Recommendations for a book on patchworking and quilting

June 1, 2009 8:19 AM

I'd like to make my first patchwork quilt and am looking for a good book. It needs to be an introduction to patchworking and quilting, explaining the different techniques and the steps from cutting the fabric to binding the finished quilt, but especially the quilting. Is there a book on the subject that you can recommend for me to buy?

I'm a beginner at the sewing machine and have sewed two patchwork pillowcases so far. Now it's time to try something bigger and more elaborate!

Bonus points if the book reflects my preferences: I'm more into modern fabric patterns and like vibrant colors and white, like the ones shown in these Flickr pools: one, two. Since I'm a beginner and because I love geometry, I prefer sewing patterns with straight lines - squares, rectangles, triangles, etc.

Thanks!

posted by amf to sports, hobbies, & recreation (10 comments total)

I don't know any books - I've made quilts, but I just wing it and had a friend help with some of the parts. What I found to be VERY helpful was youtube. I read tons of online tutorials and had a friend explain, but could not understand how to miter the corners and sew the binding until I watched it on youtube. There are tons of videos that help.
posted by artychoke at 8:47 AM on June 1

Here's the most important part. Start small - either a table runner or a baby quilt. If you start too big you will never finish the project.

This Denyse Schmidt book has small to large projects in it and examples of basic binding and quilting.

It would also be a good idea to take a beginner's quilt class locally.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 8:47 AM on June 1

The colors and fabric are your own choice, so really all you need are patterns.

I personally learned from a combination of my mother (for you: find somewhere to meet other quilters, maybe at a class at your local fabric store), and the Quilt in a Day books. Both Log Cabin and Trip around the World are only straight lines, very fast to sew, and can almost be done in a day (a baby quilt version of them probably could be).

The color sensibility in those books might be a bit old-fashioned (at least true in the editions I have) but again, you are the one picking the fabric, so pick what you like.
posted by nat at 9:42 AM on June 1

Quilting is not very popular in my neck of the woods, so a class or quilting group is out. Since I can't learn from other people I'd like to buy a book or two on the topic, in addition to the resources I've found on the web.

artychoke, thanks for pointing out Youtube! It hadn't even ocurred to me to look there.
posted by amf at 10:11 AM on June 1

I'm a novice quilter myself, and have similar preferences for more modern-looking quilts, but the best book out there is Fons & Porter's Quilter's Complete Guide. I actually own a few quilting books, but I had to buy that one for a class I took, and it really is one of the best for showing you all the steps and techniques.

Also, if you're interested in modern quilts, also get yourself a copy of the Modern Quilt Workshop, which is somewhat lean on technique (I think they assume you have other resources), but they do categorize their patterns on a 1-5 scale of difficulty - and some of the easy ones are really gorgeous.
posted by dicaxpuella at 10:17 AM on June 1

I used this book to make this quilt. The book has a lot of old styles in it, but the quilt is full of geometry, per your preferences. There are even trapezoids.

The book (Encyclopedia of Classic Quilt Patterns) is really popular... it seems like anyone I know that has dabbled in quilting has the book. I found the directions easy to follow, and the pictorial directions were helpful. It had a listing of the tools I would need (ie cutters, squares, etc) and the amount of fabric. There are some rather complicated quilts in the book, but you are given fair warning on the directions.
posted by wg at 11:12 AM on June 1

I have the Denyse Schmidt book and like it. You might also check out some quilting blogs for tutorials, info, quilt-alongs, etc. Here's a list of tutorials from Oh Fransson.
posted by runningwithscissors at 1:07 PM on June 1

Thanks for the tips, everyone! I think I'll start with the Quilter's Complete Guide and the Modern Quilt Workshop and maybe get another book later on.

runningwithscissors, thanks for linking to Oh Fransson! Apart from the photos of her really gorgeous quilts I found this Quilt-Along tutorial which I think will be very helpful as well.
posted by amf at 12:20 PM on June 2

My mother-in-law, an avid hand quilter of 20-odd years, recommends the Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Quilting. She says: "Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Quilting. It's available, offers the range of different techniques the person is looking for, and it does NOT take positions on which technique is best, or better, or for old fogies, or for people who can't sew, etc. Lots of pictures. Good explanations."
posted by jocelmeow at 7:46 PM on June 2

Hmm... now I've got a hard time deciding between Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Quilting and Quilter's Complete Guide. Thanks, jocelmeow, to your mother-in-law!
posted by amf at 8:03 AM on June 7