Books, Books, Books

I’ve been lucky enough to receive a few new digital quilting books lately. There are so many talented people out there and these books provide unlimited inspiration.

 

Stack, Shuffle and Slide

By Karla Alexander

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Photography by Martingale and Photographer Brent Kane

What a fun book! All the projects in this book use the ‘stack the deck’ technique. Stack the fabrics into a pile and the slice into various shapes. The shapes are then shuffled and each layer is sewn back together. Fun blocks are created without the need for templates or dreaded quilt math.

 

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Photography by Martingale and Photographer Brent Kane

 

In addition to the initial deck shuffle, Karla introduces a second shuffle of the deck, which is called “slip n slide”. This technique enables control over the colour arrangements in blocks.

Karla shares 15 unique quilt projects, using the stack, shuffle and slide methods, which look like a lot of fun. Personally, I think I’d love to make every quilt in this book.

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Photography by Martingale and Photographer Brent Kane

Stack, Shuffle and Slide by Karla Alexander is available here from Martingale.

 

 

25 Patchwork Quilt Blocks (Vol 2)

By Katy Jones

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Photography by Martingale and Photographer Brent Kane

Katy Jones of popular blog, Monkey Do, is back with her follow-up book to 25 Patchwork Quilt Blocks. This second book is filled with contemporary interpretations of traditional blocks as well as a few new blocks.

The blocks are created using a variety of methods which encourage the novice sewist to learn new skills including the use of templates, machine applique and English Paper Piecing. The step by step instructions and excellent images, will assist the sewist to create beautiful projects in no time.

25 Patchwork Quilt Blocks (Vol 2) is a wonderful resource with contemporary ideas for the patchwork book library. Available in the Martingale shop.

 

 

 

Feathers that Fly

By Lee Cleland

 

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Photography by Martingale and Photographer Brent Kane

If you’re interested in developing your machine quilting skills, this book is for you! Lee Cleland takes the quilter on a feathery journey. By following the step-by-step progression in the book, we learn how to draw our own feathered quilting designs to fit any shape or border and how to turn corners with designs for a fluid, continuous pattern.

Feathers that Fly includes plenty of patterns. Lee suggests tracing and copying the designs onto separate sheets of paper to practice, practice, practice.

Feathers that Fly is a valuable resource for a quilter, looking to advance their skills in machine quilting. Available here at Martingale.

 

 

Beyond Neutral

Quilts inspired by natures elements

By John Q Adams

 

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Beyond Neutral is the new book by popular blogger, John Adams. In Beyond Neutral, John encourages the sewist to move beyond using white or cream as the neutral in a quilt and to embrace the colours of nature.

 

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Photography by Martingale and Photographer Brent Kane

 

The quilt projects are not difficult to piece, but the results are beautiful and the use of solid focus fabrics  (other than white or cream) is visually, very effective.

Glacier Bay (below) is just one of the quilt projects in Beyond Neutral. It is the most traditional of the projects and just stunning.

 

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Photography by Martingale and Photographer Brent Kane

Personally, I have this quilt on my ‘to-do’ list. Beyond Neutral is filled with great quilts with a ‘masculine’ feel. Finding projects to make for men is always tricky, but this book has plenty of inspiration. Excellent instructions and step by step images make this book an asset to any quilt book library.

Beyond Neutral is available in the Martingale Shop.

 

Hexagons, Diamonds, Triangles and More

By Kelly Ashton

 

Kelly takes the fear of quilt geometry out of the equation, in her new book published by Martingale.

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60 degree quilts can be daunting and many sewists are guilty of steering clear of them. In Hexagons, Diamonds, Triangles and More, all of the math has been done.Templates and patterns are provided which mean that making one of these quilt projects is a little less intimidating.

 

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Photography by Martingale and Photographer Brent Kane

The instructions are very good and are accompanied by images and measurements to assist in the quilt making process.

Hexagons, Diamonds, Triangles and More is an excellent resource and once purchased, will be referenced for years to come.

Available from the Martingale Shop.

 

 

Fabulously Fast Quilts

By Amy Smart

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Fabulously Fast Quilts is the new book by popular blogger, Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter.

12 fun, fast quilt projects, are featured and Amy shares the tips and techniques she uses to quickly create complex-looking quilts – but fast.

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Photography by Martingale and Photographer Brent Kane

The projects are perfect for beginners who would like to create speedy quilts without a lot of fuss.

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Photography by Martingale and Photographer Brent Kane

Many of the projects are versatile and are made with pre-cuts or scraps which make them very beginner friendly. Great instructions and beautiful images make this a fun book for the newbie quilter.

Fabulously Fast Quilts is available at the Martingale Shop.

 

Disclaimer: I received digital copies of these books for review. All opinions are my own.

6 comments

  1. So many lovely books! Does the one on triangles, hexies etc have templates to trace for EPP or hand piecing?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ondrea,

      Yes it has a whole section at the back with templates to trace out and use. In the front section, it has the basics of the templates and how to create your own.

      It’s more of an instructional style of book with a couple of projects at the end.

      Delete
  2. What a source of inspiration. Enjoy them all.

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  3. Wow, your head must be spinning with ideas!

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  4. I was lucky enough to buy Fabulously Fast Quilts. Now to pick my fabric and make the first one.

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