Book review: The Quilted Garden by Jane A Sassaman

If you've looked through books such as the '97 Quilt National, then you'll probably instantly recognize Jane Sassaman's distinctive work even if you don't remember her name. Subtitled Design and Make Nature-Inspired Quilts, this book is more than simply a gallery of Sassaman's work, although it includes 60 of her quilts. It also explains the techniques she uses (raw-edged and turned-edged appliqué), guides you through a project using each of these, and includes exercises on how to develop designs. In short, an inspiring insight into the creativity of a very talented quiltmaker.

Chapters 1 and 2, on Sassman's background, influences, family life and studio, are fascinating reading. It's always intriguing to know where an artist gets their inspiration from and to see how their work has developed. It also provides details you can't get from a quilt (can anyone tell from a photo whether a quiltmaker prewashes her fabric or not?). Chapter 3 is a gallery of her quilts from 1980 to 1999; the text tells the story behind each quilt and the overall tale of how her design and techniques have evolved.

Chapter 4 is on design: ideas, observation, what makes good design, simplifying and stylizing a design into something usable, arranging elements. If you've ever wanted to create your own designs, but didn't know where or how to start, make a point of working your way through this chapter, as all you need (besides persistence) is there.

Chapters 5 and 6 investigate Sassaman's two styles of working: designs composed of pre-made shapes which are collaged and formal compositions. There's a handy list of her general construction techniques and basic appliqué techniques for both raw-edge and turned-edge appliqué for those who don't want to read the detailed text. Chapter 7 is about machine embroidery and quilting, with close-up photos showing you the detail in Sassaman's quilts which go unnoticed in the larger photos.

What did I find most inspiring in this book? Sassaman's use of the negative shapes which are created in the process of cutting out the intended shape, and the way she uses satin stitch (varying the width of the stitch at different points of a leaf and her use of colour for emphasis). What will you find? A book in which a quiltmaker has generously shared her creativity and techniques, enabling others to follow in her footsteps.

A last thought, be careful who you buy this book for as a present: two people I showed it to thought Sassaman's designs were sinister (and they didn't mean the two skeleton designs on page 50). I was surprised and intrigued by this, as that isn't an adjective that comes to mind when I look at her work. But it does confirm to me that her quilts really are pieces of art; it's hard to imagine someone applying such adjectives to a traditional sampler quilt.

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