Sew Crazy with Decorative Threads & Stitches [Paperback]

Alice Kolb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002

Learn how to create exquisite machine embroidery on any sewing machine with confidence! Discover the properties of various fabrics and decorative threads for easier stitching. Test your machine for optimum performance. Audition embroidery stitches: multiple rows, free-motion, bobbin-work, and other styles. SEW CRAZY projects include a greeting card, pillow and pillow sleeve, sewing caddy, vest, needle tote, and bead quilt. AUTHORBIO: From a discovery of quiltmaking in the 1970s to her current endeavors in teaching, writing, and designing, Alice has maintained a strong connection to the quilt world. Alice developed easy machine techniques for sashiko, decorative machine embellishment, and crazy quilting. She has worked as a regular contributor to various publications and was honored by Threads Magazine as one of three invitational participants in the 2000 Design Challenge. REVIEW: Crazy quilting is a technique that allows the quilter to abandon the rigors of precise patchwork for the creative allure of fancy decorative fabrics sewn on a foundation cloth and embellished with decorative stitches, lace, beads, charms, and other trinkets to make quilts, vests, pillows, and more. Traditionally, all this was done by hand. This volume translates the crazy-quilting process to the modern sewing machine, preserving the enchanting quirkiness while....

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Crazy quilting is a technique that allows the quilter to abandon the rigors of precise patchwork for the creative allure of fancy decorative fabrics sewn on a foundation cloth and embellished with decorative stitches, lace, beads, charms, and other trinkets to make quilts, vests, pillows, and more. Traditionally, all this was done by hand. This volume translates the crazy-quilting process to the modern sewing machine, preserving the enchanting quirkiness while making it easier and faster to do. An excellent self-teaching resource, this book would serve equally well in a classroom situation. Major sections discuss an evaluation of sewing machine features with respect to the demands of crazy quilting; an introduction to fabrics, threads, and stabilizers; and an explanation of using these elements for crazy quilting, straight-stitch appliqu‚, embellishments, and finishing. Also included are seven skill-building projects and a gallery of the work of "guest quilters" who have taken machine crazy quilting/patchwork to new levels. Highly recommended for public library and quilting collections.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

From a discovery of quiltmaking in the 1970s to her current endeavors in teaching, writing, and designing, Alice has maintained a strong connection to the quilt world. With a master's degree in home economics, Alice's professional life began in the college classroom, where she taught clothing construction, textiles, and related subjects. Alice has taught quiltmaking throughout the United States, Japan, and Switzerland. From 1985 to 1994, she taught and designed for a major sewing machine exporter. She also taught at various conferences and guilds. Enjoying the "stretch of the sewing machine," she developed easy machine techniques for sashiko, decorative machine embellishment, and crazy quilting. Designing and teaching simple piecing and embellishment on understated wearables and quilts became her trademark. Alice has worked as a regular contributor to various publications, having written articles for Threads, American Quilter, Traditional Quilter, and Creative Needle. She has also written numerous educational pamphlets and two books, Sashiko Made Simple and Crazy Quilt by Machine for Bernina. In 2000, Alice was honored by Threads magazine as one of three invitational participants in the 2000 Design Challenge. She has judged the American Quilter's Fashion Show several times and twice participated in the Fairfield Fashion Show. Making her home in the Texas Hill Country, Alice spends her free time with family and friends and enjoys her flower gardens and goats.

Product Details

• Paperback: 143 pages
• Publisher: American Quilter's Society (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574327836
• ISBN-13: 978-1574327830
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #718,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Decorative Threads & Stitches, September 17, 2007

By 

Linda E. Stowell "les-crafts" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sew Crazy with Decorative Threads & Stitches (Paperback)

This is a great book with lots of good ideas for using decorative threads and embellishing with them.