Modern Basics: Easy Quilts to Fit Your Budget, Space, and Style (That Patchwork Place) [Paperback]

Amy Ellis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 2011

Love the idea of quilting but limited by budget, time, and space? Oh, and the fact that you don't sew? Here's the answer! With bright, modern prints and simple patterns, Amy Ellis eases new quilters into a lifelong creative adventure. Uncomplicated instructions guide you at every step, from cutting and piecing to finishing your first fabulous quilt!

* Choose from 14 striking designs
* Create beautiful blocks that showcase bold, contemporary fabrics
* Find great tips for squeezing creativity into your busy life

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a wonderful and refreshing book. It s the first book I've seen intended for beginners that doesn't get bogged down in "rules." Amy keeps the process fun and inspiring for a new generation of quilters. It focuses on simple instructions, strip sets, one-block quilts, and modern, colorful fabrics and designs. Three quilts use only solids (I'm so glad these are available again!), and two quilts are sewn without constructing blocks at all. I think all skill levels will enjoy the 14 attractive designs. I have been a quilter for 35 years and want to sew each one. A keeper! --Stick Your Nose in a Book: Quilting Book Reviews by Jennifer Zoeterman

By Amy Ellis, this title is ideal for beginners. It has 14 sensational, exuberant projects that are made from one kind of block. These feature bright, pleasing fabrics and vibrant, contemporary designs. The author offers timesaving techniques, such as strip piecing. The blocks include some classic designs like the Pinwheel.

For the most part, these projects are made from strips and squares. Several have triangles that are easy enough for novices. There are also wonderful fast and easy, strip-pieced versions of the classic Postage Stamp quilt and the Log Cabin. Some of these projects are made with precuts, such as Layer Cakes.

The projects cover a wide range of sizes. These include everything from throws and lap quilts to wall quilts, baby quilts, and full-size bed quilts. For some items, the author gives instructions for several sizes.

Each quilt has a list of fabrics and supplies and a cutting chart. There are easy, foolproof, color-illustrated, step-by-step directions for completing the blocks and quilt top along with color layouts and details on finishing the quilt. At the end of the book the author offers complete details on the sewing and quilting basics along with tips on choosing precuts and other fabrics. --Sewing/Needlework @ Suite 101

About the Author

Home: Heber City, Utah

Amy Ellis has been quilting for 10 years and sewing for 23 years. Having learned the basics of garment sewing as a girl, she caught the quilting bug with the birth of her first daughter. Today with four kids at home, quilting is her creative outlet, and she loves to inspire new quilters to find their own way.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Martingale & Co Inc (February 7, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1604680156
• ISBN-13: 978-1604680157
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.2 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #367,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern style for every quilter February 15, 2011

By daisydeadpetals

Format:Paperback

This is a beautiful, useful book for beginning quilters and beyond. The 14 quilts featured are all simple to make and spotlight today's gorgeous, modern fabrics. Amy's advice to those who say they're too busy to quilt? Find a way! Whether it's sewing at the kitchen table, storing fabrics in the coat closet, or finding space under the bed for tools and notions, Amy says that quilting is worth your time and effort. And if you choose one of these quilts to make first, you won't be disappointed with your results.

Amy is very clever about her fabric choices. You could follow her ideas and try to create quilts exactly like hers, but the way she's put these quilts together makes it easy to envision the designs using fabrics you already have. Her overall look is very clean, with just a few colors and patterns per design. Some designs I would even call minimalist--which I think is rare in quilting. It's a breath of fresh air.

I think the book is useful in two ways: first, as a great book for beginners. Most of these designs are easy enough to start at square one, even if you've only got simple straight-line sewing experience. I'm a more experienced quilter, but I love having easy-to-piece patterns at the ready. The modern colorways give a whole new look to quilt blocks I've seen before. My favorite quilt is called "Modern Mirrors," where Amy uses browns, pinks, and greens to create a quilt that has modern pop, but at the same time is soft and pretty. (How does she do that?) The quilt reminds me of Italian spumoni.

Beginners, procrastinators, and all quilters in between--pick up this book! These quilts are great for making quick gifts, great for adding an updated focal point to your decor, and great for sparking your creativity.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern Basics review by SewCalGal March 9, 2011

By SewCalGal

Format:Paperback

Amy Ellis is a very creative and talented quilter who has done an excellent job writing this book, with 14 well written and easy to follow patterns that also has great visuals. I was amazed that these designs are each based on a single easy block, and create such spectacular quilts.

The book includes insights for Quiltmaking Basics, from selection of tools & fabric, to piecing techniques, adding borders, sandwiching, machine quilting, binding and more, making this also an excellent book for a beginner quilter with designs that are fun and easy for advanced quilters too!

This is an excellent quilt book with a modern flare.

SewCalGal
[...]

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Beginner Beware September 13, 2011

By TERESA RYAN

Format:Paperback

To start off, I do love this book. The patterns and color choices are refreshing and look a lot harder than they really are. The finished product is beautiful. I am a beginner and perhaps if I had more experience I would have caught a misprint on the Modern Vee pattern. There are two blocks that make up the quilt for a total of 24 blocks (which should be 12 of each) yet the instructions show to make 24 of EACH. Needless to say I ran out of material and had to buy more or I would have 2 unfinished quilts. It worked out, I will give one away and keep one. I will use this pattern again as well as others in the book. I just hope to save someone else the money and frustration that comes from a misprint.