Customer Reviews

Machine Quilting: The Basics & Beyond

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The latest in the Basics & Beyond series by Landauer Books once again shows why they have become staples in every quilter's library. Before you read the first word - and believe me, you will read every single one - you will appreciate the attention to detail incorporated into each book.

It is a hardback with a hidden-spiral so the pages will lay flat next to your sewing machine. And, there are over 200 pictures and illustrations so you can visually view the process - every step of the way. Whether you would like to machine quilt a small project - or a queen size quilt - Lynn will walk you through the process, step by step. She has been quilting and teaching her techniques for years so she's incorporated her no-fail techniques into each and every page. Lynn Witzenburg is truly an expert!

Let's face it, many of us love to applique and piece projects but when it comes to actually finishing them, we turn them over to the experts - and send them out to a machine quilter. But, what if YOU were the expert? That means you would no longer have to wait in line to complete your quilts. In our area, many of the machine quilters are booked six months in advance! And, the money that you would spend on quilting could be used to finance the materials for your next project.

Think about it. You could buy everything Lynn recommends to get started - including her book - for the price of sending out one quilt! So, why not give it a try?

The Tricks of the Trade

Lynn includes tips and helpful hints on almost every page. And, frankly, I looked at the pictures and read the tips during my first sitting. But, she drew me in. In the middle of a blizzard, I got a cup of coffee, snuggled in a quilt, and sat down to savor every word.

I have always been intimidated by machine quilting. I've even tried it a few times - but with less than stellar results. But Lynn went into such detail that she gave me solutions to the problems I encountered - and instructions and tips that stopped me from trying anything bigger than a placemat!

And Then Move on to the "Beyond"

After you have mastered the basics, Lynn explores more advanced techniques such as trapunto, bobbin-quilting, and free-form feathers. She even explains how to design original borders. So this book is a must have for all machine quilters - even those of you who are more experienced.

Lynn has also included several projects with the machine quilting designs included. If you are a shop owner, why not consider teaching a series of classes using the same book. Start them off with the basics and move on to the more advanced techniques. Trapunto, bobbin-quilting and free-form feathers could all be demonstrated with white on white fabrics to make an assortment of pillows.

Your students will be able to finish it in class - and will learn how to adjust the bobbin tension (without shuddering); use water soluble thread; and quilt larger projects.

This book covers it all - and explains it in such simple terms that you will refer to it again and again. I shared it with all of my favorite machine quilters - and they gave it a five star "must read". But, don't stop here. Check out the other books in the series - Applique the Basics and Beyond: The Complete Guide to Successful Machine and Hand Techniques with Dozens of Designs to Mix and Match and Knit Book: The Basics & Beyond. You'll be glad you did.

The machine as a labor saving device is never so perfectly illustrated as the advent of the sewing machine and the making of a quilt. A hardcover, hidden-spiral bound, 'user friendly' instruction manual, "Machine Quilting: The Basics & Beyond" by quilting expert Lynn Witzenburg offers the novice machine stitch quilter with a complete, step-by-step, visually illustrated guide to successfully creating quilts with the assistance of a sewing machine. As fun as it is informative, "Machine Quilting: The Basics & Beyond" includes twelve do-it-yourself projects complete with full-size patterns, as well as favorite and original quilting designs that even the most novice of needlecrafters can employ to good effect. Such issues as choosing a stencil design, working with quilting paper, adapting motifs to fill spaces, making border designs fit, even the creation of 'feathers' in round, square, triangular, and free form. From the needed equipment and supplies, preparing to machine quilt, to free-motion stitching techniques, and so much more, "Machine Quilting: The Basics & Beyond" will prove to be an invaluable reference and a popular addition to personal and community library Needlecraft reference collections.

Thank you, Lynn Witzenburg for writing this book! If you always wanted to try to machine quilt on your own domestic sewing machine (instead of paying exhorbitant amounts of money to have someone quilt your quilts on a long-arm quilting machine), then this is a great book to get you going! Lynn's easy, relaxed approach takes the fear out of the process and heads you in the right direction. Great, clear color photos, and this book is spiral bound, so you can open it flat and it will stay that way as you refer to it while you are learning. I have been quilting for 16 years, and have a huge library of all types of quilting books. I've always been afraid to try machine quilting on my own machine because I figued there was some special skill to it, but that's not true at all! However, I won't lie to you - it DOES take practice, practice, practice and a goodly measure of trial and error in the beginning. One of Lynn's most helpful ideas in this book is to make several practice quilt sandwiches (she even suggests dimensions for your practice sandwiches!), and then write directly on the fabric what type of batting is between your layers of fabric, and what type and weight of thread you are using before you start quilting. This keeps it all straight and lets you know when you hit upon the best batting and thread for machine quilting your projects. Tons of information on everything from A-Z, including needles, sewing machine tension adjustments, sewing feet, etc. I am going to save a TON of money quilting my own projects instead of sending them out to be quilted! A GREAT book, and HIGHLY recommended if you've never machine quilted before, and are fearful of it, but are dying to try it. Well worth every penny, and the price is reasonable, too!

Lynn's knowledge about quilting and her ability to explain and share this knowledge to a wantabe quilter is superior. This book will become your quilting bible.

I have been a quilter for a long time and this book gave me information I had not seen. It is a great help and I am still using it to help me make better quilts.

Hard cover, spiral bound - the two things I love in a book. The hard cover protects while the spiral bound allows me to open the book and keep it open without breaking the binding. This is especially nice if you are trying to learn how to do something.

The book covers all aspects of quilting from the basics like what feet are available to the types of batting that can be used in a quilt. I love the tips throughout the book that are set off in colored boxes with things like: "To me a quilt is not really a quilt unless it can be machine washed and dried". I agree completely.

One of the tips that I don't agree with is that the author uses a hand cream instead of gloves. I always make sure my hands are clean and free of any type of oils or lotions. She uses the lotion in place of quilting gloves and does say to rub it in well but I don't feel that is possible when grabbing fabric the way you need to when quilting.

There are lots of photos of the way to learn how to quilt so be sure to look through the book and practice, practice, practice!!! 10 quilt patterns are provided so you can use what you have learned. And then there are stencils in the back of the book in case you can't figure out what quilting design you want to do. If any templates are used on the quilts, they are provided at full size.

Have you always wanted to do your own quilting? If so, this book will get you ready to do just that.

I have been making quilts for years. I always have hand quilted them. After reading your book, I will be trying the Machine Quilting on my next Baby Quilt project. I can't wait to get started. Thank you for all the advice!!!!!!!! Bev

I bought this book second to one for my begining Machine quilting class. I found that for me this one was easier for me to follow and I prefer this one over the class book. If you are a beginner like me this book will be very useful.

This book has lots of good ideas and the spiral composition of the book makes it easy to open and stay open. I'm bascially just starting to do some machine quilting and this book gives me lots of ideas and helpful hints.

This is a great book to help new quilters. It has great pictures and step by step directions on pro and cons on different techniques. It also had projects to practice what you have read. The best part of the book is it shows how to finish a large quilt on your own. It is a great book for your quilting library.