Discover the wonderful world of quilting or brush-up your technique with this practical guide to the basics. Try a fresh, relaxed approach to making quilts with this brilliant 'dip-in, dip-out-of' book that features a bright aesthetic and clear, simple instructions to guide beginners and intermediates alike through the entire process of creating fun and useful quilts that they'll be proud to call their own. "The Practical Guide to Patchwork" features 12 fantastic projects that allow quilters to experiment with different styles - from scrappy and vintage to modern and playful. Each project also comes with an alternate colour scheme to show how swapping out fabrics can dramatically change the look of a quilt.
The Practical Guide to Patchwork
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
Review
...Ms. Hartman is a very prolific quilter and designer, and this book has lots to offer quilters of all stages. The instructions begin with the basics, how to sandwich a quilt, what kind of stitching to use while quilting, basic color theory, etc. Personally, I am quite a novice quilter. I have made them, but my interest lies primarily in fashion sewing. I was introduced to all sorts of interesting things through this book. These binding clips, which look like hair clips (but will snag your curly locks so beware) are an innovation that was new to me. Also, adding this tiny flap before binding makes a quilt easy to hang on a wall. Genius. Now to the designs - These quilts are clean, modern and range in difficulty from Beginner, through Confident Beginner to Intermediate. The best part of the designs is this: for every design, she shows her blocks in two more permutations, so you could take the quilt in your own direction either with color, or shape of pieces. It's so exciting when a designer will hand the reins over, and encourage you to use your own design sensibilities. While we're discussion quilting, I wanted to call your attention to our Beginning Quilting class coming up in March. Come join Melissa as she guides you through the basics of quilt-making from choosing fabrics to assembly and and binding.--treadle yard goods (2/6/11)
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186 of 190 people found the following review helpful
By Sarah Moon
Format:Paperback
I happened upon Elizabeth Hartman's first book, The Practical Guide to Patchwork, through my work and was beyond thrilled with it. This book is perfect for folks who are interested in quilting, but who have a hard time finding books that appeal to contemporary tastes (I'm in my 30s and most quilting books seem to be designed for an older (or traditional) aesthetic--I don't mean that in a negative way, it's just that people in their 20s/30s/40s often have different tastes than those in their 50s/60s/70s).
There are a number of things that stand out to me with this book:
1. I love the intro chapters on the basics of quilt-making. They're very thorough and don't make assumptions about understanding terms and techniques. This makes this book a great one for folks who are interested in quilting for the first time. The publisher has done a nice job of photographing the important steps as well, which is HUGE for people like me who need to see how things are done.
2. I love, love, love that the author has details for creating a distinctive backing for each quilt design. I forgot that there are so many ways to make a backing look unique and fun. I totally forget about backing by the time I'm done piecing a quilt and these suggestions and instructions for making the back as special as the top are wonderful.
3. The instructions for changing up fabrics to create a different look for each quilt was very helpful to me--again, the photos that demonstrate how the look can change was fantastic for a visual person like me.
4. The fabric choices in the quilt projects made a big difference for me in terms of making the designs appealing. They're contemporary prints that you'll recognize if you spend a lot of time in fabric stores, which helps even the simplest patterns in the beginning of the book feel fresh.
5. The quilts themselves are absolutely beautiful. My favorite is probably the simple leaf applique quilt, but they're all lovely.
The only thing I'd change is having detachable pattern pieces for the leaf applique, rather than images to trace or copy from the book. That's one of my pet peeves for craft books, but certainly not a deal breaker. I'd also love it if the book were spiral bound, so it would lie flat on a table. But, again, not a deal breaker.
Be forewarned: While I love this book, it is definitely contemporary or modern, and the designs are relatively simple. This style appeals to me because I'm super busy and I like contemporary. However, if you're a long-time quilter who wants more complex piecing, this isn't the book for you. If you're on the fence, and want to get a feel for the author's style, her blog is Oh Fransson, and the quilts there are very representative of what is in the Practical Guide to Patchwork.
There are a number of things that stand out to me with this book:
1. I love the intro chapters on the basics of quilt-making. They're very thorough and don't make assumptions about understanding terms and techniques. This makes this book a great one for folks who are interested in quilting for the first time. The publisher has done a nice job of photographing the important steps as well, which is HUGE for people like me who need to see how things are done.
2. I love, love, love that the author has details for creating a distinctive backing for each quilt design. I forgot that there are so many ways to make a backing look unique and fun. I totally forget about backing by the time I'm done piecing a quilt and these suggestions and instructions for making the back as special as the top are wonderful.
3. The instructions for changing up fabrics to create a different look for each quilt was very helpful to me--again, the photos that demonstrate how the look can change was fantastic for a visual person like me.
4. The fabric choices in the quilt projects made a big difference for me in terms of making the designs appealing. They're contemporary prints that you'll recognize if you spend a lot of time in fabric stores, which helps even the simplest patterns in the beginning of the book feel fresh.
5. The quilts themselves are absolutely beautiful. My favorite is probably the simple leaf applique quilt, but they're all lovely.
The only thing I'd change is having detachable pattern pieces for the leaf applique, rather than images to trace or copy from the book. That's one of my pet peeves for craft books, but certainly not a deal breaker. I'd also love it if the book were spiral bound, so it would lie flat on a table. But, again, not a deal breaker.
Be forewarned: While I love this book, it is definitely contemporary or modern, and the designs are relatively simple. This style appeals to me because I'm super busy and I like contemporary. However, if you're a long-time quilter who wants more complex piecing, this isn't the book for you. If you're on the fence, and want to get a feel for the author's style, her blog is Oh Fransson, and the quilts there are very representative of what is in the Practical Guide to Patchwork.
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for beginning quilters and those with experience who like Elizabeth Hartman's style
November 12, 2010
Format:Paperback
I wrote a very detailed review of this book on my blog, including photos of some pages. Here is the link:
[...]
Here are some excerpts of my review:
Overall, I really like this book. I have followed Elizabeth Hartman's blog (Oh, Fransson!) for a while now, and I think her style of quilting is very fresh, fun, and "hip," if you will. I think what I enjoy about her quilts is that her color selections are cheerful, and her style consists of clean lines. Taken together, this results in a sort of simple elegance to her work. That style suits me.
As the title indicates, this books teaches the basics for the "modern" quilter. With reference to the basics: Ms. Hartman does not assume the reader has any quilting background or knowledge. This is great if you are a beginning quilter. I think this book does a great job introducing some of the basic skills to a new quilter without ovewhelming him/her with too much detail. Ms. Hartman's writing style matches her quilting style. It is friendly and straight to the point. She cuts to the chase and doesn't give a lot of detail that's not necessary to do a good job on your first quilt. She also offers some simple strategies that can help a new quilter be successful. For example, she suggests that if you don't have a 1/4" foot to sew with, put a line of blue tape along your sewing machine 1/4" away from the needle to serve as a fabric guide as you sew. Good advice. If you are not a novice quilter, this book probably won't extend your skills a whole lot. I was okay with that, because that's not what I bought the book for. I just really like Ms. Hartman's quilt designs, and I wanted the patterns and the "eye candy" in the photos.
With reference to the "modern" quilter: I took the "modern" quilter to mean people who enjoy vibrant, nontraditional quilting fabrics...from Amy Butler style fabrics (e.g., large prints, bright colors) to fabrics not typically used in quilting, such as linen. I also took this to mean quilters who enjoy bold, geometric quilt desings as opposed to quilt designs that involve lots of little pieces in fairly traditional (tedious?) block. I think, generally speaking, the "modern" quilter is also one who is a very busy person (perhaps a mommy or daddy, one who is trying to work while raising children, one who is heavily invested in a career and has little time for sewing) and who might enjoy making quilts that can be completed, perhaps, more quickly than those with a lot of small pieces in them. If this describes you as a quilter, you might really enjoy this book.
All in all, I think this is a great book. If you are relatively new to quilting and you like Ms. Hartman's style (check out her blog to see if you do or not), this is a definite "must-have" book. If you are a more experienced quilter and like her style, I think you will also enjoy having this book. If you are an experienced quilter who really likes traditional quilts with lots of piecing, this book isn't for you. Also, if you are an experienced quilter seeking to learn some new, more complex skills, this book is not for you. Don't spend the money.
My only wish is that the book also included thoughts/information on selecting the quilting design for the quilt. Perhaps in a future book, Ms. Hartman could address that and help us all with that a bit. That's the area I really struggle with.
For me, the book was worth every penny (and it's very reasonably priced). It's one I'll look at a lot for inspiration and eye candy. There are several quilts in here I'd like to make. I, personally, struggle a little with how to use all those great, large prints and colorful fabrics that are out there today. I feel like this book gives me a little direction in that area. I'm rather excited about the book.
I hope my review is helpful. I always appreciate others' reviews, but I rarely take the time to write them myself. I guess that shows my enthusiasm for this book!
[...]
Here are some excerpts of my review:
Overall, I really like this book. I have followed Elizabeth Hartman's blog (Oh, Fransson!) for a while now, and I think her style of quilting is very fresh, fun, and "hip," if you will. I think what I enjoy about her quilts is that her color selections are cheerful, and her style consists of clean lines. Taken together, this results in a sort of simple elegance to her work. That style suits me.
As the title indicates, this books teaches the basics for the "modern" quilter. With reference to the basics: Ms. Hartman does not assume the reader has any quilting background or knowledge. This is great if you are a beginning quilter. I think this book does a great job introducing some of the basic skills to a new quilter without ovewhelming him/her with too much detail. Ms. Hartman's writing style matches her quilting style. It is friendly and straight to the point. She cuts to the chase and doesn't give a lot of detail that's not necessary to do a good job on your first quilt. She also offers some simple strategies that can help a new quilter be successful. For example, she suggests that if you don't have a 1/4" foot to sew with, put a line of blue tape along your sewing machine 1/4" away from the needle to serve as a fabric guide as you sew. Good advice. If you are not a novice quilter, this book probably won't extend your skills a whole lot. I was okay with that, because that's not what I bought the book for. I just really like Ms. Hartman's quilt designs, and I wanted the patterns and the "eye candy" in the photos.
With reference to the "modern" quilter: I took the "modern" quilter to mean people who enjoy vibrant, nontraditional quilting fabrics...from Amy Butler style fabrics (e.g., large prints, bright colors) to fabrics not typically used in quilting, such as linen. I also took this to mean quilters who enjoy bold, geometric quilt desings as opposed to quilt designs that involve lots of little pieces in fairly traditional (tedious?) block. I think, generally speaking, the "modern" quilter is also one who is a very busy person (perhaps a mommy or daddy, one who is trying to work while raising children, one who is heavily invested in a career and has little time for sewing) and who might enjoy making quilts that can be completed, perhaps, more quickly than those with a lot of small pieces in them. If this describes you as a quilter, you might really enjoy this book.
All in all, I think this is a great book. If you are relatively new to quilting and you like Ms. Hartman's style (check out her blog to see if you do or not), this is a definite "must-have" book. If you are a more experienced quilter and like her style, I think you will also enjoy having this book. If you are an experienced quilter who really likes traditional quilts with lots of piecing, this book isn't for you. Also, if you are an experienced quilter seeking to learn some new, more complex skills, this book is not for you. Don't spend the money.
My only wish is that the book also included thoughts/information on selecting the quilting design for the quilt. Perhaps in a future book, Ms. Hartman could address that and help us all with that a bit. That's the area I really struggle with.
For me, the book was worth every penny (and it's very reasonably priced). It's one I'll look at a lot for inspiration and eye candy. There are several quilts in here I'd like to make. I, personally, struggle a little with how to use all those great, large prints and colorful fabrics that are out there today. I feel like this book gives me a little direction in that area. I'm rather excited about the book.
I hope my review is helpful. I always appreciate others' reviews, but I rarely take the time to write them myself. I guess that shows my enthusiasm for this book!
41 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is fantastic! Elizabeth Hartman's blog and patterns got me into quilting 2 years ago. I was thrilled to find out she wrote a book. This is the best *modern* quilt book I've read to date. I never leave reviews for anything at amazon- but this book is totally worth the 5 stars and the review. The patterns are gorgeous. Her thoughts on fabric and pairing colors is great. Buy this book- you won't regret it! I can't wait to reference it far into the future. :)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting results for beginners
Elizabeth Hartman shows how quilters can achieve exciting modern quilts whether they are beginners or have experienced traditional quilting. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Elizabeth J. Lawson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Have for Quilters!
This is a great little book telling you all the basics of quilting. It is organized, an easy quick read and has great pictures. Thank you and now I am hooked on quilting.
Published 6 days ago by Slant
4.0 out of 5 stars
Modern and traditional!
Love the patterns. My fabvorite parts are her color combination ideas. She interjects her own suggestions for patterns and colors on each pattern.
Published 13 days ago by Obsessed with books
5.0 out of 5 stars
I don't just like this book....
I love this book! So many terrific ideas and methods. It's great for inspiration. Elizabeth Hartman is brilliant!
Thank you, Elizabeth.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
Published 24 days ago by Caleb
3.0 out of 5 stars
No what I expected
I thought this book would be what the title says, a guide with new basics for the modern quilter. It just has the same old rules and some patterns. Read more
Published 1 month ago by cecilia midgette
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Beginner Book
This book is perfect for an eager beginner to learn the first steps in quilt making.
Fantastic instructions and step by step photos make it easy to follow. Read more
Fantastic instructions and step by step photos make it easy to follow. Read more
Published 1 month ago by SameliasMum
2.0 out of 5 stars
Light on Info
I bought this book hoping to have a resource for quilting very basic pieces. Unfortunately, this book neglects important parts of quilting, like binding. Read more
Published 2 months ago by 4Moma
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book to see what is new in quilting.
I am an "older" and very experience quilter. It is good to know what the new bright and youthful quilts are all about. Read more
Published 2 months ago by cheaha39
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful book
The patterns in this book are more to my taste then many others out there. Many of the fabric choices shown are from some great modern designers. Read more
Published 3 months ago by T
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
Great beginner style book.
Love the fact that different coloured fabrics are shown and fabric requirements are readily available for those using precuts. Read more
Love the fact that different coloured fabrics are shown and fabric requirements are readily available for those using precuts. Read more
Published 4 months ago by TC
