Contemporary Quilts: Design, Surface and Stitch [Hardcover]

Sandra Meech (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2004

Quilters yearning to extend their creativity and take their work to a higher level will find exactly what they're looking for in this unique guide. With more than 200 illustrations, plus the author's unique "Design Classes" and "Artist's Hints" in every chapter, it offers a fresh approach to the craft. The aim is to help those who know the basics to break away from the traditional block or prescribed pattern and build something original. A review of design and color principles shows how to find sources of inspiration and develop a theme, and quilters will also learn how to experiment on paper and cloth, use new stitching, and add embellishments. The templates and creative exercises will prove valuable again and again.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Award-winning textile artist Sandra Meech is an experienced workshop teacher and lecturer in quilts both in the UK and around the world. Her work is often inspired by the countryside of her native Canada. Her work is on view in the Quilt Art touring exhibition across the UK and Europe and can also be seen in many galleries in Canada.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Batsford (May 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0713488565
• ISBN-13: 978-0713488562
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #935,120 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 Fantastic!!!!, October 12, 2008

By 

Lynn Scanlan (Mt. Pleasant, MI ,United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Contemporary Quilts: Design, Surface and Stitch (Paperback)

This book is fantastic!!! I can't count the number of times I've gone through it cover to cover. The quilt designs are gorgeous and the design exercises fun as well as educational. My medium is oil and acrylic paint. There are thousands of idea's for paintings as well as quilts. This book will inspire the creativity in you! I can't recommend Contemporary Quilts enough.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No matter what your medium, ALL artists can benefit greatly from this book, February 5, 2009

By 

Bird That Flew (US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Contemporary Quilts: Design, Surface and Stitch (Paperback)

This book is truly amazing. It encompasses all of the basic theories and principles in art, from the rule of thirds to Fibonacci sequences to color theory. Don't let that intimidate you, though - everything is explained in terms that are simultaneously detailed/thorough and easy to understand for laypeople. Even if you have no interest in quilts and textiles, I still highly HIGHLY recommend this book. It's invaluable to any artist. Tons of clear photos, explanations, projects and exercises that are designed to get you thinking about color, composition and inspiration. This is not a book full of the typical fluff directed at crafters dabbling in this or that medium. This book will teach you how to think and see like an arist (for lack of a better cliche term)!

The author's other book "Creative Quilts" is also just as good. I highly recommend both of them. They are easily the most-used books in my large collection!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Contemporary Quilts: Design, Surface and Stitch, April 24, 2009

By 

Judie Bellingham (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contemporary Quilts: Design, Surface and Stitch (Paperback)

Sandra Meech has written a truly unique book that will delight, inspire and tease most of the quilters I know. The genre of Contemporary quilting tends to either draw the quilter in or send `em running!

I mix with a lot of quilters, from all walks of life and every skill level possible, and one thing I know for sure, quilters either want to have a go or would rather eat glass than have a go! There seems to be very little grey area.

There is a great many books on the market presently, that deal with this particular genre, but I've found very few that actually deal with the where, when, how, what and why. This book covers these aspects and a lot more. To be able to achieve some sense of "wow, I did that", I believe the creator needs to understand and be able to master certain basic skills and theories.

This is where Sandra Meech comes to the forefront of this type of instruction. Firstly, the pictures are fabulous, great colour and style. If you never read the words, the photos and drawings alone will inspire you. So for those "yucky" days where you don't feel like reading the words, the pictures will do nicely.

Anyone who has looked vaguely at contemporary quilt making will know that there are certain elements that have to be addressed for the creation to have "credibility". Firstly, the surface needs to be exploited, then the design must be original and appropriately in proportion etc, then, of course the colour should be well considered and finally the stitching a unique blend of the tried and the totally inventive and imaginative.

Contemporary Quilts: Design, Surface and Stitch is a totally complete manual on how to achieve in the world of contemporary quilt design and creation. Sandra says it in a nutshell when she states: "The biggest dilemma for most quilters is where to start when they want to break away from a traditional block or prescribed design and try something different and original for themselves. The goals of Contemporary Quilts: Design, Surface and Stitch are to build confidence in the quilter who already knows the basics of patchwork and quilting and who wishes to create their own designs".

This book is a user friendly, easy to read and understand course book of the very things we want and need to learn. Sandra has included a number of very snappy Artist's Hint paragraphs that are incredibly considered and concise in their explanation. Throughout this course book, there are exercises to undertake under Sandra's guidance so you can get the very best understanding of what it all means and how to go about achieving successful results.

I advise you to take your time and don't be in a rush with this book. You will gain a huge amount of knowledge that will stand you in very good stead, and make you more than ready to have a go at contemporary quilt making.