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#11
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,866
When I take quilt books out of the library, I find that there are usually at most 1 to 3 patterns in it that really appeal to me. The rest usually seem a little (visually) boring or unappealing. I'd hate to put in a lot of time an effort into project that did not make my heart sing. However, if you can find a book where all (or most) of the quilts in it are highly appealing to you, I think it could be a lot of fun to make a bunch of quilts from that one book.
When considering what book to select, I recommend thinking about the variety of patterns in the book. For example, you can get a book that is all one type - e.g. Lone Star quilts, or Baltimore Album quilts. As much as you love that type of quilt, you may not want to make a large number of that type. (Are you going to be craving something new when you are making the nth quilt of that type?) Books with a more general theme (e.g. scrappy, or a particular time era) can give you greater variety of quilts, but may or may not have enough quilts that you like/love enough to enjoy making.
I recommend taking some of the quilt books you are already own and flip through them and see how many of the quilts in each of them you would be excited to make. Then take a good look at which type of quilt books have a higher percentage of quilts that appeal to you. That can give you an idea of what sort of quilt book would work well for your idea of make-everything-in-the book series. (Or another idea is to give yourself a goal of making a second quilt in some number of books you already own.)
If miniature quilts appeal to you, there are books specifically on that, and they often have quite a variety of styles in them. Producing them does not take a lot of fabric, and you can easily display a group of them on a wall. (Be aware, some detailed miniatures still take quite a bit of time to piece.)
Another option for getting more out a book is to piece one (or several) blocks from multiple patterns and then putting them together as a sample type of quilt. You get to try a bunch of different block designs, but don't have to do entire quilt's worth work on a design that you do not adore.
When considering what book to select, I recommend thinking about the variety of patterns in the book. For example, you can get a book that is all one type - e.g. Lone Star quilts, or Baltimore Album quilts. As much as you love that type of quilt, you may not want to make a large number of that type. (Are you going to be craving something new when you are making the nth quilt of that type?) Books with a more general theme (e.g. scrappy, or a particular time era) can give you greater variety of quilts, but may or may not have enough quilts that you like/love enough to enjoy making.
I recommend taking some of the quilt books you are already own and flip through them and see how many of the quilts in each of them you would be excited to make. Then take a good look at which type of quilt books have a higher percentage of quilts that appeal to you. That can give you an idea of what sort of quilt book would work well for your idea of make-everything-in-the book series. (Or another idea is to give yourself a goal of making a second quilt in some number of books you already own.)
If miniature quilts appeal to you, there are books specifically on that, and they often have quite a variety of styles in them. Producing them does not take a lot of fabric, and you can easily display a group of them on a wall. (Be aware, some detailed miniatures still take quite a bit of time to piece.)
Another option for getting more out a book is to piece one (or several) blocks from multiple patterns and then putting them together as a sample type of quilt. You get to try a bunch of different block designs, but don't have to do entire quilt's worth work on a design that you do not adore.
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Posts: 9,475
I do buy a quilt book just for the one pattern that I want to make. What is wrong with me??!! Sometimes I buy the book and some time later I for the life of me can't remember what pattern I bought it for. It is a crazy disease I have I think!
#14
If I am looking to buy a book I first check the library of our quilt guild and see if it is there. Many times it is since we have a budget for new books.. I will check it out and look it over before I purchase my own copy. Either that or I wait to re-check it out when I am ready to make the quilt I am looking to do. Sometimes I just have to have the book and other times I do not
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Southwest
Posts: 738
I just purchased a book for one pattern. Unfortunately, that book was the "hard to find" Mystery Quilts by Rita Fishel. It was way more than I would have liked to pay...so I will be making the other quilts from that book!
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois
Posts: 244
My sad story on buying Quilt books. I purchased one several years ago and really liked several of the quilts. Of course, I never got around to making any of them. HOWEVER, a year ago I found a pattern that I really liked and made a quilt for my friend. I bet you know the rest of the story--a while later I was looking at my pattern books. Lo and behold there were two of the patterns which I had since purchased for the price of the book. Did I learn a lesson? Sort of because I really think twice before I spend money on a quilt book.
#18
I have bought one book in 20 years of quilting and I knew there were perhaps half of the quilts that I would make. Previous to that purchase, my favorite book was inherited to me and it was a book of blocks. That would get me started and I was gently forced to learn how to calculate how many blocks, pieces, sashing and so on were needed to finish the quilt at the size I desired. I get most of my ideas now online, but still love my one book "Scrap Basket Surprises" by Kim Brackett. (Accurate directions, colored pictures and pleasant patterns.) Some of the patterns I have made more than once. One is my "go to" pattern for a baby quilt.
#19
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#20
I rarely buy quilting books anymore but I used to. There is so much on the internet.
If I really want a pattern I try to get the book at my library. They seem to carry a lot of good ones.
Several years ago I purged almost all my quilt books and have never missed even one! I bought a lot of books years ago!
If I really want a pattern I try to get the book at my library. They seem to carry a lot of good ones.
Several years ago I purged almost all my quilt books and have never missed even one! I bought a lot of books years ago!