Book review: Exploring Machine Trapunto by Hari Walner

Put simply, tranpunto is a technique used to get a stuffed look in a quilt. As the title suggests, this book is about machine trapunto, but not solely, it also shows hand quilters how to use this trapunto technique. Traditionally the effect was achieved once all the quilting was finished; this book teaches you a no-stuff technique that creates the effect before the final quilting is begun and without creating holes in the back of your quilt.

This is a techniques book, so it doesn't give piecing directions for the quilts shown. You may think this is a disadvantage, but I believe it encourages you to explore new techniques and concentrate on these. It also means there's more page space for the trapunto techniques!

As you would expect with a C&T book, it's logically set out, with stunning colour photos of the finished projects (from various talented quilters, not just the author), clear instructions and diagrams, and inspiring designs. It starts with a glossary of terms, usefully illustrated; by placing this at the start of the book rather than, as is the norm, at the back, the author ensures that you're talking her language.

The book then takes you through the basics (free-motion quilting, the author's trapunto technique and basting) before presenting different ideas for basic free quilting and trapunto, with detailed instructions of how to do each. My favourite here is the "fake applique", which entails painting a shape, then quilting around it. Without the turn-under allowance of a genuine appliqued shape, it's easier to quilt.

This is followed by a gallery of quilts, with captions giving guidance as to how trapunto was used in each. After this are the quilting designs (with templates to copy and stitching diagrams). These are cross-referenced to the photos of the quilts, so you can see how a quilter has used the motif. A visual index of the designs also makes it easy to find the relevant detailed instructions.

Useful tips are scattered throughout the book. Take this one from machine quilting: "No matter how hard you start at your needle, it is going to continue to go up and down in the same little hole ... What is moving, and what you have control over, is your quilt." Logical, true, but it's very easy to get mesmerised by the needle going up and down...

Experienced quilters and beginners, traditionalists and expressionists alike will find this an inspiring, practical book packed with ideas for a technique that can be as simple or complex as your imagination wishes.

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