Quilts – Quilt Patterns

Reviews

"The aim of all of us at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is to inspire and to teach." That aim has been fully realized in this ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SEWING AND FABRIC CRAFTS. The teaching focuses mostly on basics for beginning crafters -- step-by-step instructions, easy techniques, even some no-sew projects (e.g. coasters, storage boxes) and some that begin with commercially available products (e.g. totes, bibs, bed/bath/table linens). But for experienced crafters -- the book is pure inspiration. Beautifully illustrated throughout, it opens with primers on sewing, embroidery, appliqué, quilting, dye and stenciling. MSL's trademark visual glossaries of fabrics (almost tactile!), threads, notions and supplies are throughout, and an index and listing of sources are included at the end. But the bulk of the book is its 250 pages of fabric projects, some of which are crafting standards, many of which include fresh options. (**Note: perhaps half of the projects require the crafter to print a pattern/template from PDFs on a CD (included); therefore, access to a computer with a CD drive, a printer, and the free, downloadable Adobe Acrobat software are required.) I don't recall an over-the-top, un-doable project in the lot; the only sections that even approach are upholstery and window shades, yet the instructions there also seem manageable. Every project is illustrated in finished form; many also feature illustrations alongside the step-by-step instructions. I challenge anyone -- beginner, experienced, even an "armchair" crafter -- to look through this book without taking on a project :)

Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts is, as the subtitle says, basic techniques. 88 pages are devoted to technique--with lots of photographs. The rest of the book is projects. I think there is room for a lot more techniques. For instance, there is a handful of pages on quilting--even learning the basics of quilting lends itself to far more information. The advance copy has photos in black and white (saving the publishers a fortune) but it makes the book difficult to review, as b&w in this application is basically worthless. Overall, not overly impressed.

Let me start by saying I am reviewing a black and white copy without the CD. This is important because I have the Martha Stewar's Encyclopedia of Crafts and color is very important. Just like the magazine,the presentation is a large part of why you want the book. You really can't get the full impact without color. Without the color and CD what am I reviewing? What I can see from the black and white version. So what do you get? What you will get is a beautiful bound copy of sewing information that is readily available on her website and in many cases in her magazines. But here is the selling point, you get all in one place, in an easy to browse and use format. Everything is here - from the directions, tools to use to additional techniques and suppliers. So the second positive is you can recycle all those magazines you have laying around gathering dust because there is one project in each magazine you know you will get to one day. You can also stop searching the web for that project you remember from some show you saw long ago on cat play toys. It's all here in the book. To me, that alone might be the best reason to buy it. Let me warn you this is more a crafter's book than a sewing book. It is not for the serious sewer who want to turn out Chanel inspired garments and probably a little boring for the experienced sewer. So why should you buy it? It depends on what you are looking for. I found the Encyclopedia of Crafts a great way to plan projects with my granddaughters who loved looking the book at all the different projects. I'm planning to use the sewing book the same way. Seeing two little heads going throught a book and planning projects to do with Grandma, priceless.

I thought to myself "Hey it's Martha Stewart" and since I love sewing and fabric crafts I wanted to grab this book Unfortunately this would have helped more when I was a youngster. Most of the things in the book liked baby bibs pot holders curtains pin cushions handkerchiefs and quilts i can make without a pattern It does say "basic techniques for sewing, applique", etc, and this is just what it is

Please note that this review was from an uncorrected proof copy of the book with all illustrations in black and white (I assume that they are in color in the final copy). No CD came with the book, but is scheduled to be distributed with the final copy also. From what I could tell, the CD should have all the patterns needed for the projects in the book in full size so you will have no need to resize patterns. Please note also that I am not a Martha Stewart fan. I am a fan of needlework and sewing books though, having many shelves full of them that I have read and studied, so I wanted to see what this book was about. The first thing I noticed with this book is the descriptions of different fabrics. If this is supposed to be an encyclopedia, then it should have encyclopedic details. Cottons, silks, linens and wools were mentioned and then a few other fabrics such as oilcloth, polar fleece, felt, ultrasuede, and leather. That is it. No polyesters, no rayons, no blends, no nylons, not even the newest `natural fabrics' such as bamboo were mentioned. Huge quantities of fabrics were completely ignored. Or am I misunderstanding what this book is about? As I continued through the book, I felt like many of the sections had been written by people who had researched the topics but had no real experience in sewing or making crafts. Minimal descriptions of many items and minimal illustrations of techniques. Sewing is a very visual thing to learn and written descriptions of how to make a particular type hem is of no value to a new crafter especially in this day and age of easily produced illustrations and photos. As an illustration of minimal instruction in various techniques, I couldn't find any instructions on using sewing patterns to make a garment. Not even the basics of how to look at the back of pattern envelope to figure out fabric yardage, or how to lay out and cut a pattern much less sew the garment. As the project section does contain a few clothing projects, I can only assume that teaching someone to sew from a pattern is either too elementary for this book or was too sophisticated. Whatever the reason if you are looking to this book to help you learn to sew garments, it isn't going to happen. Only the most basics of techniques are explained. Two pages are given over to how to make a patchwork quilt (including pictures) and the quilter in me shudders as there is so much more involved in making a quilt than 6 quick steps. One of the steps included using disappearing ink to mark out the quilt pieces and then using a rotary cutter and mat to cut them out. I wonder who thought up that extra step. One of the great aspects of a rotary cutter and quilting ruler is the ease of cutting accurate pieces with NO marking. I saw this often in the book, the adding of an extra yet unneeded step, while leaving out essentials. The actual basic techniques took barely 80 pages and then on to the projects. Some were cute, some became redundant, some apparently are repeats of projects that have been shown in her magazine (as I found while glancing through an old issue a day or so after reading this book). So yes there is some inspiration, but if you are one of her magazine subscribers, I don't know how much of the content of the book will be new. I know I hate to buy a craft book only to find out all the projects were already in my favorite craft magazine and nothing is new to me. My suggestion is that is you want to learn garment sewing buy a sewing instruction book put out by one of the major pattern manufacturers. If you want to learn embroidery, appliqué, quilting, etc. get a basic book on those techniques. If you want inspiring projects, look for more detailed books in an area that interests you or subscribe to a magazine that will give you a years worth of inspiration. If you want an all round sewing encyclopedia, there are much better ones out there that will be a good reference for you. If you love Martha Stewart and all her ideas, then certainly you will want to buy this book. Most likely the best thing that this book comes with is the CD of designs as they might include some practical patterns that you can use in your crafting. Personally I can't see ever pulling this book off the shelf again as a reference or for inspiration.

Reviews

The book I bought was just as it was explained. The book arrived in good condition and in a timely manner. I would not hesitate ordering from this company again. I would feel very comfident of a similar experience. Thank you for your service.

I had borrowed this book from the local library and could tell straight away that this would tell me everything I needed to know about quilting. I also checked out all the positive reviews on the Amazon website. Just read the contents, and everything is categorized with lots of images. I am sure this will be a well-used reference book for both new and experienced quilters.

This is very well done. Even a seasoned quilter can pick up tips or revist information they learned years ago and find useful information. I like the books format, the pictures and illustrations are helpful and clear. I'd consider this to be along the lines of a quilter's encyclopedia. I use the internet a great deal and it's really nice to come across a 'book' that is so well done & have it on hand in my art room. Nicely done. CJ

I found this book to have more information than I expected. It reminds me of looking in an encyclopedia. There are plenty of great pictures,line drawings and explanations. I found this book to either give me much of the information I needed on a subject, or at times, at least enough to get me started. I would say it covers a whole lot of information in a nice hardcover book that is thin enough to take from workroom to couch for a good read.

This was the first quilting book that I checked out from the library when I started thinking about quilting. I liked it so much, that I ended up buying it. I just couldn't imagine not having it by my side when I had questions (and as a beginning quilter, I have a LOT of questions!!). This is a great book with a lot of information in it. There is only one other book that I think is just as good and that is _The Quilters' Ultimate Visual Guide._ Both books have many color pictures and explain things very clearly. If I could only have two books on basic quilting information, I would pick these two. Enjoy!

Reviews

I bought this book because I loved the quilt on the cover, but there are more inside, each one just as wonderful as the next. Creative use of fabrics, rather than complicated blocks is what makes the quilts "surprisingly simple." Stripes, bold prints, and bright fabrics appeal to me, and they are used well in the quilts in this book. There are some more subdued quilts also. Basics are included, so this would be a good book from which to make your first quilt.

Wow! Want to find some really unusual quilts? Something none of your friends are doing and something that will win the next county fair? This book of Australian quilts is just the ticket. Simple, different and a completely new look at how fabric can be pieced together into a gorgeous quilt.