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Books By Topic
** Fast Piecing/Rotary Cutting Techniques **
TIMELESS TREASURES, A Complete Guide to Rotary Cutting
by Nancy Johnson-Srebo
RCW Publishing
Nancy's instructions are clear and concise, and she shows readers how
to cut almost any shape, while using your rotary cutter and ruler. Also
included are instructions for specific 6", 8", and 10" blocks.
I have found the info in this book really helpful. She goes through how to cut
a number of pieces: trapezoids, parallelograms, hexagrams, octograms, etc. The
nice thing about the book, too, is that she shows you how to do it for right
handed or left handed cutters. There is also a section in the book for those
who use metric measurements.
I find [this book] indispensable.
She gives clear instructions and illustrations to cut any
shape with the rotary cutter. Both right and left handed illustrations are
given. In the middle of the book there is a chart for adding on seam
allowances to any shape. It gives both the English and Metric measurements.
There are also good directions on pressing.
The last part of the book has color photos of blocks and complete directions
for them including cutting, sewing, and pressing. She includes which direction
to press the seams. (It was great help to me when I was beginning to make
blocks for the first time.) My only complaint was that there were a couple of
mistakes in the placement of the color photos to the directions. Some of them
didn't match but were found somewhere else in the book.
BTW, I took the book to a printer and had them put a spiral binding on it so
that it lays flat and stays open when I am using it.
SPEED CUTS
by Donna Poster
Chilton for the Creative Machine Arts Series.
In it there are 1200 quilt blocks (although I would say that there
are only 500 designs but each can be constructed in one of three
sizes 10" 12" and 14"). Also, there is a quilt layout section that
shows how many blocks you will need for each size quilt depending on
whether you are putting the blocks together on point, straight set,
with lattice or any combination of these.
Of course, also included is a yardage chart based on the templates to
be used. And the templates themselves are in the back, numbered.
Note: Blocks are all in black and white.
ANGLE ANTICS ($18.95)
by Mary Hickey
That Patchwork Place, 1991
Explores the design potential of a rectangle constructed of two contrasting
triangles (called bias rectangle). It also provides you with a technique for
constructing this rectangle quickly and accurately. (Most patterns are star
patterns.)
BACK TO SQUARE ONE ($17.99)
by Nancy J. Martin
That Patchwork Place 1988
Great book featuring Nancy Martin's personal quiltmaking techniques (template-
free approach).
She shows how to make what she calls a Square 1, Square
1.5 or Square 2. Square 1 is made of 2 triangles. This is what you need for
Ocean Waves. Square 1.5 is made of one big triangles and 2 little ones. Square
2 is made of 4 little triangles. I am making a huge wall hanging that uses all
of these different squares and it is working wonderfully!
STRIP QUILTING ($14.95)
by Diane Wold
TAB Books, Div. of McGraw Hill 1987
I love this little book. It's perfect for those who are into piecing and
repiecing (seminole patchwork take off). It's very easy to follow.
It contains complete instructions, including diagrams, cutting instructions,
and a shopping list, for each of the projects illustrated. Pointers are given
for modifying projects, for adapting patterns from other sources and for
creating your own designs.
SHORTCUTS: A Concise Guide to Rotary Cutting
by Donna Thomas
That Patchwork Place, Bothell, WA 1991
Basic quick-cutting techniques plus a number of techniques that are expansions
of the basics.
QUILTER'S GUIDE TO ROTARY CUTTING, THE ($17.95)
by Donna Poster
Chilton Book Company, Radnor, PA 1991
Good technical reference book on rotary speed cutting ; Over 1,000 speed-cut
shapes.
ROTARY ROUNDUP
Judy Hopkins &Nancy Martin
That Patchwork Place
Both books (Rotary Riot below) have about 40 color prints of quilts. These
quilts are made from traditional block patterns and have instructions for
rotary cutting and quick piecing. Nancy Martin owns the publishing company
that published these two books.
I had Rotary Riot, so I had to buy this one too and I'm not one bit sorry. I
love to get ideas and inspiration from these books and this one is full of
great colors,beautiful quilts. Their books are the only ones I use when I need
to make bias binding as it shows the flat cut method. The only times I tried
to do the continuous circle, it ends up in a mess.
ROTARY RIOT: 40 Fast &Fabulous Quilts ($21.95)
by Judy Hopkins and Nancy J. Martin
That Patchwork Place 1991
The authors of this book take 40 traditional blocks that appeal to many
quiltmakers and adapted their construction to template-free techniques. Begins
with Nancy's basic review of rotary-cutting techniques and information on
multi-fabric quilts. The pattern section includes step-by-step directions for
forty favorite quilts, all clearly illustrated and written in a Template-Free
format. Some of the patterns feature bias squares, some cut with 8" Bias
Square and several use simple strip-piecing techniques. The patterns are
graded with symbols as to difficulty (beginner, intermediate, advanced). Judy
has written a section on Finishing Your Quilt and has included some of the
overall repeat quilting patterns for which she is known. Also included is
information on crow footing, utility quilting and other tacking techniques.
COLORFUL ANGLES
(Triangles, Diamonds &Hexagons With a Contemporary Look)
by Susan Stein
EZ International 1993
This book combines the use of applique, traditional blocks, hand
dyed fabrics and the EZ tools (EZ Angle, Companion Angle, Easy Eight, Easy
Hexagon, Speed grids, trapezoids) to create very contemporary designs. 16
projects. I think this is a good book.
QUICK &EASY QUILTMAKING ($26.95)
by Mary Hickey, Nancy J. Martin, Marsha McCloskey and Sara Nephew
That Patchwork Place, 1993
This book introduces cutting techniques originated by each of the authors.
Teaches the authors' special techniques for making quilts with a variety of
triangular shapes. Organized for easy use. Good for a beginner. 26 projects
featuring speedy cutting and piecing methods
Tips are presented on various pages throughout the book to help clarify a
technique or to teach a fast (er) way to do something. This book worth it just
for the tips presented throughout.
COUNTRY QUILTS IN A DAY ($14.95)
by Fran Roen
Sterling Publishing Co, NY 1991
This book uses strip quilting and other speed techniques.
Very simplistic. Good for a person interested in teaching themselves
how to quilt.
ON TO SQUARE TWO ($17.49)
by Marsha McCloskey
That Patchwork Place, Bothell, WA 1992
Thirty pieced block designs that contain the Square Two unit (a continuation of
Back to Square One) and related bias strip-pieced units. Also contains a how
to section on the construction details of bias strip piecing half-square units
(Square One), quarter-square units (Square Two) and two other related pieced
units. General instructions for machine piecing and rotary cutting are
provided in the back of the book.
PAINLESS PATCHWORK ($14.95)
by Rosemary Donoughue
Sally Milner Publishing, Australia 1991
Quick modern methods for traditional quilts. This is a very good book for
making the following quilts: log cabin, irish chain (double and triple), lone
star, and trip around the world. Instructions are very easy to follow.
Great for beginners. No color.
QUICK COUNTRY QUILTS
by Debbie Mumm
Very explicit instructions using quick piecing methods, well laid out book,
lots of photos and diagrams. Apples, leaves, cows, sewing machines, sheep,
cats, bunnies, tulips, hearts, houses, etc etc all in the "country" style.
This book has lots of "cute" small projects that are relatively easy to make.
I made the "Alley Cats" as a going away present a few years ago and the
recipient loved it.
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