Quilts from the Quiltmaker's Gift: 20 Traditional Patterns for a New Generation of Generous Quiltmakers

Rating:
Summary: Ribbon for a Quilt
Review: My husband knows how much I love to quilt. For christmas last year he gave me this book as one of my gifts. I have made two quilts from it. One was for a wedding gift(True Lovers Knot) that I gave to my friend I've known since kindergarden. She and her new husband snuggle with it often. Hopefully it will keep they're marriage warm! The second quilt was the "Snails Trail". I won a ribbon for it at our county fair!
I love this book, lots of beautiful patterns. So many to choose from. I highly reccomend it!

Rating:
Summary: An Art-Quilt Look for Traditional Patterns
Review: This book contains clear instructions for traditional quilt designs. The quilts photographed are definitely art-quilt in their style, so the quilter who wants to get that look while using beloved old-fashioned patterns will find this book a treasure. There are also a number of suggestions for different approaches in a "Design Challenge" section for each quilt. Some quilts show different sets, and all show varied color and fabric combinations. This allows even beginning quilters to be adventurous without worrying too much about spoiling their fabric -- there are enough illustrations that you can visualize how your own choices will look.
The directions are clear, with plenty of illustrations to show exactly how the pieces go together. Quick cutting techniques are used, and there are many helpful tips about pressing and stitching. The general instruction section is also very good, with much more information than most quilting books (there are even stretches for those marathon quilters). The charts apparently have some errors -- though I never follow patterns exactly enough to have found them -- but with that warning in mind, I think this would be a good candidate for your first or your only quilting book.
The book itself is beautiful, and the historical notes are interesting. I also liked the fact that each quilt pattern includes notes warning the quilter about which parts may be difficult.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful and helpfull book!
Review: This is the best quilt book I have found. I am a novice quilter. The illustrations are beautiful, the step by step instrustions are complete and very easily understood. I especially love the additional ideas provided to individualize each quilt. It is such a beautiful book that you will keep going back to it, time and again.