Welcome to One Quilter's Opinions!
Gee, I guess time really DOES fly when you're having....ummm....fun, yeah, that's it. Settling in to a new locale has never seemed as difficult and time-consuming as this move. I've been overwhelmed by the fact that we now own a house for the first time. There is so much more to do, it seems, than just buying new curtains! And, I am sure, that once we finish getting things fixed up, I will LOVE being a homeowner. I even have a room to call my own...once I get that set up, I can quilt, knit or spin to my little heart's content!
We've also had quite a bit of company, including my in-laws. That was great, because my mother-in-law is a fiberholic, too. I got to see some of her WIP's, including a floral quilt that features intricately embroidered blocks as the centerpiece for star blocks. We also have a new addition to the family--Ringo the pug puppy entered our life in August. He keeps all of us busy! A certified cat person, I may have rethought the puppy idea if I knew that it was almost like having a baby around. Just kidding...don't know what I'd do without the little guy. He is definitely the king of the house.
I am now living in the heart of cotton country. The town we live in grew up around textile mills. Some of you may be thinking, "lucky you!" Unfortunately, although decorator fabric outlets abound, the closest quilt shop is 2 hours away, in Montgomery AL. Most of the mills have shut down in recent years as manufacturers are sending orders overseas in order to keep costs down. I was shocked to discover that a town the size of Columbus doesn't have enough support for even one quilt shop! I asked a woman working in one of the decorator outlets about the lack of quilt shops. She sighed, and said "I used to own a fabric shop, but when Wal-Mart came to town, I couldn't compete." We also talked about fabric quality, and she told me that one of her sales reps said that their company made prints in 2 thread counts. The higher thread count yardage went to regular fabric shops, while the lower quality fabric was made specifically for discount stores. If you have a quilt shop in your neighborhood, support it, treasure it, help it stay in business! You'll be glad you did, because it will be there when you need it!
And now, on to the latest reviews...
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Just the thought of freeform machine quilting can bring on the cold sweats to the most seasoned quilter. Kathy Sandbach aims to change that in her book, Show me how to Machine Quilt: a fun, no-mark approach (C&T Publishing, ISBN 1571201289, $17.95). With a little practice and the 5 quilt projects in this book, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy machine quilting. If you’ve mastered the meander but haven’t had the courage to do anything more, you’ll have a ball trying the patterns shown in this book. Not only do the projects help you become a better machine quilter, they also teach you how to look to your quilt for guidance when you’re trying to decide how to quilt it. You’ll see how the right quilting designs can unite a quilt and transform it from okay to wow! There is also a chapter on quilting sampler quilts. You’ll see how she’s added the perfect finishing touch to some terrific quilts, many by some of your favorite teachers |
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Mary Koval’s Antique Animal Quilts (Chitra Publications, ISBN 1885588453, $14.95) is sure to please those of you who have a passion for vintage quilts. The 11 patterns in this book are taken from the author’s collection, and range from a 1930’s era Scotty Dog pattern to a more recent ‘60’s era Chicken quilt. Gather up all those reproduction (or, if you’re very lucky, authentic) feed sack and conversation fabrics, grab this book and have fun! |
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You Are My Sunshine: A Medley of Colorful Quilts for Kids (Chitra Publications, ISBN 1885588461, $14.95) by Christiane Meunier and Karen Bates is just what you need if you’re looking for quick, easy quilts for kids. The authors pair today’s great novelty fabrics with easy sewing techniques that make the 13 quilts in this book perfect for quilters who want to make a special shower or birthday gift but don’t have much time. They will also make excellent projects if you enjoy making quilts for many of the worthy charities out there. |
You’ll feel like you opened a treasure chest when you arrive at the Alliance for American Quilts website (http://www.quiltalliance.org/index1.html) This is an incredible resource for any quilter. The AAQ is a nonprofit organization that was founded in order to preserve the history of quilts, and quiltmakers, further the recognition of quilts and to establish The Center for the Quilt in order to actively communicate with people about quilts and their meanings. You’ll learn how you can preserve and document any of those old quilts, patterns and fabrics you may have happened upon. There are even downloadable record forms available to make this easier. You can join the quilt discussion forum there, ask questions about antique quilts you may own, and even help the group’s effort by making a contribution. My favorite section are the interviews with quilters—I enjoy learning how individuals find inspiration in different ways. It helps me find new perspectives to look at my work.
Kimberly Wulfert is a quilt historian whose name may be familiar to those who read Traditional Quiltworks magazine, as she writes the “Quizzing the Quilt Historian” column. If you want to learn more about antique quilts and fabrics, check out her site, New Pathways into Quilt History (http://www.antiquequiltdating.com/index.html). The website features interviews with quilt historians and articles about antique quilts and fabric. You can check out reviews of new reproduction fabric lines, as well as learn how to identify actual vintage fabrics. There is information on quilt history tours and resources for schoolteachers
I just had to check out this shop that was recommended by a viewer. Quality Quilts and Biker Bedding (http://www.bikerbedding.com) is not a shop for everyone, but if you’re looking for motorcycle or car themed fabric for a special quilt, you’d better check this website. They have an excellent selection of these. Their prices are very reasonable, and they do have fat quarter packs.
This website grew out of an email newsletter I have published for my quilting group in Sasebo, Japan for over a year. As military spouses living overseas, we rely on the internet to find quilting supplies. If you have a local quilt shop or independent bookstore, I highly recommend that you support them before shopping online.
There are a lot of beginners in my quilting group. With them in mind, I created a new page. It's called Beginners Only!, and features some of the books, shops and websites that beginners may find extremely helpful.
If you're looking for a specific book, shop or site, try the search page!
Do you have a comment or question about the website? Would you like to give your opinion on a quilt related topic? Many Quilters' Opinions, is the place where you can let the world know what you think.
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Quilt Images were created with Electric Quilt 4.
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