Book question
 

Do any of you have a favorite book author? I have been looking at quilting books with patterns and lots of information but have no idea where to start. At this time I don't want Vintage and am such a beginner that I want to lean towards easy. Thanks as always for any help.

Welcome aboard to both Quilting Board and the potential start of a life-long hobby!

So you are looking at beginner level quilting books and looking for recommendations?

Do you need the breakdown of the basics like 1/4" seam reminders, and the how to sew two pieces together, with directions and cutting instructions? Are you comfortable choosing your own fabrics, or are you better with kits?

I don't get many books any more and don't keep up with what is current. I do know though that when I started books weren't really all that helpful to those that couldn't draft their own patterns. Mostly what we had were block diagrams with zero directions. Today's books with not only block diagrams, but setting diagrams and cutting layouts, and little sub-unit pictures and/or diagrams can be awesome, but again, some people have to learn how to translate all that stuff. Like I see knitting patterns where an entire fancy sweater is all spelled out in stitches and counts and can't visualize it at all, but a knitter can see, oh -- that's where they start the cable or whatever info it is they need.

Nowadays the fabric lines each design quilts to catch your eye and be made with them and typically offer them for free -- but here's the thing, you don't need to use their fabrics to do that. You can use something like look the free patterns here (which are mostly designed around panels), and then use the directions to make something with your fabric, or pick fabrics because you liked the idea you saw.
https://www.equilter.com/pattern/cat...ttern-designer

My very first quilt book got me hooked on quilting. The pattern was easy and fun to do. My first quilt was a success. And the best thing was when I finished the quilt was quilted making me feel so accomplished. If you can find it get
Reversible Quilts: An Easy New Technique by Anita Murphy. Usually Amazon has used ones for about $5. My first quilt I didn't make it reversible, used a solid muslin for the backing. I wanted to keep it as simple as possible. I learned so much making that quilt and really didn't know all the mistakes I was making but it didn't matter. The quilt looked great and I knew I was born to make quilts. LOL

I get a lot of requests from non-quilters and newbies alike- looking for books to get them started, or just something to read to see if they might be interested in investigating further, or something to help a beginner improve techniques. There's three books that fit the need. I try to keep two or three of each to loan out to "future quilters."

Any of the Singer quilting books. They are very beginner friendly, and designed to inspire new or non-quilters to continue the journey, in hopes of selling them a sewing machine. They are not really a "Singer advertisement," but a very well written and illustrated book that won't scare off the new people. These are excellent and cover most aspects of quilting in a simple manner, and have small projects as well as quilts to either get you going, or increase your desire to delve further into quiltmaking.

"The Quilters Ultimate Visual Guide." by Rodale Press. This book is a heavily illustrated journal of all things quilting. It is easily read and has hundreds of tips and tricks to make your quilting journey more enjoyable. It's billed as "Everything you ever wanted to know about quilting." It is too- probably the best out there to answer "newbie" questions, but a good reference for seasoned sewists as well. Every other quilter I've talked to has said this is the best quilting reference they have ever read. If you can have only one book- this is it.

"Rotary Magic" by Nancy Johnson-Srebro. This book features easy techniques to improve your quilting experience. It has some projects plus tecniques for piecing and finishing. This is a great "techniques manual" which is easily followed by quilters of all skill levels. As you might expect, it has great tips on rotary cutting. A super book that isn't scary at all.

As a former technical writer/editor/instructor I am very aware how easy it is to lose a student if we over-complicate things. I think these three will cover pretty much everything. Most of the books I acquire come from either Goodwill, the free table at guild or garage and estate sales. New books are probably worth the asking price, but not nearly the value of used books, which is where they all end up eventually.

Welcome aboard the QB from SE Michigan! Books that I find have some of the easiest patterns to follow are by Eleanor Burns. She has a few different books that have sampler quilts so you have at least 12 different blocks to learn in a single book. Her instructions are clear an easy to follow. JAF (Joann fabrics) has a good selection and they come on sale regularly.

Jane Hardy Miller’s French Braid Quilts books are great, she explains every step so well, from selecting the fabric to finishing a really great quilt. They look complicated but are truly beginner friendly and everything is explained so well. Modern looking quilts with plenty of WOW factor.

For a particular technique by a particular author, I really like Karla Alexander's Stack the Deck series. There are rulers now you can buy for "quick crazy quilts", but she was one of the proponents of the technique and explains how to do it without rulers and how to achieve scrappy looks without a ton of different fabrics. I use my own variation of her technique to get variety into my own projects. She explains things well and easily, with good pictures.

I get most of my books at Goodwill or half-priced books. Amazon too, you can get some great deals, just watch the shipping costs.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...tack_the_Deck_

I used a book by M'Liss Rae Hawley called "Make Your First Quilt". "A beginner's step by step guide. Tips and techniques". It is not a large book but very comprehensive. Good pictures. This was recommended in my first quilting class. I still refer back to it.

Not a book, but I think the Fon's & Porter Love of Quilting magazines always have some good instructional pages for techniques in the back. Actually most of the magazines are doing that now. And F & P put out a magazine of Quick Quilts--always pretty easy to do. Those would be good starting points, too.

My first quilt book was Lap Quilting with Georgia Bonesteel. I loved hand quilting and that was what I wanted to do. They are traditional designs and she had a show on PBS at the time. After that I bought a book that was A to Z Quilting - more of an encyclopedia of quilting so I could understand a lot of the different terms. After that if I liked the patterns in the book I bought them. I loved to watch the Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day shows on PBS and bought a couple of her books. I think she breaks down the various quilts the best.

The MSQC tutorials are also very good to watch, Jenny Doan is so good at making it look easy and tells you short cuts.

That’s what got me into quilting. I watched her PBS series then went to the library and checked out just about every quilt book they had. My first introduction to machine quilting was this book by Robbie and Tony Fanning.

https://www.amazon.com/complete-book.../dp/080196802X

It’s an older book and machine quilting has come a long way since then. But I mention it because I think the library is a good resource for looking into various quilting authors and techniques. Who or what appeals to me might not necessarily but what you’re looking for. If you find a book you like you can then look for it to buy.

I have bought and gotten rid of a lot of books over the years, and I agree that magazines have been the most helpful to me. Some feature techniques among the patterns and have patterns for a variety of skill levels. F&P's Love of Quilting and BH&G's American Patchwork and Quilting are often on the newsstands and at Joann Fabrics so you can try them to see if you want to subscribe. I do like Kim Diehl's patterns because they feature both pieced and appliqued quilts in various sizes. Because samplers are my favorite, my "Bible" is the "Quick and Easy Block Tool." It includes patterns for traditional pieced blocks in various sizes from about 3" to 12" or so.

Go on lone to Missouri Star Quilts. Jenny does tutorials that are easy to follow. You can often find her “Block” books on sale. I think she has the easiest quilts to make and her instructions are very complete. Welcome to this board. You can learn so much here.

I think I have all of her books. Her first book is kind of basic starter and then the books get a little more involved (but not hard). I've made lots of quilts using her ideas.

Onebyone. I am glad you mentioned Reversible Quilts: An Easy New Technique by Anita Murphy. In 1980 Anita founded my Guild , The Golden Triangle Quilt Guild, which meets in Beaumont ,TX. We lost Anita in 2011, but the guild has been and is a blessing in my life and I am glad her books live on too.

Reader1, I am sorry I don’t have a book to suggest , but would probably suggest Jenny Doan’s videos and other online resources as places to begin learning about quilt making.

Not a book but if you have a local quilt shop or guild, please consider taking a class on beginning quilting. Nothing beats a hands on class for learning. A favorite pattern designer is Terry Atkinson. Her pattern directions are well written and understandable.

My first book was Leisure Arts Complete Guide for Quilters. I still use it for reference to suggested sizes for quilts, on-point setting triangles, etc. Good basics in that book. My first quilt was a string quilt on muslin foundation. At the time I started (more than 20 yrs ago) a friend gave me a subscription to Quick Quilts that was a big help in finding something quick and easy but not boring. If you choose to watch online demonstrators, I recommend Eleanor Burns and more recently Donna Jordan. Both offer excellent suggestions as well as their technique for a being accurate in piecing. A lot of the "names" of today are not so much into the teaching but are selling product so be aware of that.

If you find older pattern books, you may find that the patterns all use templates rather than rotary cutting. Be careful of that if you don't intend to cut pieces with scissors as our previous generations did.

Jenny Doan with Missouri Star Quilt Co. has the best video's and easy to understand patterns. She gets my first vote and to add another name to the pot I enjoy making Corry Yoder patterns.

My first book was Dare to be Square and I made several projects from the book - leans toward modern designs. However, I would suggest spending a little time in your local library and just page through some things.

Thanks for all your wonderful ideas. I completed my first 2 quilts and have completed all the blocks for the Binding Tool Quilt. I have to "square" all the blocks which is super scary to me and decide on the final lay out. Thanks again!!!

I really don’t have a favorite book or author. Check your public library first. They have many and quilt/sewing magazines, too.

I suggest Leah Day. She has a lot of free videos and tutorials on her website. She goes slowly enough to understand. She recently wrote a book on perfect piecing. Leahday.com