Colourwash Quilts by Deirdre Amsden is a superb and inspiring book for advanced quilters.

If you enjoyed Strip Pieced Watercolor Magic, but you are ready to try more complex, innovative or original designs, this is an ideal book.

In this book, author Deirdre Amsden spends far more time explaining how to design your quilt than the details of constructing it.

Although she gives many examples that you can copy by following her directions, this is not a book offering by-the-numbers instructions. In fact, many of the quilts that you make from this book will be one-of-a-kind, and designed on graph paper, or an enlarged grid.

One of the reasons that I like this book so much, is because the author uses wide range of fabrics in modern and historical inspired patterns. She talks about her pattern, color and value choices as part of the design process.

She also is a daring with colors. On the cover of the book, you’ll see color opposites — such as blue and brown — placed next to each other. You’ll see other similar, startling combinations inside this very exciting book.

This is a visually dazzling book if you love color.

There are books that talk you through projects so that you can create the quilt that you see in the photograph. This is not one of those books.

Instead, this is a book that you will browse for inspiration when you want to create an award-winning quilt that is innovative as well as a unique art statement.

[rating:4/5]

Order a copy or read others’ reviews at
Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

[asa]1564770516[/asa]

Strip-pieced Watercolor Magic by Deanna Spingola is one of the best book I have ever seen for creating elegant and impressive quilts using strip piecing.

You may have seen the quilts that I’ve made with tiny one-inch squares in them. This is the book that I used to put them together quickly and beautifully. They aren’t necessary fast to create, but they are simple enough for most intermediate sewers… or even a dedicated beginner.

What transforms this from a three-month project to something you can complete in a weekend is the strip piecing. (That’s for smaller quilts, or very large strips. A quilt for a king-size bed would probably take several weekends.)

This book starts by recommending fabric choices, and shows how to combine patterns. The author then shows how to sew, press, cut and assemble the strip sets that form the completed quilt.

The patterns range in size from baby quilts and wall hangings, starting around 32″ x 32″, all the way up to a huge bed quilt that’s 79 1/2″ x 79 1/2″. However, you can easily adapt any pattern in the book to fit your own beds.

The photographs in this book will inspire you. The directions are clear with lots of drawings to show you exactly how to create unique, gallery-quality quilts to show or use every day.

It’s a great book. I highly recommend owning a copy (if you can find one for sale)

This book is an essential part of my own quilt library.
[rating:4/5]

Order a copy or read others’ reviews at
Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

[asa]1564771342[/asa]