Patty McCormick's Pieces of an American Quilt: Quilts, Patterns, Photos and Behind the Scenes Stories from the Movie [Paperback]

Patty McCormick (Author), Sharon Risedorph (Photographer), Whitney Otto (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996

This endearing, behind-the-scenes account of filming the movie How to Make an American Quilt "TM" combines entertaining anecdotes, wonderful photos taken on the set, and complete patterns for the two resplendent quilts featured in the film.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

One evening McCormick, then president of the Southern California Council of Quilt Guilds, found a message on her answering machine from a woman who spoke of making a motion picture about quilts. She assumed it was from the mother of a girl scout making a video. In fact, the call led to a meeting at Universal Studios to discuss a major motion picture based on novelist Whitney Otto's How To Make an American Quilt. McCormick not only became technical adviser for the film but also recruited a group of women who became known as the "Stunt Quilters"?women who actually did the quilting in the film. In this compulsively readable account, McCormick shows how the imaginary quilts in the novel had to be designed, pieced, appliqued, and quilted by the Stunt Quilters working within unrealistic movie production deadlines. McCormick combines stories of her experiences tutoring actresses like Anne Bancroft, Maya Angelou, and Ellen Burstyn with anecdotes and color photos from behind the scenes, as well as patterns and photos of many of the quilts featured in the film. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: C&T Publishing (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571200126
• ISBN-13: 978-1571200129
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #699,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Behind-the-scenes tidbits - plus patterns, August 9, 2002

By 

K. Bourn "bohemiangirlpdx" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Patty McCormick's Pieces of an American Quilt: Quilts, Patterns, Photos and Behind the Scenes Stories from the Movie (Paperback)

"Pieces of an American Quilt" seems to fall into a category all its own. The book isn't really a quilt pattern book--although it has instructions for how to make several quilts seen in the film. And it isn't really a "making of" or movie trivia book--although it contains those elements as well.

Author and quilter Patty McCormick provides an interesting Hollywood outsider's perspective on the making of one of my favorite movies. McCormick is so NOT a movie person that when she gets a phone call to provide technical quilt assistance for "How to Make an American Quilt," she doesn't recognize the name of Steven Spielberg's production company. Her tales of how the movie's quilts were designed and created are quite fun to read.

Although the quilts were an integral part of the film, several specially created quilts appear on screen so briefly that getting the opportunity to study photos of them is a treat. Learning what happened to a few--such as the well-loved crazy-patch quilt that young Finn clutches while sitting underneath the quilting frame--was a bit like hearing fingernails grate down a chalkboard.

McCormick provides patterns for both the "Where Love Resides" Baltimore album quilt that the quilting circle works on throughout the film, and Anna's baby quilt featuring African animals. I didn't buy it ever planning to make either quilt, but those monkeys, lions and giraffes are rather growing on me. Perhaps someday.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It was an inspiration!, November 16, 2003

By 

Stella D'Oro "patstella" (Auburn Hills, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Patty McCormick's Pieces of an American Quilt: Quilts, Patterns, Photos and Behind the Scenes Stories from the Movie (Paperback)

This is truly an absorbing book, whether or not you sew or make quilts. What a wonderful experience the 'stunt quilters' must have had - how exciting to work with world-class actors in a first-class production! The book is not really a pattern book, but it is a great read, and it does contain two patterns. If you want to begin quilt making, or if you need an inspiration for your next project, this book may do the trick.

I purchased this book in 1996, to add to my collection of quilt books (let's face it, I love books!). It truly was an inspiration to me for my first two real quilts! I used the rail fence quilt (autograph)idea for my daughter's wedding. The center is an embroidered copy of the wedding program cover design, and the blocks were used instead of a guest book at the reception, mounted on freezer paper in a photo album. Other blocks contain titles of songs from the wedding and reception, names of the bridal party etc.

In 2000, I used the pattern for Anna's baby quilt to make my grandson his first quilt. It was a challenge (mainly because I really did not know how to foundation piece), but turned out beautifully.

In addition, I used the crazy quilt idea to fashion a velvet and silk vest for a Christmas party. This is a lot of work, but wonderful to look at. You must truly love hand-sewing.

Read this book, and feel your creative juices start to flow!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5-star plus, June 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Patty McCormick's Pieces of an American Quilt: Quilts, Patterns, Photos and Behind the Scenes Stories from the Movie (Paperback)

This is a great fun book, full of life. The author describes the role that she and her "stunt quilters" played in the filming of the movie, How To Make An American quilt starring Winona Ryder. Quilters who loved the movie (based on the book by Whitney Otto) will love McCormick's book too. It contains full-sized patterns for several of the quilts you see in the movie, with all the details you never notice in the film.