Customer Reviews

The Quilter's Companion: The Complete Guide to Machine and Hand Quilting

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The Quilter's Companion: The Complete Guide To Machine And Hand Quilting by quilting instructor and needlecraft expert Katharine Guerrier is a broad-ranging sourcebook covering contemporary and traditional quilting designs, techniques for cutting, stitching, and applique, sashing, borders, finishment, embellishings, tips on the display and care of quilts, and much more. Logically organized and accessibly presented, featuring gorgeous full-color photographs, The Quilter's Companion is a truly first-rate resource, introduction, and guide to the respected tradition and art form of quilt crafting. Also very highly recommended are Katharine Guerrier's two previous quilting books: Quilting Masterclass and The Encyclopedia Of Quilting And Patchwork Techniques.

Quilter's Companion / 1-58923-243-7

I have so many quilting books that I almost didn't buy this one when I first passed it in the store, but I'm very glad that I did buy it - what a treasure! This isn't just another quilting book; this book has a beautiful "modern" look and feel throughout, and all the classic quilt blocks featured here have had their look and feel gently updated. New quilt blocks and quilting techniques are also introduced in the most lovely ways - this isn't post-modern Picasso quilting and it isn't your grandmother's country quilting; it walks a careful middle road between tradition and modern tastes and it does so effortlessly.

This book is huge, and every page is informative and useful. The emphasis between machine techniques and hand techniques is split fairly equally, and it's wonderful to finally find a resource which shows how to properly machine quilt a lot of traditional blocks that don't lend themselves easily to machine quilting. All the pictures are in color, with careful detail, and you can actually understand what you are being told to accomplish, step-by-step. I'm also thrilled to say that this is the first quilting book I've ever owned which actually presented an understandable, practical approach to machine applique.

There's a wealth of variety here. There are plenty of beginner's blocks and quilting styles, but the author also provides suggested "projects" to practice techniques - including a gorgeous wall hanging of a basket of flowers and a butterfly, all appliqued carefully so that the butterfly wings are not attached to the picture and can "flap" gently. Definitely, this book teaches but is also gently challenges the reader to take steps in a new direction if they want to expand their repertoire.

I can't recommend this quilting book highly enough. At one point, I seriously considered selling the rest of my books and only keeping this one - it's that helpful and comprehensive. I finally decided to keep the others for inspiration and because I'm a pack-rat, but this one is definitely the one I go to for instructions and technique refinement.

~ Ana Mardoll

One of the most comprehensive quilting books, I have used. I teach quilting and this book will be useful to me and to my students. Many basic quilt patterns are simplified to rotary cutting and strip piecing. The colors are basic and have good contrast so you can discern what is being done step by step. There are other techniques that are so interesting and would make great small projects, that this books is part of my reference library from now on.

Among the many quilting how-to's and visual guides, this stands out as extremely helpful. The photos and text complement each other and the various instructions go far beyond the basic scope of many similar titles.