The Ultimate Guide to Art Quilting

In this encyclopedic work, Seward (The Art Quilt Collection) does not spend time on simple basics of quilt-making nor on complicated details of processes like computer-generated embroidery but interestingly covers a myriad of techniques and styles, all generously photographed. After a bland introduction to art quilts, Chapter 2 covers "The Basics and Beyond"; "beyond" includes felting, "upcycling" and%E2%80%94an inspired addition%E2%80%94exercising. Seward guides quilters through surface design in the longest section (dyeing, applying color, foiling, rusting, etc.), then through chapters on patchwork, appliqu%C3%A9, quilting, "Embellishments and 3D," and finishing. Each of these topics is preceded by examples of art quilts from around the world (Brazil, U.K., U.S., Korea, and others) with fully descriptive cutlines about techniques and artists' goals. Within each chapter, the how-to pages, set in blocks of information like a paper quilt, employ graphics %E2%80%93 more than 1,000 in total %E2%80%93 that are both colorful and instructive. (July)