The Careless Quilter: Decide-as-you-sew, Design-as-you-go Quiltmaking (Needlework and Quilting) [Paperback]

Kristin Miller (Author)

Book Description

Series: Needlework and Quilting | Publication Date: September 23, 2000

This innovative primer is built upon the belief that quilters can make beautiful quilts without becoming obsessed with technical perfection. Solutions are provided to twenty-one common quilting problems. Illustrated and indexed.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Careless" in this context does not mean sloppy workmanship; it is an invitation to create unique quilts without being enslaved to technical perfection. With this "design-as-you-go" method, anyone can achieve an attractive quilt, and what may have begun as a mistake can ultimately result in a masterpiece, with unlimited pattern and color opportunities. The philosophy behind this concept is to begin with a patchwork medallion that evolves as you arrange and rearrange fabrics, making design decisions piece by piece as you come to them, instead of plotting it all out beforehand. Though short on color photos (the color section is a mere 16 pages), there are plenty of helpful diagrams and black-and-white photos, teaching all about tools and techniques, fabrics and color, building the medallions, and quilting and finishing methods. With this book and an open mind, beginners and seasoned quilters alike can transform a few scraps of fabric into successful experiments in innovative quiltmaking. --Amy Handy

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 23, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155853296X
• ISBN-13: 978-1558532960
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but needs a different title, February 29, 2004

By 

Katarin H. "mishkat" (Blacksburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Careless Quilter: Decide-as-you-sew, Design-as-you-go Quiltmaking (Needlework and Quilting) (Paperback)

I just received this book and really liked it. The basic idea is to start with a central medallion and then make design and fabric choices to let your quilt grow around the medallion. This means you don't plan the quilt entirely in advance, which I think is more fun, and results in a interesting quilt.

I taught myself how to quilt (I knew how to sew, but knew nothing about patchwork), and used a method very similar to the author's. I have now made many quilts using that method, and really enjoyed finding someone else who uses it. I also learned a lot from the examples in the book (for instance, she makes using triangles non-scary!), and will be able to design more varied quilts now.

However, I think the title "Careless Quilter" might put some people off. It's true that the author shows you how to correct mistakes without tearing your whole quilt apart, and even, in some cases, demonstrates how supposed "mistakes" can be used to your advantage. But the quilts produced by her method are not sloppy or poorly made, as might be implied by her title. "Careless", in this case, refers to not planning the entire quilt top in advance.

I recommend this book to people who want a change from the block-by-block quilting method, or who enjoy making their own design and fabric choices. And my thanks to Kristin Miller for writing it!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An approachable, whimsical introduction to quilting, December 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Careless Quilter: Decide-as-you-sew, Design-as-you-go Quiltmaking (Needlework and Quilting) (Paperback)

I am a new quilter. I learned the basics from _Quilting for Dummies_ and, from there, picked up a number of quilting pattern/design concept books for inspiration. _The Careless Quilter_ was the book that finally got me sewing: Faced with far too many choices for a quilt design, I was at an impasse, reluctant to cut up and "waste" my fabric. Miller's concept of starting with a simple square and building outward from the center, all the while making a series of small decisions, freed me of my anxiety about "ruining" my project (which is coming along nicely). I recommend this book to anyone who is starting out, who needs inspiration, or who wants to look at the art of quilting with fresh eyes.