Customer Reviews

The Quilting Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You'll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You'll Ever Ask

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Contrary to the publisher's blurb, this is not a book that you need in your quilting library. If you have accumulated a typical selection of quilt books, as I have over my 9 years as a quilter, there is not a single 'answer' in this book that you can't find somewhere else. If you are a beginning quilter, this book will not teach you how to quilt. It has no instructions or pictures, just a few black and white (actually red and white) diagrams. It asks 'questions' like 'Can I use a rotary cutter on any surface?' and then doesn't give a definitive "for heaven's sake, NO" in its' answer. Information such as how to make a hanging sleeve or piece a back you can find in many other books. The information in areas like machine quilting or applique are better handled in books dedicated to those subjects.

Even if you did want this book as a reference, the physical format of the book was uncomfortable to me. It's a small book, about 4" x 6", and quite thick. The pages do not lay flat. The question/answer format makes it difficult to find information.

I would definitely take a pass on this book. Save your money and buy a couple of yards of fabric for your stash instead.

While this book may not lay flat or be as big as a lot of other quilting books, I found it to be a great reference in one little volume. I do like the size because it can fit in a purse or quilting bag for on the go browsing. And, it's like having a favorite aunt explain all the terms and techniques that you know you should know, but don't. It's especially great at answering all the little questions that you may be too timid to ask experienced quilters because you don't want to look like a complete neophyte! The table of contents is very complete so you can look up anything you need a quick answer on, and the index is also very complete so that you can look up that "term" everyone's using and find out what they're talking about.

While the experienced quilter may find this book covers things that they already have in other books, I really appreciate the brevity of the explanations that answers most of the questions a beginner (and maybe even a more advanced) quilter may have. It is not an encyclopedia of quilting, or a step-by-step "how to" book, it really is what it says, "an answer book." I think it's a starting place. You have a basic question such as: "Why is quilting necessary?" (page 244), and the book gives a very concise answer which can be a starting point for you to further delve into a subject, or not. A more experienced or long-term quilter probably knows this answer already and would probably find the question / answer very basic for them -- but for someone who has never been exposed to quilting, a very simple and basic question / answer can mean the difference between launching into a new world of exploration and satisfaction, or being frustrated by reading books that claim to be for beginners but assume a basic knowledge that some people have not been exposed to.

I have collected a lot of quilting books and many of them don't answer questions these most basic questions -- they assume their readers have a basic knowledge of sewing and of some quilting techniques -- this book doesn't assume, it just answers the questions. It may not answer every question you may have, but it answers a lot of questions I had before I started my very extensive collection of quilting books. And I really wish I had had this little book before I went to my first guild and basically told all the women at my table that I had no clue but wanted to learn (and they very graciously showed me, of course!).

So, if you're an experienced quilter, this may not be for you. If you're a beginner as I am (and at 5+ quilts, I'm still very much a beginner), you may find it's a good starting place or just a handy reference when you don't want to get that big encyclopedia of sewing / quilting off your shelf.

Why do I like this little book. Plain and simple it's real handy! It offers concise, quick reference info/reminders when I am in the "middle of a project" in my sewing room. I do NOT enjoy having to pull out several quilting books from my library to cross reference techniques when I am in the midst of a challenge or need to refresh my mind. If you are starting a new project and have a question it is a quick refresher course.

This little gem, lays on my sewing table in the workroom, travels with me to retreats and motels. This book does not need to lie flat...it's a quick reference; although I have noticed that as the book is used, the spine begins to relax and my book stays open. The book feels good in my hands and I often refer to it previous to arrival at retreats, classes etc.

Does this book cover subjects that I already knew about yep! AND I've found lots of gems I didn't know about - not everyone belongs to a Quilt Guild. This little book was long over-due for a lot of reasons. It answers a LOT of questions and gives solutions to numerous problems one might face down the line.

To date this book is the best resource book out there for all level quilters and shop owners. It should be in everyone's sewing room and classroom regardless of experience. I will be purchasing 5 more books as holiday gifts. Last but not least in retreats or classrooms this book can be shared with others. Students will be ever so appreciative - including the instructor, since it will discourage whispering and distractions. As a former quilt shop owner (for 20 years) I would have kept this little book next to my cutting table. This book will save you hours of explanations at the cutting desk. The customer can read the short explanation, view the drawings at their own pace. Then more intelligent conversation can ensue from there. It's just one more reason to have the Quilting Answer Book close to you. Visit the authors website [...]

I got this book this weekend while at a new quilt shop I was checking out because none of the fabric looked that great and I always want to buy "something" when I make an effort to go to a quilt shop that's out of the way to feel like I'm supporting small business and supporting quilting as a whole.

I'm a pretty experienced quilter, I have been doing this for a few years now and I sell some of my quilts online and people buy it so I can't be that horrible right? ^_^

Anyways this book was a good read, I have a ton of quilting books and after a while they all tend to say the same thing in a different way. I must agree with other comments where the pictures in the book are kind of lacking but the content is pretty good. There was a lot of useful advice. I think I knew a lot of what was said in this book but it was good to have a refresher and cleared up some of the methods I have heard about and discussed the pros and cons of different quilting techniques.

It also has quilter's math at the end of the book which has a bunch of useful tables.

The biggest thing I got out of this book was not to clean your machine with compressed air, which is what I did because even though it looks like it's getting the lint out it's actually pushing the lint farther in the machine. Also the review on thread tensioning for your sewing machine was good, I almost always forget what to do when the tension is off, do I make the number lower or higher on my machine? Well this book answers that.

So yeah you probably know everything in this book already but it's kind of a good book to just have beside your table because it's pretty small but it has a good table of contents. I think it's a good supplementary book to get along with a how to book if you are a beginning quilter because even though this book answer questions you might have about quilting, it doesn't teach you how to quilt.

This was ordered as a Christmas gift and was well received..this is a truly excellent resource guide to all aspects of quilting. Containing many charts and lists of needed information and great insight..this is invaluable!Also it is an excellent value and is a handy size also.

I like to use this book to check myself to see if I'm correct. I found only one topic that was not detailed enough. (The book left too much to the quilter's discretion, but isn't that part of why we quilt? We want to add our own creativeness to a project.) I would recommend this book to those who are seasoned quilters, as well as newbies.

What a wonderful book for all those pesky questions I've had when I've been working on a quilt. It gives simple and concise answers, easy to follow directions. Great for both experienced and inexperienced sewers.

This is a great little book for beginner or intermediate level quilters. Easy to read, small in size but full of great information. I teach sewing and will recommend this book for all my students who are interested in quilting. Wonderful resource.

I brought this book for myself and found it very helpful. I am new to quilting and am using books and the internet to learn techniques and easier ways of doing things. I liked it that much that I brought another one of these books for a very dear quilting friend.

Another quilting book that might be a good buy is "Quilting Tips & Techniques" over 1,000 creative ideas to make your quilting quicker, easier and a lot more fun.

I first got this book from the library and liked it that much I brought it through one of amazon's outside suppliers. Only available as a used copy. I also got one for this special quilting friend as she looked at my library one and loved it.

As fairly new quilter I find this book is a Godsend. If I am unsure of something, I just go to the book and the answer is there. Almost as good as having my own teacher.