Customer Reviews

Quick Kids' Quilts: Easy-to-do Projects for Newborns to Older Children

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

 

 

I was looking for a good children's quilt book, but was sadly disappointed. There were more "projects" in this book than actual quilt patterns. I had hoped to find a review of this book before buying it but never did, maybe this review will help the next hopeful quilt maker.

If you're looking for fun, easy projects to make for children, this is worth looking out for. The title is a little misleading - it's not just about quilts but such things as children's beanbags, hats and bags - but there are lots of ideas that can be adapted to other projects. It's an interesting blend of traditional and modern, with easy-to-follow explanations for novices.

When I found this book at a thrift store, I picked it up hoping to add one or two designs to my growing collection of patterns for children's quilts. I was delightfully surprised to find several pieced (patched), and applique designs, as well as an image transfer technique used in the "Antique Buggy Quilt" and a stencilled design using fabric paints, in the "Nature Quilt".

In addition to quilts, the author includes several toys and room accessory projects that expand from her simple and clean quilt designs. I like the use of muslin and clear, solid colors, as well as ginghams and dotted fabrics, which show off the layouts, and do indeed, span children's ages ranging from infant to school-age in decorating styles.

This book is a welcome collection of quilt pattern ideas that would appeal to kids, and does so without relying on pre-printed commercial fabrics. Definately five stars from this Gramma quiltmaker.

The first quilting book I bought (some years ago) and I still love it. Sure, it is more patchwork than quilting and it has a number of "projects" rather than quilts but what book doesn't these days? The patterns are straightforward and easy to adapt to suit colours/experience and interest. A real variety of styles to suit many different children (and their mum's taste).

The designs are pattern based - not fabric based as many others seem to be. This makes them cheap to do, especially as a beginner who does not already have a bagful of scraps. The patterns are rated for difficulty, finished sizes are provided and (I think) the steps are clear.

I have made the "Animal Quilt" a number of times (and my own variations of it). Rated two stars, a cot sized quilt with simple coloured squares interspaced with white squares, appliqued with simple animal shadow shapes.

The "Hearts Hat" (made with stars instead) was an absolute favourite of one mum, who cried when her son finally lost it. A jester-style hat with appliqued hearts on the rim.

The "Space Rocket Quilt" looks far more effective when finished than I thought it would. I have made it twice and look forward to doing it again when I have more old jeans (although I did choose to use it as a large centre patch on a quilt with a black background and quilted stars on the edging). It is an appliqued rocket on a patched denim piece made from old jeans. Keep a back pocket for the top right and hide a toy inside.

The "Tree of Life Quilt" is my next project.

the book has a couple of cute designs in it but had several faults:

1-the biggest fault, and one is which Firefly Publications was VERY lax-is that even though this is a quilt book for infants and small toddlers-many of the quilts and toys are covered in tiny sewn on embellishments-VERY unsafe, and shows the author's complete lack of understanding of the subject.

2-while the book is hailed as a quilt book-over half the projects are for non quilt items-leaving the reader dissappointed.

3-this book is heavy on the applique aspect, and non existant on quilt patterns.

All in all-this book could have been much better. Save your money for other quilt books.

2 stars.