Ok, I am thinking of building my quilting library. There are a few must haves like a good over all pattern book, a indepth teck book and maybe a good styles book. What books do you consider good one to get or must have for a new quilter?

Anything by Eleanor Burns because she doesn't leave anything for you to wonder about. She covers everything.

Material MiMi

After reading on this site about the quilting catalog I ordered one on Ebay. It was the best thing I have ever ordered. It covers everything. Couldn't put it down.

I'm really glad that I got this one:

The Quilters Ultimate Visual Guide: From A to Z-- Hundreds of Tips and Techniques for Successful Quiltmaking

I second the El Burns books. She is the best.
I have a lot of her books. She taught me how to quilt and how to use the easiest methods.
Lots of her videos on line.
Here is a free site for videos. http://quilterstv.com

littlehud is this the book?
The Quilter's Catalog: A Comprehensive Resource Guide by Meg Cox

I ordered it as a selection from my book club. I did not care for it at all. I think it's because I read every quilt magazine published for years and this book seemed like rewritten articles I remembered from the magazines. The book has good information as in dept articles about quilting are not in the quilting magazines like they use to be.

Even though she's very (excuse me) anal, I really like Sally Collins books. She's very detail oriented and really walks you through the process. With her it's all about the process, and how she teaches it demands excellence and really improves your techniques.

Oh BTW I am a bookoholic so keep them comming more the merrier. I asm thinning out my libraray of other books so have space to add for new hobby. :D

I shall check into all mentioned here.

I think that Harriet Hargrave's books are staples - Heirloom Machine Quilting, The Art of Classic Quiltmaking, and Mastering Machine Applique.

I like all of Judy Martin's books, even the really old ones. I have only purchased one by Eleanor Burns, and I didn't care for it at all, but I know others who love her books.

When I started quilting I checked a lot of books out of the library. If the book was really useful, I purchased it to keep on the shelf. I find most of my books on Amazon.com, some at JoAnn's with coupons.

Elenor Burns, definitely ...
And, for a subscription, I recommend "Quilt" magazine.
I buy them and then hoard them. One day, I decided to actually sit down and read one of them. I could not believe all of the things that I had missed through the years. Good pictures, scrappy seems to be the theme of the series, and for pure inspiration, "QUILT" beats most of them. However, do be prepared to be transported back in time when they want you to make half square triangles by cutting out two triangles and then sewing them together .... but, Elenor Burns "EGG MONEY QUILTS" or "STILL STRIPPING AFTER 25 YEARS" will give you enough quick techniques to compensate for "QUILT"s very basic beginning lessons.

I agree with Omak. The mags always do things the hard way when El Burns has so many easier ways to do it.
Quilting is so much more pleasurable when cutting is made easier.
I have so many mags colllected over the years. I have been slowly eliminating my subscriptions. Still love to look at them and it is always a thrill to get them in the mail. But just dont use them so time to move on.

Although I admit to being a big EB fan, there are a couple of books in my library I wouldn't be without:

Rotary Magic by Nancy Johnson Srebro covers rotary cutting techniques and her instructions for the quarter inch stop are awesome

Quilters Complete Guide by Fons & Porter covers just about everything quilting - very helpful if I run across a new to me technique and the instructions for drafting are invaluable. If it's something new to me, this is the book I turn to first.

Quilts Quilts Quilts by Diana McClun and Laura Nownes - another very good, comprehensive quilt book and very easy to understand. Lots of great quilts in this book.

Joanie's Quilting Elements by Joanie Zeier Poole covers machine quilting and helped me understand some things that had eluded me. The book comes with some machine quilting pdfs - a nice bonus.

All that being said, I admit to having 27 Eleanor Burns Books :oops: You just can't beat what works - and for me, her books work.

I agree that the Harriet Hargrave books are a necessity. I learned *so* much about machine applique and machine quilting from her books!

Please include books by Karen Kay Buckley. She is an excellent appliquer and her books are all great. One in particular is "Flowers and Friennds". She is very thorough and easy to follow.

And, Elly Sienkewicz's books are wonderful except they are pricey. She too is an excellent appliquer.

S

Can't recommend any one in particular, but I do agree with getting books from the library, either a guild library, or a public library and if it is helpful, then buy it. I used to get many magazines, but they do become repetitive, and they pile up! If you find something you like in a magazine, note it some way on the cover, or clip it, or copy it and file it where you can find it! It is difficult to remember where you found something later! :lol:

I clip patterns and the instruction section from those magazines I LOVE and put them in a sheet protector in a binder (or 3 or 4 lol) If I don't LOVE any one pattern enough to rip the mag apart, I pass it on.


As far as books:

I like "Quilts, Quilts, Quilts" and the Rodale's Successful Quilting Library series.

Oh my some good books reccomended here. I think the best advice was the Elenore Burns series of books for the person just learning.

There is Carol Doak for the paper piecing. And I like the book, "Applique The basics and beyond", by Janet Pittman for learning applique.

The book I learned the most about machine quilting with is, "Machine Quilting Solutions", by Christine Maraccini.

I love the McCall's Quilting magazines still to this day. Although sometimes the American Quilting traditions by better Homes and gardens is sometimes really nice. They also have a "quilts and more", magazine, I think. It is very basic and for newbies.

I too am a bit of a bookaholic. So I have several but this is the one that first comes to mind: The It's Okay If You Sit On My Quilt Book by Mary Ellen Hopkins. Also I don't know about everyone else but I would recommend the All-in-One Quilter's Reference Tool book for quick information getting on basic things.

I have over 100 books in my Quilting Library, always looking through them for ideas. But what I call my staple is Quilters Complete Guide, it is great. If you can still find the spiral bound used on Amazon get that one. I also have been getting Quilters Newsletter and Quiltmaker since 1983 and still have them all. Although Quilters Newsletter has turned into an Ad mag. so I will be cancelling it finally and just keeping Quiltmaker, which I love. I also love any of the ThimbleBerry books or Fons and Porter. But if I had to give them all up, I wold keep Quilters Complete Guide and Quilts, Quilts, Quilts. Hope this helps.

I was reading this and wondering if anyone else here has tried finding a book they want on Bookmooch.com ?? You can exchange books for just the cost of you shipping to it the person who wants what you listed.

When you request a book (Mooch it) and it is accepted, you get the book for free. There are all kinds of books on there. I listed some of the quilting books I no longer cared for on there and they were snapped up!

I recommend it for anyone who can't do Amazon's prices or is looking for a "collectible" book. There is a Wish List for ones you can't find but are willing to wait for.

PS Maybe we could set up a book and pattern exchange? Or just lending? Just an idea.

I have the first Quilting for Dummies and it is very informative too.

Oooh, my husband is going to hate you all. :lol: I love amazon.com for I always get free shipping from them.

I do have one book I bought way back called Best Selling Bazaar Patchwork. It has 2 quilts in it plus pillows,totes,aprons,pot holders, table runner. ornaments, bags, caddies, dolls, christmas stuff, wall hanging and the list goes on and on. Book is 150 pages for making things for a bazaar plus how to plan one. For those that are interested here is the ISBN 0-8487-1092-4 publisher is Oxmoor House. copy I have as a date of 1992. Not sure why I picked it up but there are a few things in it I shall make when I have the fabric. The 2 quilts are awesom.

Those two quilts made me start looking for more patterns. I already went thru the web site quilt blocks galore. But I rather have books as it is easy to look thru them than a site for a pattern.

I second the book Rotary Magic by Nancy Johnson Srebro. It has good instructions for binding too.

If you ever have a softcover book that you use a lot, go to Office Max and have them put on a spiral binding. It's about $3-$4, but if you need your book to lay flat while you reference it, it's worth it!

Thanks carol that is a great bit of information. Never knew they did that.

I am a true Eleanor Burns fan. I just got two more of hers (Lover's Knot and Quick Trip) and my daughter slowly shook her head and said I giggled like a school girl when I opened the parcel. I find E.B.'s directions very easy to understand, plus I love the various illustrations.

I also have to admit I'm a fan of Eleanor Burns & Thimbleberries. :oops: I have them all