Book review

I was recently offered a copy of the book called Machine Quilting with Style by Christa Watson to review. Since I already had the book, I passed the opportunity on to Scrappy, so here, in her own words, are her thoughts.

As an apprehensive machine quilter, I found the introduction to this book both positive and encouraging - "don't get hung up on perfection" along with " the most important tool for successful machine quilting is a can-do attitude."

 The book begins with good advice about the choice of batting, threads and work surface around the sewing machine before starting the topic of machine quilting by using the walking foot. The author acknowledges that this is where most of us start and it is good to be encouraged to think beyond stitching in the ditch. Quilt designs and machine quilting suggestions then follow with clear instructions, diagrams and pictures. The pages and pictures on continuous spiral quilting were very appealing and I was glad to note the tips for avoiding spiralling out of control!

The second half of the book tackles free motion quilting favourites with useful tips for getting started. Of particular note is 'Quilt Daily" - that encouraging tone throughout the book is exemplified by the suggestion that fmq should be practised for just 10 minutes a day in order to see improvement. Different hand positions are illustrated so that the novice machine quilter can see which feels most comfortable when guiding the quilt under the needle. Quilting designs then follow such as simple stipples, loops and spirals all illustrated on beautifully designed quilts with clear instructions where to start. Freewheeling vs Precision is highlighted - the choice between marking out the quilting diagram or going for "free-form and somewhat imperfect".

For anyone who is seeking to become more adventurous with their machine quilting this book is an excellent place to start.

I will also point out that the book includes 8 designs using your walking-foot, 10 free-motion designs and 12 quilt patterns.

Review ...

... (please note that I was given an e-copy of this book to review)

There may not have been much quilting going on around here lately, but that doesn't mean I can't read about it, so, when I was offered a free copy of this book to read and then write an unbiased review, I leapt at the chance.

Simple Blocks, Stunning Quilts the Squareagonals Way, by Sandi Blackwell

I have been aware in a vague sort of way of Squareagonals before, but never really known much about it. Well, it turns out to be really simple. You make blocks for a quilt, lay them out and sew them together, make two cuts across your quilt top, rearrange them and sew together again, and hey presto, you have a quilt that is set on the diagonal, with no worrying about setting triangles or silly maths or anything.  There are six designs in the book but each one shows an additional two layouts, so in fact there are eighteen quilts you could make. The instructions for the blocks are all well-written and a relative newcomer will be able to make most of them. The only stumbling block might be finding the courage to take the plunge and making those scary cuts at the end. I think it'd be well worth it though for the great looking design you could end up with. It's certainly a technique I intend to have a go at as soon as I get the time to get back to quilting.

Giveaway ....

(This book is published by Martingale Publications, and all the photography shown is by Brent Kane.)

Simply Modern Christmas by Cindy Lammon, has some great patterns which will allow you to dress your house for Christmas.  It includes 14 projects ranging from bed quilts and wall hangings, to Christmas Stockings and a table runner and a tree skirt. 

Although most of the patterns are shown in traditional Christmas colours, ie red and green, I think they would all work in other colours for other times of the year.  Imagine this one, for example, 

 made up with that  special fabric you can't bear to cut up, and this one, with its many pieces, would make a fantastic I-spy quilt for children.

As I would expect from any book published by Martingale, the instructions are very clear and each pattern has many diagrams. I also enjoyed the photography in this book.  Each quilt is shown in a styled shot (I love the Christmas tree they used on the front cover too) and as a full-face shot so you can see exactly what you are getting into before you start. 

My favourite project?  This Christmas Tree skirt, which I might just have to make before I put my tree up this year.

Now, I think I may have mentioned a giveaway in the title of this post?  Well, Martingale Publications are offering an e-book version of this book to one of you. All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me what colours you use to decorate for Christmas.

The giveaway small print:

1.     This giveaway is open to everybody, wherever you live, BUT please remember to make sure I can contact you if you are the winner.

2.     If you are a no-reply person, you will not be entered unless you leave an email address in your comment as I will not be able to get in touch with you.  (Note, if you are a Google+ person, you will be no-reply).

3.     This giveaway will also be available on the Yorkshire Modern Quilters' blog.

4.     The giveaway will close next Saturday, 25 October.

5.     The winner will be selected using Mr Random Generator.

The winner .....

... of this great book

Well, before I tell you the name of the lucky person who will receive a copy of this e-book, I want to explain how I chose someone.  This review was posted on my blog here, and also on the Yorkshire Modern Quilters blog.  All the comments on my blog are numbered, but those on the other blog are not - hmm, must get that sorted out before the next review.  So all I did was allocate numbers to the comments on the YMQG blog running straight on from those on here.  That gave a total of 49 for Mr Random.org to chose from, and the number he chose was

and no.45 is Harrysmum, who said

I will send Harrysmum an email, but congratulations to her and thank you everyone who took the time to enter.  I will have another book review and giveaway in a couple of weeks, so do keep coming back and checking to see what you could win next time.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow

Yesterday I went to the Great Northern Quilt Show, where I met up with loads of friends. Susan who is over here on holiday from Australia at the moment and I had arranged to have coffee together, and QuiltHaze joined us, which was lovely.  Susan was just as I had imagined she would be, and we did a little shopping together as well as looking at some of the quilts.  We arranged to meet some other friends of mine for lunch, but it was all so busy we managed to keep missing each other. Unfortunately, I am currently suffering from some form of arthritis in one foot, so I was not able to stay as long as I would have liked, but as you can see, I did manage to do a little bit towards helping the economy!

Today I am sitting with my foot up and feeling sorry for myself, but I do have a magazine to read, and what looks like a great book called Essential Guide to Modern Quilt Making to read.  There's a funny story attached to this book.  About a week ago, Aunt Marti, from 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks had a giveaway for this book, which I entered.  A few days after that I bought the book from Amazon, completely forgetting about the giveaway. It was delivered on Friday and then yesterday Aunt Marti announced the winner.  In my blog reader, I get the name of the blog and the first few words of the new post, and so the first words I saw were telling me the winner was from the UK.  I thought it would be just my luck to win, (after all, I know I've got two eyes, but that doesn't mean I can read two copies of the book at once) but luckily it wasn't me.

Also today I will hopefully package up 200 of these, and send them off to the US for the 9-patch swap I'm in.

As for tomorrow, well that is when I will ask Mr Random.org to draw the name of the person who has won this great book, so you still have time to enter on my previous post, here.

Book review and giveaway

I'm sorry, this giveaway is now closed.  You can see who won here

(This book is published by Martingale Publications, and all the photography shown is by Brent Kane.)

As its title suggests, this book contains quilts designed by well known bloggers from around the world.  There are 19 stunning quilts included, all with very clear instructions, plenty of diagrams and templates where necessary.

The book starts off by stating the main rule about modern quilting, which is that “there are no rules”.  So, anything goes really in terms of shapes, colours, designs and quilting, and this is certainly borne out by the quilts which vary from minimalist, such as Petal Pod to quite the opposite, like Scattered and from a modern take on a traditional quilt such as Rainbow Stashbuster to improv piecing seen in Improv Color Blocks.

When I read the book, I loved the tips that are often included such as how to sew a smooth curve.  I also like the fact that many of the quilts also show suggestions for optional, pieced backings.  This is not something I’ve ever done before, but I can definitely see myself trying them in the future.

You will also learn something about each of the contributors, as they have all written a little about themselves and you can visit their blogs to see more of their work.

Which are my favourite quilts?  That’s not easy to answer as I really love Trees, which I could see in all sorts of Christmas prints and Starflower, which I think would look great in plain colours.  Then there’s Petal Pods which I’d love to make in shades of orange and raspberry, and Knots, which is calling (actually it’s shouting) out to me to make it in aquas and blues.

Now all I need is a magic wand to make my days longer so I can make them all.

As a reward for reading all this, Martingale Publications are offering an e-book version of this book to one of you. All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me what colours you would choose to make one of the quilts from this book. If you are a member of the Yorkshire Modern Quilt Group, leave another comment telling me so for an additional entry into the giveaway.

The giveaway small print:

1.     This giveaway is open to everybody, wherever you live, BUT please remember to make sure I can contact you if you are the winner.

2.     If you are a no-reply person, you will not be entered unless you leave an email address in your comment as I will not be able to get in touch with you.  (Note, if you are a Google+ person, you will be no-reply).

3.     This giveaway will also be available on the Yorkshire Modern Quilters' blog.

4.     The giveaway will close next Saturday, 30 August.

5.     The winner will be selected using Mr Random Generator.