Quilting Books

Given my large collection of quilting books (130 plus), you would probably guess that I'm not that selective. No, it's really because there is a quilt or two in each book that I really want to do! Except for applique, there are no reference books here because I use the internet for that. Everybody's list would vary, of course. For instance, some folks pay others to quilt their quilts, so may not want something that helps you quilt on your machine. If I had to cut back to only 20 quilting books, these are the ones I would keep. Most are chosen either for a technique or for a multitude of traditional patterns. Most of these books are currently in print or easily available via online used sources. I have not found an online source for Delightful Applique (Update: Here is a link: http://www.ctpub.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=802)

In no particular order:

• 400 Quilt Blocks by Linda Causee (cutting directions for 6, 9 and 12 inch blocks)
• Reversible Quilts by Sharon Pederson
• 101 Nine Patch Quilts by Judy Martin
• The Border Workbook by Janet Kime (really, any good border book, there are several)
• Fat Quarter Friendly by Mariann Fons
• Thimbleberries Book of Quilts by Lynette Jensen
• Divide and Conquer by Nancy Smith
• Applique 12 Easy Ways by Elly Sienkiewicz
• Show Me How To Machine Quilt by Kathy Sandbach
• Quick and Easy Scrap Quilts by Leisure Arts
• Our Best Seasonal Quilts by Fons and Porter
• Quick Quilts from Your Scrap Bag by Leisure Arts
• Hawaiian Applique by Vicki Fleming
• Rotary Roundup by Judy Martin
• Block Magic by Nancy Johnson-Srebro
• 505 Quilt Blocks by Better Homes & Gardens (resizable blocks, both pieced and applique)
• Quick Rotary Cutter Quilts by Pam Bono
• Wild Goose Chase Quilts by Eleanor Burns
• Log Cabin Quilts by Eleanor Burns (her method is now widely demonstrated on the internet).
• Delightful Applique (Piece O Cake Designs - resizeable applique motifs).

For other crafts, I don't actually have all that many books.

More Books!

I can't help it. I am just a book addict. I can only blame my eyesight since I can't read paperbacks anymore, I buy quilt books. Here are my latest two purchased from Amazon.com. The first is a book on scrap quilts entiteld Weekend Scrap Quilting by Jeanne Stauffer and Sandra L. Hatch. Every author approaches scrap quilts in a different way. This one is perhaps more useful to me than others because she assumes that you have varying amounts of different fabrics. If you run out of a fabric, doesn't matter. Search your stash for something similar. There are several quilts that apply well to large patterned novelty fabrics as well. Can hardly wait to start one!

This next book is for anybody who quilts using their home machine. It features a variety of ways to put your quilt together without having to deal with all that batting. A plus for large full sized on up to king sized quilts! If you can't afford to pay someone with a longarm machine, this is the one to get. Included are about a dozen patterns, which are very helpful to determine which ways to incorporate your own patterns. They are cool patterns anyway, especially that cover one! This book is Divide and Conquer by Nancy Smith & Lynda Mulligan. Amazon is nearly sold out of this book, so if it interests you, don't wait to order!

My Maple Leaf quilt is wonderful. So far, I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this new batting (Joann's Soft'nCrafty HiLoft). I'm currently working on putting the Paddlewheel quilt together. I've finished the blocks and am preparing sections for pinbasting. As mentioned before, this quilt will be quilted section by section and then assembled. My Mom & Dad's quilt is just about killing me with the weight (large queen size) and I don't want to further torment myself. My goal is to get all the remaining pin-basted quilts finished yet this year (5, I think) and to do that, I have got to stop starting new quilts!!

On the crocheting side, my Mom's rose afghan is about half done now. I had lots of appointments last week and actually need to get more yarn. In between all of this, I'm trying to make room in my closet for kittens. I was outvoted and the stray that turned out to be pregnant is staying. (grumble, grumble) I knew as soon as they gave her a name, they would keep her. Cleo-Claudine wants my closet. She's about a year-old, small, calico kitty, who doesn't exactly like me (she growls, but doesn't claw or bite). We expect the kittens within a couple of weeks. She's pretty fat now, so I expect any day soon.

Cleo-Claudine in early September

Buy! Buy! Buy!

Yes, with money I was going to buy new shirts with, I had to go a buy more craft stuff! So, here's some of it. Of course, I needed more afghan books. All of these flower afghans are take-a-long projects. I always need a selection, you know. I also talked myself into the little bottle poodles. I think they are so cute. Dumb. But cute. Since I have a new teapot, I felt I needed a tea cozy. I thought these cable ones were cool, so got that. Also got a Log Cabin quilting book, several roll stitch crochet hooks (for squares in my Crochet Calender) and a future RAK gift during the next sign up. I've been working hard on my swap squares and have finished one swap up. Photos later!

The Ark

Yes, well, it is still raining, just like the weatherpeople said. We are still afloat. So, we'll continue our Ark theme, at least until we are underwater, anyway. First, here's the cute cross-stitch pattern I bought last year in Texas. This is the Ark, Texas style. It includes tortoises, hares, armadillos, coyotes, roadrunners and some bird I don't know. Complete with Noah in a cowboy hat!


Here's something appropriate from my craft library: Ark Animals! I bought this book for $1 last year. These toys are so cute and the lucky individuals who will be getting them are children getting surgery at our local hospital. They often give toys to tots during pre-op to distract them. Later, they take them home. This was originally an Australian book, republished in CA. If you didn't already know about the book, I'm sorry to torment you. It's no longer available.


Here are a bunch of the toys that will be made. What's nice is that they all start off as squares or rectangles. Includes such unusual items as a kangaroo, mermaid, polar bear and camel and Humpty Dumpty . I may have to adapt something to make a cow.

Happy Tax Day!

Yes, if you are still working on your taxes, you are welcome to groan, but for everybody else who didn't procrastinate, CONGRATULATIONS! You are DONE!

I've been working on a lot of smallish projects the past couple of weeks. Finished March Thimbleberries BOM. Worked on Sister's Choice blocks. Have nearly finished another ladybug (we had a hiatus on X-files for a couple of weeks). Working on CrochetGuy's 2nd block (first one wasn't square, so I'm redoing it). Glenda reports that all the swap blocks have now been mailed out, so I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Triple Irish Chain blocks! In between all this, I decided to eliminate most of my stamping hobby, so have been monitoring that on Ebay (seller id: StephMN). I love scrapbooking and I like using stamps for scrapbooking. I don't use them for cards, so they just don't get enough use to justify the space. OH, and I'm working on a dreaded kit with Halloween Pumpkins. Now that I have all the pieces cut out, I guess it wasn't too bad. It was a Quilt By Numbers wall quilt and all these little pieces really intimidated me. But, I used some speed cutting techniques and that part is done. Today, I'll try to make some pumpkins!

When I'm working on quilting projects, I like to listen to books on tape. My latest author was one recommended by the library. He is Max Brand. He wrote Western Mysteries back in the 1920s and 30s. The one I just finished is Timbal Gulch Trail. Great blend of humor with western culture. First western I've 'read' since the 90s (my grandmother was a fan of Louis L'Amour and had all his books). Some of the books on tape require a player with balance control. Since I don't listen to tapes in the car, I'm getting a Bookcassette Adapter for about $5. Good investment for getting unabridged reading! For regular reading, I've been reading Lazy B by Sandra Day O'Connor and Alan O'connor. This book really gives a great flavor of growing up on a cattle ranch in the early half of the 20th century. Well worth the read!

Factoid: program my parents were watching this morning reported that carrots really don't improve your eyesight. During WW2, to hide the fact that radar existed, the Brits reported that pilots were eating carrots which allowed them to see much better. Who'd of thought? They were also the ones who came up with the fake air squadron. Things that make you go hmmmm...

Harry Potter Cometh

Finished the crocheting on the One Line Afghan today! Finally! Tomorrow, I'll do the ends and the fringe. Maybe by the end of the week it will be a done deal!

The audio version of the latest Harry Potter came in at the library. My sister is listening to it now and then I will take over. Since we only have 10 days, I probably won't be posting until after I've listened to it, which will take 2-3 days, I'm sure. If you get a chance at all, listen to the audio versions of this book. Jim Dale came out of retirement to be the 'voice' of this series and it is wonderful to listen to his telling of it (and his many voices).

Listening to Harry Potter audios is when I work on cutting out my charms for my 1000 pyramids charm quilt. I have over 600 cut out now. A charm quilt is one where you use one pattern piece and every piece is a different fabric. I just picked a triangle for mine, but many use squares or other shapes. Takes real effort to accumulate a lot of charms. Cutting them out is also a time consuming process. My charms vary in size from just over 4 inches to 8 inches, depending on where I got the charms. Well, yes, and in addition to any fabrics that I bought for other projects. I use rotary templates and a 28 mm Olfa cutter. I first cut out a pyramid, then a Drunkard's Path piece (if there is room) and then squares or 1.5x4 rectangles. Many of the fabrics are top quality, so I really don't want to waste any of it. I can also enjoy it in more than one quilt!

Here's one triangle of my 1000 pyramids. When put together this way, instead of row by row, you can create disappearing mountains. This was the feature I most loved about this pattern! Also, a link to the template set that I use: http://www.ezquilt.com/products/acrylictools/classic.htm. This set has the advantage of showing the sewing lines so that you can view exactly what is going to show up and center flowers or butterflies or some other feature.

This is the Drunkard's Path quilt that I've been making from the leftovers from charms. It's a 3 inch Drunkard's Path (also a set from Pepper Cory/EZ Quilting - got mine at Michaels). I have enough of these now to finish my queen sized quilt, but I can't help it. It's my very favorite pattern, so I'll just keep cutting more.

Bright fabrics don't often work with all the other fabrics in my charm quilt, so I have been making a tumbler semi-charm quilt with those fabrics (as well as leftovers from my fish and bug projects). Yes, I know, this probably has a lot to do with why I have problems finishing! I have too many things going. This will probably end up a modified eye spy quilt for a kid. If you look carefully, every tumbler has a corner clipped out of it. This is part of the template that makes matching very easy when sewing. You get the actual sewing done more quickly and accurately.


The 1.5x4 inch pieces are being saved so that I can do this Flip and Sew Mystery quilt. It's just a technique I wanted to try and since I have a ton of this 3 inch cash register tape. I was unable to participate in the mystery at the time, but still want to make a quilt from it. Here's a link. http://members.aol.com/qltblockcenter/04benfranklin/index.htm. Now, I don't specifically measure these to be 4 inches, just that they are at least 4 inches. The ends will all get cut off anyway. Yes, folks, there are faster ways to accumulate these, but I'll do that AFTER all the charms are done!

The Post Brings Excitement

This is a rare occasion for a double post. I received a Random Act of Crochet from a fellow crocheter in Britain today. She sent me a wonderful Mile-a-Minute pattern booklet. I didn't know you could do pineapple or aran afghans this way. I love all these patterns (heck, I've made 5 Mile a Minutes over the years). I'm really looking forward to starting one of these soon!

She also sent me a wonderful square for my afghan. A simple stitch featuring a fabulous ribbon yarn. It is by Patons and I am now totally sold on ribbon yarn. It is SO soft. The label is missing part of the name of the yarn - starts with Bell which may be discontinued or simply not sold in US (sure is soft). Feels somewhat like a rayon. Did I mention soft? I would like to make a short sleeve garment out of this as my first garment. This was a wonderful package from my British Elf!


I also wanted to mention the potholder/mat that I bought at a garage sale earlier this year. It was a newly made item. This has been, by far, the best potholder for me so far. I have large hands and many potholders just aren't big enough or are too thick or thin. This one is great! What she did was single crochet two rectangles and then crocheted the two together using a nifty picot stitch. It is made of kitchen cotton (I don't know brand). I really like fancy potholders, but well, this one works for me. The cheery color helps as well. I bought two from her and have been using them since May and I just love them! Interestingly, my Mom doesn't like them, although she is finally using mine. She prefers the cutesy ones (she also has small hands). I'll have to make her a sheep or cow one. You know...she's my Mom.

Endless Library of Acquisition Continues

Lots of crocheting on the One Line last night. That's about all I'm working on at the moment so that I can get it done. Yes, it appears that I am on a crocheting pattern spree just now. Received my order from Herrschners. Yeppers, more afghan patterns as well. I truly am an addict.

The first one has some fabulous afghans. Although they are listed under 'juvenile', any adult who loves the genre will love these afghans. I particularly like the cover aquarium one (I kept aquarium fish for 25+ years). There is also a heraldic dragon shield that is great also. Second one has all motif afghans--need those for take-a-long projects.


I saw the sheepie made up as a gift for someone who visits my blogs (she knows who she is). I saw the pattern and it was MINE! My Mom needs a couple of these.


A number of gals have mentioned these cushioned crochet hooks. I bought a 'G' so that I could try it. I don't usually have trouble with my hands unless I'm doing a bunch of sustained crocheting (like during a movie-a-thon). This is a Clover Soft Touch crochet hook. Looks interesting. We'll see how it works!

The Endless Library of Acquisition

Still working on the One Line Afghan and that's pretty much it except shopping. Yes, I can't help it. I buy craft books for things I want to do in the future. I can't possibly do them all, but I can't help it! My Mom likes my choices too, so at least I don't get comments about having so many books! I also purchased yarn to start my Irish Rose Pillowghan (for the Pillow-ghan along) and yarn to make 2 kinds of crochet hook holders. Just plain 'ol Red Heart, but that will do. I just can't bring myself to make an afghan out of anything like wool. I have my grandmother's wool afghan and I have to be so careful to prevent it from felting - just too high maintenance.

Here's A Year Of Afghans (Book 2). I really like the cover afghan as well as this orange/yellow one pictured inside. I tend to focus on motif-by-motif afghans as I get 'er done! I can work on them anywhere-not just sitting in my chair.


Another book I bought today had these wonderful balloons featured in the afghan. My Mom has hinted that she wants this one made. I have to work on her rose one first (the next in line after the One-Line is done).

Current Leaflet from Leisure Arts that I found at Half-Price Bookstores (used book dealer found primarily in upper Midwest and Texas). Features afghans done in one jewel color using different pattern stitches. I can tell you from my own experience, that it is REALLY hard to finish an afghan done in only one color. Requires some really interesting stitches to keep going (or very quick to finish). That's why I have trouble finishing the One Stitch Homespun afghan. I'm nearly done, but just got totally bored working with one color.

For a Half Price Bookstore near you, consult this map: http://www.halfpricebooks.com/find_a_store.html. I go to several different used bookstores, but our Half Price one has had more used craft and cooking books than any other.