Books for Quilters!
Number Thirty * February 15, 1999 Classifieds | Table of Contents Please allow entire page to load before clicking links. BOOK REVIEWS: Cathedral Windows and Paper Piecing Breaking Traditions: Cathedral
Windows Quick Method Quilt Reviewed by Lynn Holland
If you're into strict definitions right now you're probably thinking, "Cathedral windows isn't a real quilt," and you're right. This technique consists of folding and sewing muslin squares to make a four-layered frame for insets of colored fabric. There is no batting, no traditional sewing through all layers to hold them together. But be forewarned-- a cathedral windows quilt is no lightweight coverlet. Someone once compared hers to chain mail. (Perhaps this is why the authors of "Breaking Traditions" don't give instructions for a size bigger than full). Written by Susan T. Fisher and Kimberly Nappier, this leaflet-style publication is designed to minimize confusion. First, there is an overview of the project, giving definitions of the terms used in the instructional text. There are charts to guide the process, and the diagrams are very clear and well labeled. I appreciated the clarity and number of the diagrams and what may seem to some to be redundant labeling, but I have great difficulty with spatial concepts (yes, left and right too, if you must know) and even I could follow these diagrams. This book assumes nothing, which I consider a plus when presenting a novel technique. Not everybody DOES actually know the very thing at which you may roll your eyes. Most possible pitfalls are discussed and critical points are emphasized. The authors have packed a lot into this twelve-page booklet, including two different methods for finishing your quilt, a chart so you can experiment with different color combinations, and instructions for a cathedral windows pillow. The only thing missing is information on the specifics for making quilts in queen- and king-size, and maybe some more specific tips on how to deal with the size and weight of the quilt once you get beyond the halfway point of the larger sizes. Although early in the instructions Susan and Kimberly mention that the quilt will be heavy, it occurs to me that wrestling a bed size quilt under a sewing machine may be a challenge. So if you've been waiting to get
started on that cathedral windows quilt, this book may be
what you've been waiting for. You know, once I finish my
cathedral windows quilt, I'd like to try a grandmother's
flower garden. Susan and Kimberly, could you figure out
how to do that by machine by the year 2005? Favorite Foundation-Pieced Minis:
Book II Miriam Neuringer Reviewed by Christina Holland
There are ten miniature quilt projects in this book. Only one is marked advanced; there are five intermediate projects and four easy. Which is actually a little bit misleading. "Angels at my Window," marked as easy, actually requires the same total number of pieces and has similarly tiny triangles in it as does "Outstanding in the Field", which is labeled intermediate. I have a feeling that the ease or difficulty of some of these patterns is rather subjective - we each have our own specialties and our own particular areas of stress when it comes to piecing. The fact that there are ten projects hides the fact that some of them include several different patterns, which you can mix into your own quilt designs. The projects themselves are worthwhile, though, and appeal to a wide variety of interests. They feature cows (the author is from Texas), airplanes, flowers, coffee cups, angels, Santas, sailboats and bumblebees. Reading through the book, you may have trouble deciding which quilt to try out first. Personally, I'm torn between "Safe at Last" and "Flowers and Bees." In the first, a cardinal perches at the entrance to his birdhouse, to the obvious intent interest of a cat sitting below. You have to piece the bird first, then insert that into the larger birdhouse pattern. The cat is a pretty simplified design - really only an outline. Quilting the cat's tail as shown, though, and the context of the quilt, makes it fairly clear. Also, the tulip border compliments the design, bringing out the cardinal's red very nicely. "Flowers and Bees" is pretty much what it sounds like, but made a little more whimsical by the quilting of the bees' circuitous flight paths. It includes one pattern for the bees, two patterns for the blossoms, and two stem and leaf patterns. On the other hand, the "Sailboats" pattern is pretty easy and will fit in very well with some fish patterns I already have, for a marine-themed quilt I'm about to make. While only brief instructions are given for each quilt project, the book does begin with a page of general directions on making and piecing foundations, including discussion of different foundation materials, and a few pages of step-by-step instructions, with color photos, using one of the simpler patterns, featuring airplanes, as an example. It's well done, although this is fundamentally not a how to foundation piece kind of book. It's a collection of favorite patterns, and it fills that role very well indeed. Classifieds |
More than four years ago, I started a cathedral
windows quilt. Inspired by Pauline Speiks, an
eighty-something- year-old instructor who was a
hand-sewing purist, I began with twenty yards of muslin
and a pack of John James needles. During the class,
Pauline shook her head and confided that "some folks
actually sew the first two ends of the square together by
machine." Somewhere after the first few rows of
squares, I stooped to chain-sewing the ends of many
seven-inch squares to speed up the process. Then about
the halfway point, I read online about a method to allow
the machine sewing of the center seam, and added that
secret to my repertoire. Now, too far into the project to
abandon it, I discover the aptly named Breaking
Traditions technique that lets you do it all by machine.
Had I found this book four years ago, I would have been
sleeping under my quilt for a couple of Christmases by
now. However, those of you who yearn for the cathedral
windows glory without the agony of making millions of
tiny hand stitches can benefit from this nifty method.
I've lately become
enamored of foundation piecing. Given the proper pattern,
it's a remarkably easy technique to learn and the results
can be incredible. But I've learned from experience that
it's not at all easy to design one's own foundation
block. It's kind of tricky to keep in mind both the
overall look of the pattern and the order in which the
pieces are to be stitched. So I, probably like many of
you, have started to collect particularly interesting and
fun foundation patterns. Miriam Neuringer's book
"Favorite Foundation Pieced Minis: Book II"
offers some very worthwhile additions to almost anyone's
collection.| 8 step color progression- | fat eighth cuts- | 1 yard | $25.00 |
| 12 step color wheel- | 6"x22"cuts | 1 yard | $25.00 |
| 24 step color wheel- | 6"x22" cuts | 2 yards | $45.00 |
| 10" squares | 1.5 yards | $35.00 |
Send a self addressed, stamped envelope for free samples and full price list or to order send check or money order to:
Jay Dee Designs
18640 South Lowrie Loop
Eagle River, Alaska 99577
E-mail: unique@alaska.net
BREAKING TRADITIONS
Cathedral Windows Quick Method Quilt
This book will instruct even the novice sewer how to
create an heirloom quality quilt, entirely by sewing
machine, in a fraction of the time it would take to sew
by hand. Full color cover, clear concise illustrations,
yardage charts and many tips.
The possibilities are endless!
$8.95 per book plus $1.95 s&h
Please make check payable to 'Kimberly Nappier' and mail
to: Kimberly Nappier
6827 Sparkman St. Dept. tvq
Tampa, FL 33616
E-mail inquiries to: Bountipres@aol.com
Greenhaven Enterprises
Quilt Retreats on the Olympic Peninsula
Visiting Washington State?? Stay with a quilter and her
cat, Oliver.
The Herbolds live just outside of Sunny Sequim. Their
home, set in the tall trees, is warm, pleasant, and
affordable.
Norma can direct you to quilt shops in the area, plus the
natural wonders located on the Olympic Peninsula. She can
also plan a personal retreat for you and three quilting
friends, or cross stitch buddies, or rubber stampers! You
name it.
You are invited to visit the website for Greenhaven
Enterprises, Quilt Retreats on the Olympic Peninsula,
where you can check out Norma's quilts, learn more about
Sequim, and of course, see Oliver. The address is: http://www.olypen.com/normah
You may email Norma at normah@olypen.com
or call 360-681-0364 for more information.
MY FAVORITE THIMBLE
Would you like to improve your hand quilting stitch
quality and quantity? Of course you would, and My
Favorite Thimble can help! My Favorite Thimble's tough,
colorful, rubbery surface grips the needle for wonderful
stitch control, and control means more stitches to the
inch.
My Favorite Thimble comes in two styles and five sizes.
You can choose between the standard royal blue, and our
embellished version on which we add colorful free-form
designs.
Visit our web site at http://www.myfavoritethimble.com
for pictures, more information and ordering. And, be sure
to take a look at our newest product, Quilt-Fuse. If you
are a watercolor quilter or want to be, this fantastic
lightweight fusible layout grid will let you stitch a
watercolor quilt top in ONE AFTERNOON!
Questions or comments? Contact us at:
Chris Hanner & Company
3687 Coldwater Lane
Snellville, GA 30039
Email: mailto:hanner@mindspring.com
http://www.myfavoritethimble.com
THE CRAFT CONNECTION
The Craft Connection ( http://www.craftconn.com/
)is the place for you if you want to buy, make, or sell
handcrafted items on the Internet. We sell quality cotton
fabric at a discount, vintage ties for crazy quilts, and
we'll soon be selling threads at a discount. All fabrics
are linked to coordinating fabrics, so you know your
choices will look great together. We try to find fabrics
you won't see anywhere else. And we'll package them into
packets of fat eighths, fat quarters, or 5" squares,
so you can get a good variety without a big cash outlay.
Among our fabric categories are florals, almost solids,
and guy stuff.
Every month two fabrics are for sale at 20 percent off
our already discounted prices. At our Crafters Mall, you
can purchase quilts, vests, paintings, and music box
kits, and we're adding new crafters to our mall all the
time. You can use your credit card online on our secure
server to safely purchase our fabrics and also our
crafters' products. If you're a crafter, you can sell
here and take credit cards without having your own credit
card vendor account.
Check out our Free Stuff. Each month we offer a new
pattern and a new lesson. Come by our website at http://www.craftconn.com/
THE QUILT BLOCK
We are a cottage industry located just outside of
Yosemite National Park. We specialize in clothing and
patterns for quilters and for people who love quilts.
We offer t-shirts and sweatshirts in sizes from medium to
xxx-large. All of our quilts are machine pieced. Most of
our patterns are easy enough for beginning quilters. Come
see what we have to offer at our website. We have a great
sale page.
http://www.sierratel.com/thequiltblock/salepage1.htm
Or e-mail for more information to
mailto:gastinc@sierratel.com
The Quilt Block
P.O. Box 127
Midpines, CA 95345
(209) 742-5418
Fax: (209) 742-7662
DESERT THREADS
Custom Embroidery and Screenprinting
Want to make a splash at the next guild meeting or quilt
show? We embroider Ocean Waves, Jacob's Ladder, Shoo-fly
and three other popular quilt designs on t-shirts,
sweatshirts, and large zippered tote bags. Available in a
variety of colors on six different colored garments,
these designs will be the envy of your quilting friends.
We also specialize in custom logos for quilt guilds and
businesses. Also available are quality embroidered custom
labels for quilt backs. No minimum quantity is required
and vendor inquiries are welcome.
E-mail us for more information at
mailto:bob@desertthreads.sparks.nv.us
or visit our website at http://www.greatbasin.net/~desertthr
. You can take a look at our designs and order online
using our automated form.
Desert Threads
195 Regier Springs Drive
Sparks, NV 89436
(702) 425-2726
HICKORY HILL QUILTS
The Feedsack Club is delighted to announce that it
will once again hold a conference concurrently with the
Quilters Heritage Celebration in Lancaster PA on April 8
- 10 1999.
The conference continues to grow in size each year and
has moved to the Holiday Inn at 521 Greenfield Rd,
Lancaster PA, just down the street from the Quilters
Heritage Celebration and across from the Tourist Bureau.
The additional room at the new location means even MORE
exhibits, lectures and demonstrations.
Lectures and classes are planned, including new products
demonstrations - come and learn about Gridded Geese &
Thangles. Events include the Show & Share, Raffles, a
quilt contest, an auction, and, of course, vendors!
Throughout the convention, look for buying, selling and
trading of feedsacks and other fun stuff as well as door
prizes. For more information, E-mail baglady111@aol.com.
SILVER DOLLAR SHEEP STATION
The MINI DUST-IT. Genuine sheepskin duster on a
6" stick that is perfect for picking up dust and
lint from your sewing machine and serger. Soft, beautiful
sheepskin won't scratch polished surfaces. Picks up the
lint and tiny threads; doesn't spread them around.
Prevents lint build-up. Inexpensive way to protect
expensive sewing machines and sergers. Fun and handy to
use. Also works great on the computer.
Price: $3.50 each including mailing.
To order send check to
Silver Dollar Sheep Station
5020 Winding Way
Sacramento, CA 95841.
800-887-8742.
E-mail: :Sheep50@aol.com.
SPECIAL LIMITED TIME OFFER: Because we manufacture the
Mini Dust-it to a very high standard, we currently have a
small supply of imperfects. They may be a little thinner
and not as pretty or have some other defect, but they
still work great!
And best of all we offer these to you for just $1,
INCLUDING postage. You can order them at the address
above and enjoy this wonderful product at a bargain
price!
THE QUILTBROKER
TVQ Winter SPECIAL! - (this offer is NOT on our web
site!)
Get a FREE Judy Martin *POINT TRIMMER when you purchase
The Block Book from us at the suggested retail of $21.95
+ $5.00 S&H
Mail your check (US funds only) for $26.95, made out to:
DESIGN PLUS
907 Columbia Road
Fort Collins, CO 80525-1838
* Judy Martin's POINT TRIMMER is a $7.50 value.
PINETREE QUILTWORKS
Quilt Shop Service -- Discount Prices 20% off retail
on most items When you visit PineTree Quiltworks' website
catalog, don't forget to check out the Virtual Fabric
store, where fabric is discounted! With more than 2500
bolts on the floor, more fabric goes on the website
catalog each week, at prices 20% off retail.
New! PineTree now carries Hoffman fabrics! You'll find
them in the Hoffman Challenge category and throught the
other fabric categories. More are on the way, and the
batiks are expected soon!
Just arrived! Jeanna Kimball's Foxglove Cottage betweens
in size 11. These durable needles are as short as the
size 12 and as tough as the size 10! Perfect for use in
cotton batts.
PineTree now carries the complete line of EQ software,
Until March 1 you can order the new version of EQ4 for
the introductory price of $80! After that, EQ4 will cost
$110 retail, $93.50 PineTree price. PineTree now stocks
SEW PRECISE - the Original, stand-alone software for
foundation piecing, and SEW PRECISE 3 -- Shirley Liby
Designs for foundation piecing. Look for the EQ-related
books, TOO MUCH FUN, EQ3 SIMPLIFIED The Basics, and the
EQ3 BLOCK BOOK.
PineTree is proud to offer Quilter's Cotton fine cotton
batts as well as the full lines of Hobbs' and Fairfield's
cottons, blends, and polys. Look for tools to make
applique easier and more fun; fabric and hand care
products; pencils and markers; templates and template
plastic; needlecraft gloves; rotary cutters and related
supplies; rippers, clippers, snippers, and scissors;
machine sewing needles; seven (!) brands of hand sewing
needles -- including Jeana Kimball's renowned Foxglove
Cottage needles; basting systems; thread, including
Mettler and Gutermann cotton sewing and quilting, Tire
silk sewing, and Sulky rayon, metallic, and sliver, and
*new* Roxy 100% cotton thread on economical 1200-yard
spools; patterns ... and
There are many more books at PineTree than you'll find in
the books listing online, so if you don't see what you
want, e-mail and ask. All books are discounted 20%.
Just scope out the website catalog at
http://quilt.com/pinetree
and place your credit card order >from the ***new***
secure website order form. Visa, MasterCard, American
Express, and Discover are welcome.
Free with each order a hard copy of the catalog and a
Mettler thread color card!
PineTree is online to answer questions about quilting
products at mailto:pinetree@quiltworks.com
SCHOOLHOUSE ENTERPRISES
Gridded Geese(c) is a unique paper foundation method for
mass-producing Flying Geese units up to 24 at once (no
kidding!). Schoolhouse Enterprises, inventors and
manufacturers of this revolutionary product, offers both
a printed version of their catalog, and an on-line (http://www.planetpatchwork.com/store/index.cfm?DID=21
) shopping cart service in conjunction with Planet
Patchwork. You can safely order online through Planet
Patchwork's secure server with your credit card!
The folks at Schoolhouse Enterprises and Planet Patchwork
search for items for quilters (and friends of quilters)
which are unique and often overlooked by other catalogs
you might connect with. Check out their on-line catalog,
which offers such interesting items as
Photos-to-Fabric(tm) photo transfer paper, Ott Lights,
beautiful embossed note cards, kaleidoscope pendants, and
much more! And while you're visiting, be sure to check
out the current Monthly $pecial!!
Schoolhouse has recently begun carrying the complete line
of Electric Quilt products, including EQ3 design
software, and Sew Precise! and Sew Precise with Shirley
Liby.
They also offer a large selection of Merry Mayhem's
Mystery Quilts. If you missed any of the Cases which were
previously online, you'll find them here!
If you're not able to access the web page, just e-mail
Schoolhouse Enterprises (mailto:cluesew@jerseycape.com
) with your "snail mail" (post office) address
for your FREE CATALOG and Sample of Gridded Geese(c)!
(Sorry, but Samples are only available in the printed
catalogs.)
PERFECT SQUARE
Perfect Square's mother is pregnant and about to have
a new product. Perfect Triangle is due any day now.
Perfect Triangle is also a REUSABLE iron-on design but it
will make quarter square triangles instead of half-square
triangles.
Perfect Square is growing up now and has gotten a job at
a creative quilt pattern company and is doing quite well.
In fact, patterns are being written exclusively for
Perfect Square. See the Perfect Square web site at http://www.webworldinc.com/perfectsquare
for details.
PCQuilt for Windows
PCQuilt for Windows is easy to learn and easy to use
quilting software. The block and the quilt are on the
same screen so you can see your quilt emerge as you
design and color your blocks. Combine blocks in a variety
of ways to see endless new designs. The program includes
all the features that have always made PCQuilt easy and
fun to use. Now with the new Windows version, PCQuilt
will help you estimate your yardage, print templates,
quilts and blocks, and has a friendly Windows interface
with easy to use toolbars. PCQuilt comes with a extensive
library of blocks, border, quilts, palettes and fabric
patterns. PCQuilt is also available for the Macintosh.
Look for PCQuilt at your local Husqvarna VIKING Dealer or
visit our website at http://www.pcquilt.com
.
Nina Antze
7061 Lynch Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707- 823-8494
1-800-731-8886
ADVERTISING WITH TVQ.
Our advertisers, both here in the newsletter and at the Planet Patchwork website, have found TVQ to be an effective and economical way to reach thousands of online quilters. Ads in the newsletter are only $5 each (up to 100 words, inquire about longer ads) or 3 for $10, and there are also attractive packages available which combine newsletter and website ads. For more information e-mail rholland@planetpatchwork.com or visit http://www.planetpatchwork.com/adcard.htm. We specialize in helping small quilting-related businesses gain exposure on the internet.
In This Issue:
Following is a list of the rest of the stories in this
issue of TVQ. In order to read them, you must be a subscriber. Subscribing online here and
following up with the small subscription fee will entitle
you to eight issues of TVQ, including this one. You will
receive TVQ every six weeks by e-mail, and will be issued
a password to access it here at Planet Patchwork.
Subscribers: Please report any password
problems to Rob
Holland. Be sure to include your name & e-mail
address. We will try to resolve all password problems
within 24 hours. Thank you!
And here's what's inside!
Christina Holland visits the Little Quilt Museum that Could. The museum's
rotating quilt collections make a good antidote for Silicon Valley's cyber-everything.
Lynn Holland decides to stay home in Atlanta and write about the quilting
riches around her. Four shops in the Great Atlanta area include the new store
opened by Little Quilts.
Addy Harkavy tests out the new cutter from Olfa, purported to be safer and
easier to use. Is it? Addy clues you in.
The Atlanta History Center's new exhibit of 80 Georgia quilts extracts the
history behind them while educating the public on quilting
The Red River and the Holocaust.
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, NEWS, IDEAS, BRICKBATS?
Like any news publication, TVQ is always
hungry for information about new developments in the area
we are trying to cover. If you have an idea for a story,
or want to tell the world about something you are doing
which relates to computers and quilting, we'd like to
hear about it.
We'd like news of new classes starting up to teach quilt
design on computers, or new approaches to that teaching.
New products, maillists, World Wide Web pages, etc., are
all fair game, and we'd appreciate any tips you can
provide. Send your tips by e-mail to rholland@planetpatchwork.com.
If you have a comment about an article, a complaint or a
correction, we're glad to hear that, too, and may publish
some comments as letters to the editor. Again, these may
be sent to rholland@planetpatchwork.com.
Editor and Publisher: Robert Holland, Decatur, GA
© 1998 by Robert Holland. All rights reserved. This file may not be reproduced in any form except to be printed out for the personal use of its owner without the expressed, written consent of the copyright holder.
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