don't be squeamish when you see Y-seams, required point trimming, and partial seams! If you've been avoiding every book that has these techniques, then make this the year you face them head on and master them. This book is the perfect resource that you will be returning to time and again for instruction and inspiration.
   
   My only wishes for this book are rather minor, but would make it easier to assimilate and go back to something that catches the eye:
   
   1) the Table Of Contents should be more prominent (it's hard to find!!)
   2) the TOC should have a snapshot of each quilt alongside its name
   3) each page should be labeled with the quilt's name for better organization
   
   If you think you know stars or you just love anything stellar, you will understand Martin's double entendre here; you CAN make a uniquely captivating star-themed quilt with surprisingly stellar results.



5. When Judy Martin said she wanted "not your average quilts" she wasn't kidding. These are the best star quilt patterns. I have read this book like my best loved novel. Every quilt is better than the last. I am trying to figure out which one to do first and where it will go... Definitely worth the money for this book, you won't be dissappointed!

5 comments about Scrap-basket Surprises: 18 Quilts from 2-1/2 inch Strips (That Patchwork Place).

1. I ordered this book because of the really different quilts made from 2 1/2" strips. I was not disappointed. I haven't actually made any quilts yet but several are on my to-do list.



2. This book has many beautiful, easy quilts. I am especially attracted to the color combinations that she uses. Can't wait to make several of them!



3. Although I haven't actually made a quilt from this book, I am so excited when I read and view the quilts. The amazing effect that is produced from a few simple patterns is fabulous.
   
   Can't wait to begin.
   
   Susan Creer
   Western Australia, Australia



4. I wanted a break from my usual paper piecing. The designs and instructions are so good, I didn't need to paper piece. I like it so much I am giving this book to a friend for Christmas



5. Instructions in the book are clear and easy to follow. The quilts are fun to make and use up scraps that are in the scrap basket. I have enjoyed using the techniques to make these beautiful quilts in the book.

5 comments about One-Block Wonders: One Fabric, One Shape, One-of-a-Kind Quilts.

1. This is a great quilt. Be sure you are experienced enough to handle this on your own. A class helped me cut and design, but not with the sewing which was a bit tricky.



2. The book arrived in a timely manner and I can't wait to get started making my own beautiful blocks. It gives very clear instructions, so you don't need to be an expert to create these blocks.



3. I have enjoyed reading this books and have selected fabric to make a one-block wonder quilt...



4. This is probably one of my favorite quilt books. It's extremly easy to follow and teach yourself. I've made several quilts now using this technique and each has come out different yet fantastic. It's such a great way to use a fabric with a pattern that you're not crazy about but might love the colors. I now look at fabric in a whole new way, by forming my fingers into a triangle and seeing how it would look as a "One Block Wonder Quilt." Clearance sections have become my friend for these type of quilts. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone. It's a super easy, fun technique to learn, and you only need the book, no class necessary.



5. Very inspirational have already bought fabric to try this method.
   Extensive gallery of guilts.
   Do wish they showed an example of every fabric used.
   And some average calculations on the number of hexagons or octagons
   needed for different standard sizes would have been useful.

5 comments about I Love Patchwork: 21 Irresistible Zakka Projects to Sew.

1. I really like this book...of course, I love any Zakka book! I have found that Zakka, in and of itself, are always very easy craft patterns. That's why so many people can buy the Japanese Zakka books and have no problem making their item, even though all the directions are in Japanese and they do not know the language. Most, if not all, of the projects are simple enough that you really don't have to have a sewing machine, as they can easily be handsewn.
   
   This is a good book for beginners of any age with all of the easy step by step directions in English and lovely illustrations. It's a nice introduction to sewing. For the advanced or intermediate sewer (I consider myself an 'intermediate' sewer), I think it is always fun to try a new book and possibly see ideas and projects you haven't seen before. Want to give someone a quick, handmade gift? There are projects in here for everyone, and everyone will be amazed that YOU made it JUST for them!
   
   Basically, if you are interested in Zakka crafting but have been afraid to try because most of the books out there are written in Japanese, this is a great book to begin with. Or, if you are just looking for quick and easy sewing projects, it's great for that, too!



2. This book is fantastic and I love how it makes patchwork not that boring kind of craft which is what drew me to it in the first place. The only thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't list the fabric requirements in a way that tells you what you need to buy when you go shopping. Instead it gives you the specific measurements of each piece of fabric and how many pieces you need of that shape.



3. I'm not too crazy about most of the projects in this book. . . But the Little Lamb Softie is to-die-for!! I'm super excited to make this one!! Also, I like that they give instructions on making yo-yos.. . . Even though most of the projects seem pretty sleepy, I'm still happy I bought this book.



4. I bought this book, hoping that it would be similar to an english translation of a Japanese patchwork mook. Sadly, it isn't, and the crafts are far more simple and not as exciting. It would be a good book for a beginner, or even a child, but it doesn't have the depth to keep a more advanced crafter interested. None of the projects caught my interest, as they are all either incredibly easy, and thus I don't need instructions for them, or they are essentially useless, and I have no reason to make them.
   
   Additionally, I found the author's tone grating and insipid. The book is written in simpering baby talk, appropriate for talking about small children, but not for teaching a craft.



5. I love this book - full of great contemporary patchwork to enhance your home. Yes it does make you want to start the projects straight away. Great sense of use of different fabrics and wonderful style. Easy to follow instructions. I love the covered boxes.

4 comments about Twist and Turn Bargello Quilts.

1. Great book with beautiful examples. I found two errors in the directions for the Infinity Quilt while making it. You are asked to cut 17 strips 1 1/2" wide, but only used 11 of them. On the design chart line 17 there is an 8 at the bottom that should not be part of the chart. I have contacted the publisher to bring this to their attention. They replied that they would get back to me. I did not write this book. I just made the quilt after I purchased the book. Gail McClure



2. Beautiful book with gorgeous quilts. Instructions could be a little clearer. Definitely not for the beginner.



3. This book is outstanding amongst the many quilt books I have read recently for its amazing use of colour. The designs are well-thought out too, waves of bargello that are simply mesmerizing. This 96-page book will tell you all you need to know to make the quilts. From the know-how of putting a quilt together, to the easy to follow instructions and fabulous photographs, this book is the perfect choice for anyone interested in making fabulou, colourful quilts. Recommended.



4. When I first looked at the quilts in "Twist - and - Turn Bargello Quilts" my thought was Wow, these quilts are amazing! My second thought was Yeah but could I make one. After reading through the directions and introduction the answer is definitely YES!
   
   Eileen Wright's directions are clear and easy to understand. In her introduction she covers topics such as how to choose the fabrics to achieve the different visual effects, how to cut and piece the strips to avoid distortion and how to keep everything organized as you go along. Her experience teaching this method shows in the tips and suggestions which are included throughout the book. The design maps, which are included for each project, help keep you organized and provide a reference while you are sewing. In addition to the beautiful full sized quilts there are directions for making a table runner and placemats. These smaller projects allow you to get a feel for bargello quilting without the commitment to a larger project.
   
   "Twist - and - Turn Bargello Quilts" makes these visually complex and beautiful quilts very doable!
   
   Karin Renaud
   Author, "Quilts from the Heart"

5 comments about Sylvia's Bridal Sampler from Elm Creek Quilts: The True Story Behind the Quilt - 140 Traditional Blocks.

1. I purchased two of these - one for a gift and one for me. I love the patterns inlcuded.....very unique.



2. Fantastic book, looking forward to commencing this quilt when I retire in about 18 months time.
   The book is very clear and concise in its instructions.



3. My sister wanted this book to try some of the patterns. She is very happy with it. Nice book.



4. I had to have this book to complete my Chavierini collection and I wasn't disappointed. It's beautifully presented and has the most gorgeous blocks in it. I'm just learning to paper piece so some of these pieces will be great challenges.



5. Love the book for the variety of quilt block patterns. The novels are all wonderful stories, as well.