Heirloom Machine Quilting: A Comprehensive Guide to Hand-Quilted Effects Using Your Sewing Machine (Spiral-bound)

by Harriet Hargrave (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The third edition of an illustrated handbook on machine quilting, originally published in 1987, which includes details of the skills required to produce quilts using a sewing machine, with a range of projects for different quilted pieces.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 176 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications; 3 Spi edition (March 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0914881922
• ISBN-13: 978-0914881926
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #487,687 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

187 of 187 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent quilting reference and guide., December 12, 1998

By	Marcia Sakrison ([e-mail]) (Northern California) - See all my reviews

Harriet Hargrave writes as if she is looking over your shoulder watching you work. This is an easy and entertaining read, packed with practical information on threads (I didn't realize it was possible to choose a thread stronger than my fabric!), needles, grain direction, quilt assembly, binding, etc. I am a beginning quilter, and learned a great deal of beginning information from this book. Harriet even addresses how to package or bundle a quilt you plan to machine quilt, so that it is easier to handle and unfolds as you work.

There are beautiful photographs of antique and contemporary machine quilted quilts for inspiration. There is an excellent section on how to modify quilting patterns for machine quilting.

A side note is that Harriet is one of few quilting authors who addresses the ergonomic needs of the quilter and sewer, with more suggestions about worktable height, chair types, back support, and support for the quilt "package".

This is just a great book, and spiral bound too!

124 of 125 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heirloom Machine Quilting : A Comprehensive Guide to Hand-Qu, July 8, 2001

By	Judy "historyofquilts" - See all my reviews

Even if we use a sewing machine to piece the quilt we are left with the daunting task of hand quilting the layers together. There is a solution to this problem and the book "Heirloom Machine Quilting" contains the guidance you need. Using easy to understand instructions it covers every tiny step you need to take from setting up your machine to the final binding.

Learning to machine quilt is not an overnight process. You can learn some basic techniques like stitching "in the ditch" quickly enough and you will find the detailed instructions on this simple procedure to be invaluable. But the true challenge and joy of machine quilting comes when you learn "free motion quilting". So many possibilities are open to you when you can follow your favorite stencil patterns or even create your own freestyle movements to fill in an area. The first key to making "free motion quilting" work is to set up your machine correctly with help from the book. Then you are ready to practice, practice, practice. Be sure to read all the tips provided and try the exercises that Hargrave suggests.

The book includes several beautiful full page pictures showing how a variety of quilts have been machine quilted. You will be amazed how machine quilting can give the look of the original handwork. Don't let the beauty and detail of these quilts scare you away. You can have a wonderful time machine quilting on a far simpler level. Just keep on quilting and perhaps some day you will be ready to take on a quilt much like the ones pictured.

83 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent book on machine quilting techniques., June 28, 1999

By A Customer

This book covers everything from what tools and accessories are needed, how to choose the batting for the quilt, to how to accomplish simple to elaborate machine quilting. Beginners through advanced quilters will appreciate the straightforward manner in which this is written. It is a well-organized compilation which takes the quilt maker step by step through the machine quilting process. This book is a must for anyone who is interested in machine quilting.