Crazy Shortcut Quilts (Paperback)

~ (Author), Sarah Raffuse (Author)
Key Phrases: backing squares, vertical sash, sashing chapter, Finished Size, Number of Squares, Square Size (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Crossover appeal - infuses quilting techniques and projects with home décor influence.

Broad appeal - captures the attention of skilled quilters with an unique timesaving techniques, and delivers a great teaching tool for quilt shop owners.

The quilt-as-you-go technique in Crazy Short-Cut Quilts eliminates intimidating quilting steps, and empowers sewers with the ability to create full quilts, in no time, that accent any existing decor. The book provides sewers with time estimates for each step of a crazy quilt pattern; demonstrates how to break projects down into manageable pieces and suggests alternate uses for leftover fabrics; teaches sewers how to make savvy fabric selections to coordinate with existing room or to add new flair.

About the Author

Marguerita McManus has more than 11 years of experience in the quilting business, including extensive long-arm quilting training and demonstrations at Quilt Markets. Sarah Raffuse has been developing and teaching Crazy Short Cut classes since 1999, and has attended several Quilt Markets as an instructor.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Krause Publications (July 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896895475
• ISBN-13: 978-0896895478
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #31,445 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This method is fun and easy., October 7, 2007

By	Suzanne Benson "Sue" (Anchorage, AK United States) - See all my reviews

I have already made two quilts with this method, when I took a class from one of the authors. When you get done, it's already quilted! The authors give good directions on how to cut and sew, and many block ideas to make a variety of quilts, each with clear instructions. It's also a fun way to use pretty threads and all of the embroidery patterns on your machine. And it's perfect for fat quarters. Mind you, this is a shortcut method, so don't expect it to teach you how to do exquisite, hand quilted and embroidered crazy quilts. If you want to do that, you need to check out Judith Montano's books. I'm glad the authors wrote this book, because I needed refreshing on how to do it. But I got more than that; it's full of new ideas!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crazy Quilt Shortcuts Fantastic Technique!, February 27, 2008

By	Fabric Designer - See all my reviews

This book contains a crazy quilting technique that is fast, simple, so easy to follow. The quilt-as-you-go block joining method is one of the most precise I've ever seen. The instructions aren't the least bit complicated so anyone can do this, even first-time quilters. The joining and quilting techniques make it easy for quilters to quilt a whole quilt without the bulkiness of one that is pre-assembled. I'd highly recommend it.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alaskan Quilters shares their Secrets, April 1, 2008

By	Penny D. Haren "Checker newsletter editor" (Maumee, Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The mother/daughter team of Marguerita McManus and Sarah Raffuse have created "Crazy Shortcut Quilts - Quilt as You Go in Half the Time!". But after reading the book, there is much more to it than that! Their techniques can be incorporated into any project - and there are times they should be embraced by every quilter - you just may not know it yet!

Many of us are involved in organizations that are making quilts for kids, babies, soldiers, cancer patients, etc. These are wonderful programs that make us proud to be quilters. But, they also can become expensive. Most of us are quite willing to donate fabric and sew, but few of us have the ability to machine quilt these donations. Paying for the machine quilting has become a problem. Not anymore!

Marguerita and Sarah show you how to piece blocks - quilt them - and THEN sew the quilted blocks together to complete your quilt. Since the quilting follows the seams of the pieced blocks, anyone can do it - no meandering required!

It is the perfect opportunity to use up all of those scraps of batting. And then there is the decorative stitching! Many of us have paid way too much for a sewing machine that had all of the bells and whistles - but don't quite remember what we were planning on doing with all of those stitches! No more! Marguerita and Sarah use these decorative stitches to machine quilt their projects and enhance their quilts. And, as an added bonus, any imperfections are disguised if you stray from the seam line.

The threads can be changed on every seam so you may actually use up THAT stash as well!

Since the blocks are quilted individually - and then sewn together - it is possible for anyone to quilt even a queen sized quilt the very first time! After the initial machine quilting - which is done in manageable sizes - the blocks are sewn together with straight seams. You just roll up the rows and stitch!