Take comfort in quilting books—November 25, 2011
Brrrr! Time to crank up the thermostat and dig out the long johns. Most of us have no choice about facing Old Man Winter’s frigid temperatures. A pot of steamy chicken noodle soup and the aroma of warm fresh bread are a few of the comforting antidotes to cold’s icy grip. A pair of fluffy slippers and a cup of hot cocoa can replace those chilly thoughts with soothing warmth, too. But nothing can be more restful the being enveloped in a cozy quilt.
Beautiful quilts can be purchased in many sizes and in familiar patterns, but there is something special about a quilt which is lovingly pieced together by the nimble hands of someone who includes a part of herself with every stitch Some have stories to tell such as the one a favorite grandmother made. “This piece came from this grandson and that is from Aunt So and So’s apron.” The nostalgia is obvious in the eyes of the quilt’s creator. Quilts are really works of art. These masterpieces cannot be duplicated. Each has its own unique quality.
I am eager to tackle my own heirloom. Fortunately, the library’s collection of quilting books is substantial. Titles such as FAST, FUN AND FABULOUS QUILTS, QUICK QUILTS and 10-20-30 MINUTE QUILTS look like good choices for a novice and they include some gorgeous creations.
Amish quilts are so colorful and the blocks are constructed of simple shapes. Pictures of the finished products shown in HOW TO MAKE AN AMISH QUILT are striking. How about QUILTS FOR GUYS by Cyndy Lyle Rymer. Each of these quilts depict a different sport…bowling pins and a ball, basketball and a free throw zone, fish swimming along a piece of fabric and several more.
Learn how to make a treasured heirloom quilt using family pictures and instructions given in PHOTO FUN: PRINT YOUR OWN FABRIC FOR QUILTS AND CRAFTS by Cyndy Lyle Rymer and QUILTING YOUR MEMORIES: INSPIRATIONS FOR DESIGNING WITH IMAGE TRANSFERS by Sandy Bonsib.
Ideas for quilted gifts are included in PRETTY LITTLE POTHOLDERS by Valerie Van Arsdale Shrader and LAST MINUTE PATCHWORK AND QUILTED GIFTS by Joelle Hoverson to name a few.
Quilting tips and ideas can also be found in QUILTING NEWSLETTER, a magazine which the library subscribes to.
For quilters who don’t know it, the library has a large collection of stencils available for checkout.
Now is as good a time as any to start your own fabric treasury and provide some warmth and comfort for the cold months ahead.
