All about Quilting from A to Z

The experts at two quilting magazines have put together a thorough and vividly illustrated guide to all aspects of the craft for active, experienced quilters. Divided into seven sections, the book considers such topics as fabric, patterns and tools-even the ""language"" of quilting-and offers pictorial tours of quilters' workshops as well as full-page examples of classic quilt designs (e.g., the sampler, the mariner's compass and the album quilts). The largest section, organized alphabetically, encourages browsing by topic (from Applique Basics to Zigzag Set), and explores matters of color theory, quilt appraisal and design problems. Crammed as it is with illustrations, photographs, mini-essays and advice-but lacking a thorough table of contents or an index-this book is somewhat difficult to navigate; readers may find themselves flipping pages repeatedly to find a favorite piece. But the contributors cover everything from thread basics to pattern copyrights in inspiring and clearly written articles, framed by bright photos of piecing diagrams, tricks, tools and hundreds of beautiful fabric samples. While probably overwhelming for beginners, this is an important and motivating addition to any quilter's library.