The Art of Make-Do Quilting: The Ultimate Guide for Working with Vintage Textiles

Quilter Kerr (Southern Quilts) shares ways to repurpose vintage fabrics for contemporary crafts in this shaky look at scrappy quilting. As Kerr writes, the origin of using unexpected fabrics and approaches “was not an ‘I don’t care what you think’ mentality but a mindset of making do,” so that quilters of all socioeconomic backgrounds could participate. But while the book purports to be an ultimate guide, it functions more like a photo album. Her survey of vintage quilts offers some fascinating facts (“throughout history,” feed sacks were often used as fabric), but for the most part, vintage quilts are presented without much in the way of explanation or commentary from the author. And much of the photography is unflattering, with quilts draped over a tree branch, a picket fence, or a wheelbarrow, making them tough to appreciate. There is, however, a nice overview of the author’s own repurposed projects and some practical tips for quilters tacked on at the end, and Kerr’s stories of her family’s quilting history—she learned a lot from her grandma—add a nice personal touch. For the most part, though, this crafting history falls flat. (Aug.)