Book review: Art of Classic Quiltmaking

A reference book on quilting basics built around projects, The Art of Classic Quiltmakingby Harriet Hargrave and Sharyn Craig is the kind of wonderfully useful book every quilter should have when they start out.

Its 240 pages are packed with information and inspiration. The chapter headings speak for themselves: Selecting & Collecting Fabric; Fabric Care & Consideration; Workspaces; Equipment & Supplies; Drafting; Cutting Techniques; Basic Settings; Planning Your Quilt; Calculating Yardage; Basic Strip Piecing; Log Cabins & Pineapples; Triangles; Flying Geese; Set-In Piecing; Curved Seam Piecing; Piecing Strategies; Borders; Quilting Ideas & Suggestions; Battings, Backings & Bindings.

Each chapter has clear instructions supplemented with clear illustrations, photos of finished quilts to inspire you, ideas for variations, different methods, templates where appropriate, complete projects and boxes containing hints and tips (for example: "There are no solid rules about what borders go on first... It depends on what appeals to you... however... be consistent when you're adding several plain strip borders to the same quilt.").

Anyone thinking of writing a quilting book should look at this one to see how to set out information. The only criticism I have is that the measurements are all in yards and inches - what about those quilters who work in metric measurements? I know books get messy when two sets of measurements are given, but it should at least include a conversion table; it'd fit well next to the one giving inch decimal equivalents for inch fractions.

You probably won't try all the methods in the book, but it's good to know that there isn't only one possible solution and if one method doesn't work for you, there are others that may.

If you are someone - or know someone - who's thinking about starting quilting, or who wishes to improve their techniques, buy this book. Through it you'll gain the skills - and the confidence - to develop your creativity and own ideas.

The Art of Classic Quiltmaking is published by C&T Publishing, ISBN 1-57120-070-3.

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