Buying Too Many Quilt Books?
 

I just love quilt books. Ones that focus on patterns, techniques, patchwork, applique, history, anything. I think it's the layouts and beautiful quilts. I see these books and want to make that quilt "someday", although I probably have more books than I could ever really make all their quilts. I know there is e-books and the internet (for free patterns), but I just love the feeling of taking a new book home and dreaming of my own future quilts. I feel guilty about spending the money, but at the time I feel like I got to have it.

Maybe I will be sorry someday for having bought a lot of books, but I treasure my collection, especially older or out-of-print books. Am I the only one who still loves hard-copy books?

Count me in. I have it B-A-A-D! And I don't feel guilty, so neither should you. They give us a lot of pleasure, and I figure, so many people spend so much money on cigarettes, drinking, and gambling, etc. and I do none of that. At least we have something to show for our money, right? And in the future all those books (and yards of fabric, patterns, etc.) can be resold if necessary. Feeling better now? Lol! (I'm pretty good at justifying....)

I love my collection, but we are planning to move. Have found some books that I really don't need anymore, and those have gone to the local "friends" of the library. I have a lot left, though -- many more than I will ever use. Still love having them. My dh has a collection of over 3,000 classical records, so I don't feel *too* guilty over my collection of quilting books.

It is the quilt magazines that are worse for me. I have spent countless hours going through them page by page, marking pages I want to keep, giving the "friends" magazines that don't have at least one marker in them. Not sure there is enough time in my lifetime to go through all of them! This experience has finally convinced me to stop buying magazines. I even quit looking at them when I go out, so I won't be tempted to buy another one!

there is something very special about sitting down with a wonderful book- I never feel guilty about purchasing a new book and have (5) 7-foot book shelves plus a hall closet and sewing room closet shelf to prove it. :) you never know when you will go back through a book you purchased 10 years ago and find the perfect quilt for that moment! I often pull a stack of books off the shelf and just sit looking through them in the evening-when I need some ideas/inspiration for a new project- or when I want to use a particular technique I haven't done in a while & need to refresh my memory- or I need some measurements...what ever... I have my kindle for books I want to sit & read- but quilting/craft books I will always purchase as books- I love my books! my shelves would be awfully empty without them. :)

I love them to!!!!

I much prefer a book. I tend to study the pattern/picture quite a bit before I actually embark on it. I love looking at them at bed time just before I nod off and some patterns are very complex, I need to read the directions several times and have it handy when cutting and assembling. I also jot notes because I often modify the cutting or sewing directions to a method I like better. So no, you are not the only one that enjoys their quilt books. I turn to my books more than anything for inspiration and just plain simple enjoyment. Although my library is not as extensive as many here.

I would much rather (and so does DH) spend my money on something that can help create a utilitarian object than spend money on a scandal rag. He used to look at me when I would bring the quilt books and magazines home. I told him it's this quilt book or a scandal rag. No more mention. He looks through the quilt books and puts post it notes with names as to reference which would be great gift for whom.

I love "real" books!

I love my books. Magazines too!

Quilting books are a little bit of heaven. I love my collection and never pass up a chance to grow the collection.

I also make notations about the patterns I have made right in the book, thinking that future owners of the book might enjoy seeing how other people worked a quilt.

One of my favorite things is to pile a stack of books on my bed and lounge with them.

enjoy your collection.
Please give us a list of your favorites!
peace

I enjoy books in all forms: those ideas I capture in a 3-ring notebook; ebooks, soft or hardcover books. Lately, I have found myself concentrating on specific era history books and enhance the subject with culture and quilt fabric/patterns. Suddenly, several topics seem to be merging and my understanding has increased.

My quilt books are either categorized by technique or author/ designer. My favorites include the late Mary Ellen Hopkins treasure of books. A local printer drilled holes in a few soft cover books so I could store everything together in a large D-ring folder. This was done to help me and prevent loss through loaners which aren't returned.

I am down to one quilt magazine subscription annually and using the local library to scan other magazines. If I do splurge on a magazine, it absolutely must have three unique ideas I "intend" to use.

I will get books on my kindle for reading, but I want an actual magazine or book for quilting. I really like books that are technique based. Those I will read like a novel. I want to be able to look at the pattern and the directions when I'm sewing - I can write notes in them also. I like to watch tutorials on the computer but I really want to print them out as I don't want to have my computer on when I'm sewing. Some are just old school, and some are just new school. I guess I'm old/new school!

I love books and magazines. I buy way too many but even so I have cut way back. Even if I never make anything from them, I enjoy curling up on the couch (under a quilt if it's cold) and reading them like a book.

WOW! is all I can say..what visual!

I love my quilt books: I've told my daughter (who has no interest in actually quilting, alas!) to donate to my local library. I only wish I had had some available to borrow when the money was tight.

Oh My I love my collection too. I still have the very first quilting book I bought back in 1976. American Quilts and how to make them. I also have that applique book The Little Brown Wren, which I understand sells for quite a bit more now. A couple of times I have gotten so upset with my self! I'll buy this wonderful book, only to discover when I get home that I already have it.

I love this board. You are all so much like me. Or I am like you. I love my books and my magazines. And I will never get around to making all the ones I love so much. But I will have many years, hours, minutes...relaxing and dreaming. I use to read romance novels. Now it is quilting patterns. :)

Too many? No, never. They are such an inspiration.

I love books in any format. My kindle has a large selection of quilting books, iBooks, ebooks and magazines. They take up less room. Why. I have 3 large bookcases full plus books in different places. I have more than our local library .
I read very quickly love new projects and have a one click on amazon. Have a new book to me nearly every week.

buying too many quilt books ? Yes ! 1/2 price book store ! !
 

Each one I see something..then shelf it..but will not give them up. Lol

I love my books! At this point I have so many that I can't justify spending money on more, BUT - I just got a wonderful hardcover book on strip-piecing at a garage sale for $1. And last weekend I found two quilting books at the thrift store for $2 each. I keep them on my shelves in alphabetical order, so that when I get home and find that I have three copies of one book it's always a surprise.

There's no way I'll ever make all the quilts I've "flagged" from my books, but that hasn't stopped me from buying more books. Now I need to figure out where I can put another bookcase:)

Locally on Kijiji, there is a lady trying to sell her MIL's quilt book collection - two large totes full. I had a look & bought two for $15 because I felt bad for her having to load the totes into her van and driving to meet me half-way so I could have a look. I would bet that the lady bought them and then never opened them (one of those subscription deals - about $30 a book). She's sold most of the fabric before I noticed the ads for the books.

When you decide to get rid of a few, consider reselling them to Amazon or another source so that others may enjoy them. In the meantime, enjoy every one of them for yourself, over and over again; it doesn't get any better than that!

Glad to know I am not the only one who ends up with duplicate copies of books. It also happens to me with patterns. I chalk it up to old age but don't know for sure -- maybe hoarding or over enthusiasm.

Oh, I am SOOO glad I am not the only one! I, like others here, read novels on Kindle or iPad. But the quilt books have to be REAL books! I love to get into bed at night and pore over new ideas and patterns, anticipating all the quilts I might make someday. If it is a quilt I am about to begin, I read and reread carefully, highlighting the cutting instructions. Because I teach at my LQS, I alway make notes in my books so I can share tips with others.

Now here is my question: I flag all those great ones I want to make, but later I will think, I know I have a good pattern flagged that I could use for this fabric, but which book is it in? Does anyone have a cataloging system for future quilts?

[QUOTE=Dakota Rose;6235309]Glad to know I am not the only one who ends up with duplicate copies of books. It also happens to me with patterns. I chalk it up to old age but don't know for sure -- maybe hoarding or over enthusiasm.[/QUOTE

Oh good, I'm not the only one who does this! LOL! Love my books!

I agree with ckcowl - I have my kindle for reading, but I want "real" pages when I am looking at quilt patterns. I only have about 150-ish books, but they are all quilt patterns, or quilt blocks. Do I feel guilty? Not in the slightest. When I pass on, I have given my kids strict instructions that they have to divide the estate into 2 sales - the first one is only for quilters, and the second can be for the general public. All my books, patterns, tools and materials will go to a good home, and the rest can go wherever it lands. :)

I have quite a collection of sewing and quilting books. I made an alphabetical list on my computer so I don't repeat purchases. I have close to 500 books on ,my list, so don't feel bad about your collection. It is a luxury to sit and reread these books as I look for patterns or ideas.

Homeec96, I am over-thinking your alphabetical list this morning. Perhaps I need more coffee! Years ago I started a spreadsheet and ended up making it so detailed that I didn't keep it up. :-( Do you alphabetically list only by name of author, title, or both? Thanks....:-(

I love real books too. But it sure is nice to have a book handy to use as a referance when needed.

I also LOVE my books and magazines. I don't save every magazine, some I toss because I didn't enjoy them as much. But I keep an index card box with sections: children, babies, men, flowers, applique, etc., so if I need a pattern quickly, I can find it. I regularly loan out some to other quilters to use, as well. I don't buy regular books as much, except for specific authors I've collected for years, and read over and over. I work at a place where we sell used books as a fund raiser for a charity & have patients waiting to be seen who can browse, so I have lots of books to shop from ($1 each) and donate back when I'm done. I don't feel guilty at all!

I used to buy quilting books, but they are so expensive and I can buy a Craftsy class for that price or cheaper when they run a sale. So now that's what I'm spending money on. When I go to Amazon to buy a quilting book, I'm shocked at the prices.

I love Bonnie Hunter's books. I have gotten some really good quilting books at Alibris.com which is a used/antique book site. Some books go for $1.

I probably have over 200 books by now, just picked up 2 at the thrift store yesterday. I have some I know I will get rid of but I have already looked at them and loved every minute of it. I have learned so much from reading them. I was subscribing to the various quilt magazines but have decided I am very tired of their pushing the fabric from the various companies. When you read old quilt magazines or books, they don't tell what fabric you need to make it with. I am very lucky in that I have intuition about color and my quilts turn out great. I will always be buying books, Amazon, Joann's, Hobby Lobby, 1/2 Books, just love them.

to add correct ageWell, start me up and count me in on this hobby. I don't know how many that I have but I am not done yet. My daughter found a box of quilt mags at a thrift store and bought them for me for Christmas. She mailed them to me in four boxes. They are beautiful and from the late 50's and 60's.
I also collect the state quilt documentation books. I have about 50 of these but not all of the states. Some states have books on different areas of their states.
And,yes, i want them to be donated to my local library; whenever!

I am now 72 but can't figure how to add to my signature.

I love the feel of a real book. Be it a quilt book or a novel. I've been using my iPad's Kindle for novels lately and miss the feel of a book, but I've been buying quilt books, often from Amazon with one click, so I do get the feel of a real book. I cannot pass up a good quilt book that someone mentions. I don't have nearly the collection of most of you. I have a larger collection of magazines as I don't get rid of any of my quilting magazines and have resorted to buying fabric boxes to store some of the mags in. I just can't bring myself to get rid of anything quilt related. But I am starting a nice quilt book collection. I have two rows of a wide bookcase full of new books and two rows of older books. That's a lot to me, but probably little to most of you. I like the idea of categorizing them. So far, I haven't bought duplicates. I have lost one though.

I love my books and magazines. I have found that as my abilities have improved I am drawn to different quilts. There is nothing more relaxing than sitting down with a stack of books and a glass of ice tea at about 2:00 in the afternoon. Retirement is wonderful, also.

You are not alone in your love for quilting books. I have way too many and I treasure each and every one of them. I'm a member of Martingale's Insider Book Club and I can only remember two times of not taking the monthly selection. My husband says the house has settled a good two inches into the ground because of the weight of my quilting books. I won't be able to make them all, but oh what delight in just looking at the patterns and imagining all the great things I can do with my wonderful fabric. Enjoy them, life is too short to worry about having too many quilt books.