Quilting Books - what have you purchased lately??
 

I just got Carolyn Forster's book from the UK called, "Utility Quilting". Had to pay retail price 27.95 & that was a pretty big ouch for me. Purchased it mainly for the big stitch quilting method & found she just skimmed over topics without going into any detail.

List of contents:

Getting Started Supplies

Preparing to Quilt

Utility Quilting Designs... (this chapter was the largest one), mostly how to create your own utility designs using simple templates & even your elbow for reference. No purchased templates listed at all, which I think she is emphasizing this is another facet of "utility quilting".

The Stitches....samples of different stitches used to quilt & baste

Binding & Other Edge Finish Techniques

Projects...10 simple quilt patterns plus pictures of each & one pattern for a mug cozy.

Overall opinion of the book....lovely pictures of the quilt projects, quality paper. I thought there was some mystique to this thing called "utility quilting". Well, folks, I did not find any thing here that is not already out on the internet somewhere. But I am a book lover, so I fell for the title. In reality, utility quilting is nothing more than trying to get the job done in the fastest method possible & still have a quilt to be proud of.

Ms Forster has another book out called, "Quilting on the Go"...not sure how this differs from "quilt as you go", or if there is any difference at all. Can't find out much about that book. Perhaps someone out here has purchased that book & would like to comment on it.

Not sure about the book "Quilting on the Go" but to me that would mean projects you can carry with you to piece by hand such as grandmother's flower garden for example.
What I have seen with "big stitch quilting" the stitches are around an 1/8" long and the same distance apart. I have seen some great looking quilts done this way. Wool quilts and primitive quilts look good using this method. I've wanted to try this just have to put it on my list and hopefully get to it eventually.

I just bought a book each of sunbonnet sue patterns and overall boys patterns from grandmasattic.com . They haven't come yet. I am collecting these so I have a lot to choose from when I finally get around to doing them!

Most of my books are purchased from Amazon with Prime so I don't have to pay shipping. It is very easy to return a book on Amazon. Usually, though, I can tell from reader comments if I am going to like a book or not. The reviews are very helpful!

I looked up Quilting on the Go on Amazon, but there are no reviews of it yet. Reading the description, this is not a book I would purchase because I do not like English paper piecing. (I do my hand piecing of the GFG pattern by hand using a regular running stitch, which I prefer both for looks and for ease of sewing.) This book is about English paper piecing only, as far as I can tell from the description.

Edit: Oops! Sorry, the above refers to a different book by the same title but different author. The one by Carolyn Forster is this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Quilting-----g...dp/1935726056/
It's all about how to break down a large quilt into smaller pieces for hand or machine quilting. For this type of technique, at least for machine quilting, I would instead purchase the book by Marti Michell on Machine Quilting in Sections.

The last couple of quilting books I purchased were by Edyta Sitar. I saw her on "The Quilt Show" with Alex Anderson and Ricky Timms and fell in love with her quilts. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! But she uses a lot of 1.5" squares/strips. She has lots of kits, books, calendars out. Gorgeous works! "Reason To Make Quilts" is the name (I think) of the book I so enjoyed reading that I sent it home with my daughter to read.

I have so many books and magazines, also over 300 free patterns from the Internet so I rarely buy one any more. I am also trying to design my own. I did just get the twister ruler and the book Lets Twist, but prob be long time before I buy another.

The ones I ordered recently have been out for a while, but were recommended by some delightful ladies who were doing a trunk show of some of their quilts.
French Braid Obsession by Jane Hardy Miller
Reversible Quilts by Sharon Pederson
Wonderful 1 Fabric Quilts by Kay Nickols
Stars By Magic by Nancy Johnson-Srebro

I think that is pretty dang good for a whole book. I just paid that much for a pattern. Moi ami, it is a darling paris images pattern for applique. The shop in florida put it into the mail today.

The favorite book of mine for quilting is, " Machine Quilting Solutions". Sorry I can't remember the author off hand. Edited to say the author is, Christine Maraccini. No wonder I couldn't remember!

Bought one today, 101 Fabulous Small Quilts. Love so many of the patterns.

I also got that 101 Fabulous Small Quilts. I have made 22 and have two others in process (English paper piecing style). I have a personal challenge to make all the quilts and use only stash to do it. The rail fence pattern uses 5 inch pieces and I used some of the ugliest 5 inch squares of Xmas fabric. It turned out so cute. I post pictures on Facebook and my friends tell me they enjoy watching the progress of the challenge.

So I am learning new techniques, getting my 1/4 inch seam practice, using very old fabric and making a bunch to practice my quilting skills on. A great book. Amazon had it for 40% off.

Excellent reviews & comments Prism99. I have never done any machine quilting, just hand quilting, so I guess I better stay away from quilting in sections.