Quilter's Complete Guide

The perfect book for both beginners and those wishing to brush up on their skills, this definitive guide takes readers from the basics of choosing and cutting fabric to placing the finishing touches on their handmade quilts. Hundreds of full-color photos, charts, and diagrams accompany lessons on quilting styles — hand, machine, trapunto, and appliqué — and instructions for assembly, plus a wealth of patterns and sewing tips.
The first section, the Quiltmaking Primer, covers not only the basics but also the principles of simple pattern drafting, quilt planning, settings, and edge finishes, plus quick-cutting and quick-piecing methods. Clear, precise instructions explain techniques. This section includes a brief history of the craft, a description of tools and supplies, and a discussion of fabric and color. The second section, Beyond Basic Quiltmaking, features special approaches for more challenging patterns. A chapter on borders, settings, and sashing treatments explains how to transform a simple pattern into an extraordinary quilt. Final chapters provide advice on the display, care, and collecting of quilts, along with a glossary of terms. Written by two of America's most trusted quilters, Quilter's Complete Guide offers valuable instruction in the art of quiltmaking and introduces a hobby that will prove to be a lasting pleasure. 

Marianne Fons and Liz Porter met in a beginners' quilting class in Winterset, Iowa, in 1976. After the class, they started a quilters' club, and as they learned skills together, people asked them to provide workshops on how to quilt. They've always worked together to teach their classes to boost their confidence, especially early on when they were just learning themselves. Together, they've written more than two dozen books over the years, and Quilter's Complete Guide is one of their most successful. They continue to write and teach, traveling the world to workshops and quilting symposiums.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Quiltmaking Primer
Tools, Fabrics, and Colors for Quilts
Basic Skills Reference Guide
First Steps in Traditional Patchwork
Drafting Patchwork Blocks and Adding to Patchwork Skills
Basic Settings and Borders for Quilts
Get Ready to Quilt
Ins and Outs of Quilting
Finishing Your Quilts
First Steps in Quick-Cutting and Quick-Piecing
First Steps in Hand Applique

Beyond Basic Quiltmaking
Beyond Basic Patchwork
Beyond Basic Applique
Beyond Basic Settings and Borders
Etcetera Techniques
Evaluating and Exhibiting Your Work
Collecting, Displaying, and Caring for Quilts
New Ideas for a New Millennium
Americana Sampler
Glossary, Bibliography, Acknowledgments, Index, About the Authors