Customer Reviews

Simply Amazing Spiral Quilts

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I would not be able to recommend this book since it is so poorly edited. It is full of errors which the author addresses on her web site. Had I not gone to her site, I would have been totally unaware of the multitude of problems. Because this is a book of rather precise instructions, I think it is essential that the editing is correct. Too bad... it looked interesting but highly unreliable.

I received my copy in the mail yesterday. I put it down just long enough to sleep and go to work. My head is still spinning! Rarely do craft books come packed with so much information. I know, because I have lots and lots of them. Rarely are they so detailed and clear. This is not merely a "make this project" kind of book. This is a "here is a new concept and how to use it" book. I love those kind of books!

The book shows you how to make curves using only straight lines. Spirals swirl in, out and around, point to point, and nest inside one another. The quilts in the gazillion and one photos are original works by RaNae and the group of Spiromaniacs who worked alongside her, tested her theories, and put her techniques into practice. All there for you to drool over, then jump up and run to your sewing machine!

The quilts (66 of them!) and their designers/creators truly are Simply Amazing. No pun, no exaggeration. The quilts are individual, inspiring, challenging, and just plain ole' gorgeous. [...]

The book is divided into four sections: Meet the Spirals (20 pgs), Designing with Spirals (52 pgs), Sewing Spirals (26 pgs), and Projects (22 pgs). Each section is lavishly illustrated, making the exciting concepts easier to understand and sink your teeth into. RaNae hands you concepts and tools, then sets you free to express your creative instincts in a totally unexpected and new direction.

There are numerous side-bars of "extra" information that magically answer the question you're just about to ask. The page layout and format is eye-friendly, and sucks you into reading all the juicy bits. My only complaint is that I wanted to read everything all at the same time! My favorite line from a troubleshooting section on p 102 is "Solution: First, scream! Next, take a deep breath." and then calmly walks you through fixing the problem.

Many of the quilts have a very contemporary feel. I personally love very traditional quilts. RaNae has managed to design several that fill my love for traditional and at the same time put me squarely in the 21st century! Some are vibrantly alive with color, a few are calming and comforting. I can't even start to point out my favorites, because I might miss one, there's so many!

To describe this book in just a few words: exciting, innovative, breath-taking, creative, mind-expanding! A must have for the quilter who loves to design and wants to take his or her work to the next level.

Wandering over to her web site I saw a link to corrections for book? I looked at it and printed the corrections. It took almost 45 min to edit my book. I was shocked at the amount of errors. Some are just pages mixed up, but some are true directions. It is a very hard concept in its self, let alone having errors in the directions. Be very careful if you buy this without the corrections.

The CD is great. Lots and lots of spirals. If you know spirals, buy the book just for the CD.

This book may be entitled "Simply Amazing Spiral Quilts" but I would rename it "Simply Amazing Number of Errors". I contacted Amazon to ask them what publication edition they had in their warehouse. They stated the "2008 edition" which is the one that contains dozens of errors. I went to the author's website and printed out the "corrections" which amounted to 10 pages (both sides) of errors to correct. I emailed the author.

She replied on 3/26/10, "I don't know how many copies of the first edition Amazon might have stockpiled, but I DO know that it has been one of the best-selling books this year, so I don't imagine that they have kept many copies around! The second edition has been out for almost a year, so you're pretty likely to get that one. That said, here's an easy way you can tell which edition you've got: Look at the bottom right hand corner of Page 97. (I'm pretty sure that's the page number -- I'm in Buenos Aires and don't have a copy of the book at hand. It's the second page of instructions for sewing a Point-to-Point or Pinwheel spiral.) If you see a note that says that the instructions are continued on the next page, you've got the second edition."

I also contacted Krause Publications, who published this book, to find out if THEY had the 2009 edition (that had all the errors corrected) and even THEY did not have it in stock. They only had the 2008 (error ridden) edition. So I can't believe this has been "one of the best-selling books this year" according to the author if even the publisher still has the old editions in their own stock. Of course, you could order the book at full price directly from the author's website and probably get the newest edition.

Well, I spotted the book in a JoAnn's Fabrics, and it was the 2008 edition. I decided I wanted the CD it contained with all the spiral patterns, so I used a 40% off coupon and purchased the old edition for $16.19 + tax. So now I am currently "editing" practically the whole book! Of course, that is what the author or her publisher should have done before printing and selling this book. It wouldn't be so bad if this book did not rely on extreme accuracy for the patterns it contains. I don't know what the "editors" do at publishing companies but apparently they don't check the contents of the books they publish (they must only do a spell check).

Bottom line, I purchased this book for the CD it contains so I can print out the spiral patterns. I can only hope the CD is accurate. My girlfriend ordered a fabric Christmas stocking pattern kit from the author's website as a gift for me this past Christmas (2009) so I thought the accompanying book would be advantageous to own. Be aware that you will spend over an hour correcting the 2008 edition of the book.

Gorgeous book with numerous pictures and instructions for a huge variety of stunning quilts, but be forewarned that there is an absolutely shocking number of errors. I went to the author's blog and printed out the errata -- over 10 pages worth as a Word document! For a book in which the patterns rely on precision and very careful measuring, cutting, and sewing, I could not believe it. I think the publisher should have recalled all the books and reprinted them with the corrections, but know that would have been a financial disaster.

Also be aware that if you want to make the eye-popping quilt on the cover, the pattern is NOT included in the book. Again, resorting to the author's web site, she explains that she does not own the rights to that particular quilt. I never like it when a QUILT is shown on the cover of a QUILT PATTERN BOOK and then directions to make it aren't included.

Complaints aside, I do think this book will be useful, once I spend an hour or so amending it with the errata. The enclosed CD of templates is a great bonus, and thankfully you don't have to own EQ software to use them.

While this is a beautiful book, and setting the 10 pages of corrections aside, the cover is totally "bait and switch."

Why would this quilt be on the cover if instructions for it aren't given in the book?

I was very disappointed and felt like I had been duped.

The Spiral Quilts book is beautiful, but where is the pattern for the quilt pictured on the front? If it is cover quilt, isn't it usually highlighted in the book? I have also had a great deal of touble calling up the spirals on the CD. They are developed in several programs that are not named and I cannot find a program to open them. Please advise if I am just missing the instructions. I really want to make the mandala!

JR

Beautiful quilts that challenge your skills and imagination. Although overwhelming at first; the end result will give you a feeling of accomplishment and pride. The clear and detailed instruction walk you through every step as well as offer suggestions for your own creativity.

Really nice book. Well written - clear directions and diagrams, beautiful photos. And my quilt "Sustenance" is on page 58! So get yourself a copy and get inspired to make a Simply Amazing Spiral Quilt!

I've been quilting for some time and enjoy a challenge, but this was more than I could handle. There were too many editorial errors to overcome.