Customer Reviews

Lone Star Quilts & Beyond: Step-by-Step Projects and Inspiration

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow! What a terrific book. Whenever an author chooses a well known pattern, the challenge is having something new to offer. Jan not only shows a way to prevent stretching, the major problem with this star, but presents so many variations and alternative ideas, one hardly knows where to start. The stars range from the appliqué-embellished Tea Time to the swirling, off center Spiral Lone Star. In addition to the six projects with directions, there are 24 more inspiring Lone Stars in the Gallery. The stars are strip pieced and some of the corner designs are paper pieced. Jan also provides a chart to show how you can change the size of any of the projects, ways to split your diamonds for more excitement, design possibilities for the setting squares and quilting ideas. Lots of these ideas would brighten other quilts, making this a great resource book even if you never make a Lone Star.

Even though I have not made many quilts, I took the plunge and enrolled in a class for the Spiral Lone Star pattern from this book. Incredibly, the quilt truly did turn out to be "much easier than it looks" as promised by the teacher. Krentz has broken the intricate designs into workable sections and simplified the construction techniques for each section. These quilts will challenge you to explore color and movement in every piece, with thrilling and satisfying results.

This beautifully produced book concentrates on the theme of making star quilts - not 12 inch block pattern stars but those gorgeous large lone stars which cover a whole quilt top with one huge star made up of hundreds of tiny diamonds.

Rotary cutting and machine paper piecing methods are used in this book to create some particularly intricate quilts which include curved piecing and many sharp points to match. Some of the patterns included split the diamonds down the middle which further increases the complexity of the pieces - and the workmanship in the sample quilts is superb.

There is a large gallery of different quilts, many of which use very brightly coloured fabrics. I don't greatly care for the way very busy fabric prints are used in some of the pieces both in the gallery and in the pattern section. I feel that the busy floral prints obscure the intricate designs which are beautifully pieced and finished. Don't expect a lot of large bed quilt patterns either - although the quilts could be laid on top of a bed the average size of the completed patterns is 50 inches square.

Fabric selection and design is also discussed and there is a selection of different templates to help you begin creating your own original Lone Star quilt layout.

This is not a book for the beginner. The quilt patterns are pieces for the advanced worker who knows what she is doing. However it provides plenty of inspiration for the experienced quilter.

In her first book, Jan (past National Quilt Teacher of the Year) demonstrates her expertise and eye for the beautiful.

I was fortunate enough to personally see some of the work that went into this book.

Her choice of this popular and historic pattern was excellent. The Lone Star has a heritage that intertwines with both the settler and Native American traditions.

Jan's method of making this pattern helps you make one more quickly and accurately than some of the traditional methods.

Her variations on the theme are also of great interest.

She utilizes a number of the best piecers and quilters in her illustrations, showcasing their fine work. The colors and fabric choices, heavy embellishments, and intense quilting in some of the work is astonishing.

All in all, a "keeper" for the serious quilter.

This is an excellent project for those quilters who are not afraid to step out of the mainstream and challenge themselves with something new and exciting. Well written and illustrated, the ambitious quilter could pick up the book and be successful with any of the projects profiled!

those of us who have been making lone star quilts for a while will instantly know that the cutting chart in the back of the book is incorrect.....all of it! diamonds are measured one way, the strips to cut them, another. check the authors' website for corrections, but be advised, the chart is still wrong. Adding a half an inch to the size of a diamond does not give you the size of strip to cut. Her projects are probably OK though.

I took Jan's class and can see why she was voted teacher of the year. She is really great and the book is a very nice one. Do check her website for the corrections, I like the way she squares up the sections of the stars so they go together really nicely. I have 3 of them ready to quilt!

This book is one that I would recommend to the intermediate to advanced quilter without reservation. The directions are very clear, the photos are fabulous and the options are endless using her suggestions for splitting diamonds and mix and matching the borders. This is a pattern book and reference book that you will return to again and again for inspiration. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT.

An amazing book, so many different quilts with many different ideas and colours, will give me many happy hours creating.

Lone Star Quilts and Beyond is a terrific quilt book and was in great condition, like new.