Book, magazine, & pattern reviews by members for members.

Wise Craft Quilts, A Guide to Turning Beloved Fabrics into Meaningful Patchwork, Blair Stocker, 2017, as reviewed by ASG member Cindy Baker

I wondered what is a “craft” quilt. And then I wondered what’s a “wise” craft quilt. This book is so much more than its title! It is a thoughtful compilation of ideas about what to do with a collection of “special” fabrics. If you have a group of precious fabrics—think baby clothes, daddy or grandpa’s shirts, handkerchiefs, a wedding dress, feedsacks—you can turn them into a memory quilt using the author’s suggested quilt patterns. A vintage tablecloth that dressed your family’s dining room table on special occasions can be transformed into a wholecloth quilt. What to do with a furniture store book of fabric samples? Or a stack of denim jeans scraps? Turn them into a quilt! If you’re a lover of Sashiko like I am, you’ll want to see the Boro quilt project.

The author gives us courage to cut into our most precious fabrics by offering her strategies how to transform odd-shaped fabric pieces into cohesive quilt blocks.  Twenty-one projects are beautifully photographed. Templates and basic quilt-making instructions are included.

Dear Tammy,
I’m struggling to find time to sew. I want to sew, but it seems the days are filled with so many things already. How do I get more sewing time?
Signed,
Frustrated in Fortville

Dear Frustrated,
I understand! I’ve got 3 suggestions for you that helped me find more sewing time.

1. Schedule time for sewing. Write it on the calendar. It’s an important appointment you’re making with yourself, just like a doctor or dentist appointment.
2. Baby steps. Instead of thinking about the whole mending pile, select 1 item from the stack – that 1 item you really want back into circulation before the season changes – & get it mended. One item done is better than none; & if you happen to get 2 items fixed, well, that’s icing on the cake!
3. Habit. Get into the habit of rewarding yourself. You work, you volunteer, you have kids, you have a husband…reward yourself for all the the things you do for others with a little “me” time.

Tammy

You may not realize it, but you have several options for sewing classes. Both children and adults, female and male, enjoy sewing. Whether the initial motivation is a costume, special project, or something more basic, it’s important to give them a good start. The sewing skills they learn will carry with them the rest of their lives.

• First, consider Indy ASG members who teach. There’s a “Classes” tab on the Home page where you will find a list of members who offer lessons.
• Next, 4-H is a great organization for teaching children, 3rd grade through high school, life skills such as sewing.
• JoAnn Fabrics offer classes, as well as independently owned fabric and quilt stores. Check with your local store.
• Nextdoor.com, facebook.com, or whatever social media app you favor can be very helpful. Whether you’re asking about sewing lessons or a plumber, members enjoy sharing their experiences with you.
• Finally, do you have a neighbor who sews? I bet you do and you don’t know it. Ask around.

Contemporary quilts differ from antique quilts in several easy-to-spot ways. You don’t need to be a quilt historian to see the differences. When judging the age of a quilt, look at:

• Quilting stitches – Antique quilts are usually hand quilted, whereas contemporary quilts are usually machine stitched.
• Quilt size – King and queen size beds are a relatively modern invention.
• Binding – Is the binding a separate strip of fabric sewn on? Or is the back fabric brought around to the front, folded, and sewn in place? Bringing the back fabric around to the front has fallen out of favor with today’s quilters.
• Quilt block pattern – Some patterns, such as the Nine Patch, will always be popular, but others are much more common in antique quilts…Lone Star, Grandmother’s Flower Garden, Dresden Plate, and all appliqué patterns.
• Fabric – Quilt historians look at the fabrics and date according to the “youngest” fabric.

Finally, keep in mind, a quilt could have blocks from one century & sashing from another century. Quilters make quilt tops and quilt blocks, then store them away for finishing later. Sadly, some quilters never got around to finishing them. When another generation finds those stored treasures, these quilts-to-be get another chance to become display-worthy and useful.