Your First Quilt Book: (or it should be!)

I had sewed clothing years ago and attended a 1-day beginning machine quilting class but still didn't feel very confident. We didn't do any piecing at all in the class, and I really didn't know where to begin with a "real" project. I really wanted to make a baby quilt for two close friends but was afraid to start. This book came to the rescue! After skimming through the book I learned about how to calculate fabric requirements. I learned how to use a rotary cutter properly to cut straight on the grain of the fabric, and got great tips for cutting and piecing quickly. I refered to the book numerous times for guidance while putting together a baby quilt pattern I found on the Internet, and then used a pattern from the book to create a quilted pillow for a Christmas gift for my Mom. The book has great tips for everything from what you need to get started to creating your own bias or straight-grain binding strips and putting that final touch on your first project! I will probably make many of the projects given within the book, although I must say I wasn't fond of the fabric choices in the color photos; I used VERY different choices in my own projects and was extraordinarily pleased with how the patterns came together. If you have ever wanted to know more about quilting and are thinking about taking the plunge, this is the book for you.

To put it simply, prior to this book (and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Quilting"), I could barely reattach a shirt button. I don't know what made me think I could hand stitch a quilt, but I just jumped into it. 6 weeks later, I had a beautiful, hand made lap quilt as a present for my mother. This book shows the necessary techniques, provides pearls of wisdom and offers projects from start to finish, all with a nice touch of humor.

You too can read this book and feel like a quilting bee! I love this book because Carol Doak explains every stupid little detail you need to know in order not to screw up big time with quilts. It's not easy to sew all those little pieces together and have them come out symetrical. If you wack off the excess with a rotary cutter, (which seems pretty fun at the time), the block is the wrong size. Carol has a gentle and humorous voice and this book must be written at about the third grade level because even I understand it. I like the black and white shaded diagrams because it's easier to keep your colors straight if you use different color combinations for the same quilt. Best of all, there are simple projects in this book that are beautiful and truly suitable for a beginner. I made a variation of the simple stars quilt for my Mom for Christmas and she loves me again. My daughter has been whining for one of her own ever since she saw Grandma's. I ironed on wonderful antique photos of four generations of mothers and daughters in the star centers--which made the quilt an instant family hit. As a result, Mom loves me second best of all the kids again, although she probably still loves my brother the best because he bought her the weed wacker she wanted for Christmas and she always liked him better anyway.

I have never learned to sew. Well, not really. I have hemmed my pants and reattached my buttons, but that was my entire sewing repertoire before I got a wild idea to start quilting. I bought three different books, all of which were helpful in their own ways, but this book made it possible to start and complete my own project. It has everything from quilting vocabulary musts and the necessary tools to stitching techniques. I can't say enough good things about it!

A wonderful reference and learning tool for anyone who wants to learn to quilt without classes. Teaches the reader how to choose fabric color, what hue and texture means, making templates, machine and hand-piecing, machine and hand quilting, assembling your quilt and a complete review of quilt supplies. It should be called, "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Quilting, but Didn't Know Who To Ask." It is a book you can depend on for the answers. The description and step-by-step photos of the hand quilting stitch is excellent.