Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Utility Quilting - It Could Be Yours!

I feel so fortunate to be able to review three books this week!! The finale is Utility Quilting; Simple Solutions for Quick Hand Quilting by Carolyn Forster. 
My day was the 23rd and it is that day in the UK, so I'm posting now!! 

I reviewed a novel, a quilt book with many small quilts and a cute theme, and this book, which  is definitely a technique book. Is it possible Carolyn saw my post when I admitted it had taken me 13 years to hand quilt my Jane Stickle quilt? hahaha

The first thing I noticed when I received the book is the clear, large photos with step by step instructions. I am a visual learner so this was extremely helpful to me.

The other thing I picked up right away, is Carolyn is not a hand quilting snob. She does not dismiss the use of machine quilting as undesirable or less of an art. (many do!) Utility quilting by hand or machine gets the job done!
System 2 for basting
How many ways are there in quilting to get to the end result? Many! She shows us step by step 3 ways to hand baste a quilt.She also covers, spray basting, the use of safety pins for basting and a basting gun.

One whole page and a beautiful photo of possible thread choices. (She isn't a thread snob either!) There is plenty of photos and lists for supplies. I liked that she gives lots of choices. It isn't a matter of one specific thread that you have to order cross country to use! (The bottom quilt I show I used 3 different threads! I think Carolyn would approve)

 
I love that Carolyn uses real quilts as examples!! She does that throughout the book. She also shows us how to make our own templates for popular quilt designs.


There's more then one way to tie a quilt!! Love the close ups!!
She gives page after page of examples of big stitch, fine hand quilting and machine quilting.

I've never done a big stitch before  reviewing Utility Quilting. Here's my little quilt I made for AAQI recently. I found thread that I thought would work and did a simple grid marked with my Hera marker.
Not perfect by any means, but a good first project and fun!
Here's the back. Looks like I missed a few places going all the way through. I thought big stitching fit the style of this quilt really well.
Here is the back of another small quilt I used the big stitch on recently. This time I used a fan pattern with no marking.

 Lest you think it is all technique, you'd be wrong. Carolyn is from the UK and has included beautiful floral soft shabby chic style quilt  patterns and quilting suggestions. Seriously beautiful quilts!! If you want to see more you can also have a preview here.

What do you have to do to win a book? This time you must hop right over to Carolyn's blog before March 2 and leave her a comment. (and look at other posts while you are at it- very inspiring!) She has added a few things to go with the book including thread, needles and fabulous fabric!! (hmmm, wonder if I can enter?)  Tell her Lori sent you!! 

And if you are not a lucky winner, then I'd suggest looking for it at your local quilt store. It is worth every penny!!


32 comments:

  1. Looks like a book that is right up my alley, thanks for the review, I shall look for it to add to my hand quilting books.

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  2. i've heard a lot about utility quilting and i've even tried it but i've never read anything 'official' about it and i would very much like to learn more.
    thank you for the great reviews~!!~

    :-)
    libbyQ

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  3. What a wonderful book! I loved seeing the example of the crows feet quilting...DH's grandmother lived until she was 103. She crows foot quilted all of her quilts, the one we got for our wedding gift was also crows foot quilted. She is the one who gave me my first cardboard templates and showed me how to piece a churn dash with them so she is pretty important in my quilting history. I'd love to utility quilt a quilt with this stitch in her honor!

    Bonnie

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  4. I'm not a hand quilter, but I wish I was. I've tried it a couple times, and my grade would have been C- or D+. This looks like the book for me. Thanks for the link. I'm heading over.

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  5. What a fun week you have had, beautiful new books to read and enjoy. Love your little quilts!

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  6. Oh my gosh! I need...want...must have this book! Anything to get Jane out of the closet and finished!

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  7. I'm intrigued! I'm a handquilting wanna be and feel that my attempts have been very inadequate.

    Your review is great. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

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  8. I have tried to "utility stitch", but I always end up going back to my usual stitch. Maybe I need something like this to teach me.

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  9. What a GREAT book! This is a MUST HAVE!!

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  10. I've admired Carolyn Forster's blog. Is this her first book? Looks like a good one. I think you did a great job with the little quilt!

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  11. Looks like this book deserves a place in any quilters library. Think I will put it on my wish list. Thank you for the very in-depth review.

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  12. Looks like great fun! I love all the options she presets.

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  13. What a great idea for a book. I am heading over to her blog now! Thanks.

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  14. Lori, you little quilt looks great! And those stitches are perfect for the mood of it! Yay!

    And I have to tell you.....you are a really great reviewer! Your choice words in describing her style and the content of her book make me want to run out and get it! I love that you emphasized that she is not a quilt snob, cuz that has turned me off of so many books lately. Thanks for such a great review! I think you will be asked again and again.....get ready! lol

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  15. I like technique books a lot and I love the sound of this one as I enjoy utility quilting. The quilts come out so soft and cuddly.

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  16. Great review Lori! It is a good book for sure...!

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  17. When I started quilting I always did my quilts by hand - and probably not very well. This book would be a fabulous tool to get me back into the very much enjoyable method of hand quilting.

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  18. Must get this book! Thanks for sharing about it.

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  19. I too learn best with good visuals so this book looks like it's right up my alley. Thanks for sharing the info.
    Linda Kay
    lksmith47@gmail.com

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  20. I'm on my way to the other blog but have to say - I love your review. If I don't win the book, I'll buy one.

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  21. Lori,
    You big stitch is as beautiful as that little quilt! I am a big fan of hand quilting.. It's not always perfect but love what it gives back in return.

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  22. The only handquilting I've accomplished is big stitch, primitive...meaning I have a long way to go learning how to hand quilt! This sounds like a wonderful book especially for those of us needing to learn some basics. Great review and thanks for sharing it. Hopping over to Carolyn's now :-)

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  23. I love your little AAPI quilt! It is darling and so cute with the utility stitching. It sounds like a good idea and the book looks great!

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  24. The book looks great. Thanks for sharing the pics and your comments. I'm definitely adding it to my wish list. Love your little AAQI quilt. You've inspired me to get busy and make a quilt or two for them.

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  25. I am off to see that book. It looks very interesting.

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  26. This looks like a very good book! Thank you for telling us about it. I'm going to go look at it. Btw, I just found your blog through Big Lake Quilter and love it!

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  27. What a nice detailed review. I will be sure to check the others reviews.
    Thank you.

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  28. A book on my favorite way to quilt. Great pics and a great review.

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  29. LOVE your big stitches... And the book review is great. All the pictures are very helpful. BRAVO! Have you started your Cherry Trees quilt yet??

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  30. great looking book, need this in my home library -
    your stitching and quilt are great!

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  31. Thanks for the heads-up on Caroline's book, it looks great!

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