Book Review:
Quilt-Lover's Favorites contains a wide variety of projects including
quilts, table runners, pillows (sometimes matching the quilts),
pillow shams, framed quilts, tote bags, baby quilts, journal, Signature
Quilt, memo board, curtains, linens (tablecloth, sheet, pillowcase),
wall hangings, gift bags, and appliqué (coat, overalls, quilt).
The projects in this book are divided into chapters that classify
them by the style and techniques involved in their makeup (Vintage
Collection, Roundabout, Rotary-Cut Classics, Bright Delights and
Artful Appliqué). Techniques required for making the quilts
and other projects include hand quilting, machine quilting (Spring
Leaves Quilt) Embroidery (Under the Stars Quilt and Embroidered
Pillow), and Appliqué (Something to Crow About Quilt).
For each quilt there are a few additional things provided to help
you make sure it will suit your needs. First there is a chart is
to inform you of the number of blocks you will need, the number
of blocks wide by long, the finished size and yardage required for
optional sizes (crib, twin, full/queen, king, wall hanging). There
are also optional color schemes for most of the quilts and the sizes
of the finished projects are included after the instructions so
you know if it fit into your home setting.
Each project ends with instructions to complete the project including
referring to the page in the learning section at the back, Quilter's
Schoolhouse followed by fold out full size pattern section.
The Quilter's Schoolhouse section is broken up into Getting Started
(Tools for cutting, piecing, appliqué, hand quilting and
machine quilting, Choose Your Fabrics, Prepare Your Fabrics, Select
the Batting), Rotary Cutting (Plan for Cutting, Using a Rotary Cutter:
Squaring Up the Fabric Edge, Cutting and Subcutting Strips and Cutting
Triangles), Cutting with Templates (About Scissors, Make the Templates,
Trace the Templates, Templates for Angled Pieces, Trace Angled Pieces),
Piecing (Hand Piecing, Machine Piecing, Press for Success, Setting
in Pieces, Mitered Border Corners) Appliqué (Start Simple,
Baste the Seam Allowance, Make Bias Stems, Position and Stitch,
Fusible Appliqué), Cutting Bias Strips, Covered Cording,
Hanging Sleeves (Make a Hanging Sleeve), Finishing (Layering and
Binding).
I like that the editors and designers have really taken the time
so that when you are making a quilt you have all the information
you need to be successful. For example, the instructions for the
Spring Leaves Quilt include a small section called Designer Tips
(they suggest you review the machine quilting tips provided and
practice on a small sample quilt first). Designer Notes on making
a quilt (Razzle Dazzle) give you insight how the designer made this
particular quilt and what worked for them (i.e. using a basting
spray instead of pins to hold the fabrics in place as she assembled
the blocks). When the style of quilt has a history such as the Antique
Peony Quilt a brief description of its background is given which
makes it all the more interesting. |
