The Complete Machine Quilting Manual: The look-it-up guide to sewing machine techniques for trouble-free quilting

I needed a book to refresh my memory on machine quilting, when you don't do that type of needlework all the time, it's easy to forget some of the basics.This book delivers what it promises with examples from professional world recognised quilters, Sheena Norquay (who I have had the privilege of being taught by), Ellin Larimer, Marijke De Boer Boon, Elizabeth Barton, C. June Barnes, Sally Bramald, Jeri Riggs, Joanie Zeier Poole, Laura Glass, Loris Bogue and Jeanette Meyer.I am impressed as this book covers machine quilting for those who are interested in contemporary and traditional quilting.This book covers everything from the bottom upwards, leaving nothing out, i.e.,The basics of a very modern sewing machine in detail.The outlines about the differences with domestic machines without a frame, long arm quilting machines, domestic machines with a frame and a mid arm machine.Accessories and attachments needed.Setting up your work space (in an ideal world if you have the space or spare room to do so!!!)Posture to protect your back, neck and shoulders!How to make your own portable ironing board.Planning your machine quilting on paper for your finished quilt!!! (It's better to make design mistakes on paper than on your finished quilt top!!!) Plus choosing boarder designs.Making and using templates.Planning for appliqué quilts, whole cloth quilts and your stitching order ( first time I have seen the latter mentioned before, specially for whole cloth quilts which is excellent, even though its brief).Choosing suitable fabrics and understanding the colour wheel (most important!!)Preparing fabricsBacking fabricsDifferent types of fabric markers, pros and cons.Different methods of transferring designs onto fabric.Wadding (or as our US friends would say, "Batting").... I was very impressed with this, Sheena Norquay teaches in her classes the basics of wadding, and how important it is to get the right one!!! Wadding for a bed quilt is not the same wadding you need for a quilted wall hanging!!! Some stretch, others are ridged, there are so many on the market, it's so important to get this right!!!! This is the first book I have seen go into detail.Tacking/basting the quilt.Different needles to sew with!!! (Basic important information)Then you get into the different methods and techniques, straight line, free motion, echo quilting, background fillers/negative space fillers, trapunto etc.Finishing the quilt, binding, laundering, drying, squaring up the quilt and most importantly putting a label on the back with details.At the end of the book there are 4 projects to try:-1. Sewing tool caddy/pouch2.Polka dot quilt3.Toile bed quilt4.keepsake baby bibFinal chapter contains excellent templates, quilting designsThe reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, is the fact I did not like the typography inside.It makes the book feel dated like it was produced back in the '70s. I also didn't like several of the photographs of the work, again it gave a dated feel to the book. I checked the published date and its 2012!!!Please please can publishers stick to plain fabrics, and more modern type fonts.When I pay a lot for a sewing book, I really want a modern cutting edge feel to my books. The charity shops and library's are full with dated sewing books!!! If you can make the front cover feel modern, please do the same for the inside too!!!!! It's not much to ask for!!!!

Very informative, solves the mystery of how to quilt my patchwork, bed quilts and other items I make.

It is what it says

This is an excellent all round reference book with good illustrations and diagrams.If I had purchased this manual sooner I would have saved myself much time, hand wringing and learning from my own mistakes.Chapters include: setting up; before you quilt; techniques (including stippling, echo quilting and trapunto); projects and quilting designs all of which seem straightforward.A good "dipping" book, and once you have flicked through it, will be able to refer to it before purchasing fabric, choosing a design and much more that you will find useful, informative and which will give you confidence to try new things.

I love quilting by hand and wanted something that talked me through the machine quilting steps simply and clearly. This book delivered that, plus helpful instructions on how to use my machine. This was definitely an extra bonus as I last learned to use a machine at school and had forgotten everything but the basics. So, a modern review was very welcome! I am looking forward to doing each of the projects to really master the many techniques carefully described here.

Fabulous book, read it at the library first before getting my own copy. Has tons of information and step by step details. This series of books are great. I also have the Complete Machine Embroidery Manual which I would be lost without. Looking forward to many years of use with this in my collection

I choose this rating as I felt although the book was very well written, it didn't cover machine quilting in as much detail as I wanted. It concentrated on how to make a quilt. I wouldn't have brought it if I had quick flipped through the pages. I expected this book to contain hints, tips, and detailed discription on how to achieve straight machine, and free style quilting. Disappointing.

Great book can not wait to use