Sew Flower Quilts & Gifts: 30 Patchwork, Quilting and Applique Projects Using Fabric Scraps - Softcover

Atsuko Matsuyama

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1782214895 ISBN 13: 9781782214892

Publisher: Search Press, 2016

Synopsis

Sew Flower Quilts Gifts

About this title

About the Author

Atsuko Matsuyama is one of Japan's leading quilt artists and fabric designers. In 1989, she opened her quilt studio, A-Two. She often exhibits her work at the Tokyo International Quilt Festival and she makes regular television appearances. Matsuyama also designs fabrics for Yuwa, Japan. Atsuko lives in Tsuchiura, Japan.

Review

If you like pretty floral projects then this book ought to hit the spot as it contains thirty projects all on a flower theme. It is also ideal for anybody (ie everybody with a fabric addiction) who has a lot of leftover scraps of material as all the projects are a great way of using them up. I confess that I am not a person who does a lot of quilting, normally being more into other fabric crafts but love the beautiful and original pieces in this book. I am not usually very into pink either but it seems the ideal color for many of the items which is why it has been used a fair bit. This book was originally published in Japan back in 2009 and has the same layout of every Japanese craft book I have ever seen, having the finished photos at the front followed by all the instructions. Each photograph fills a whole page so you can feast your eyes on cushions, jewellery, bags, pouches, mats, mini quilts, wall hangings and more. Many of the items would make wonderful gifts from a wee purse with 3D flowers to a sweet sewing kit, pink pencil case or heart covered teacosy with a matching mat. Most of the projects are small, but there are a couple of full sized quilts or wall hangings if you fancy tackling something larger. Helpful features include a double page spread showing all the quilt blocks and a list of what you need plus guides to doing various basic procedures. The technique guide has staged photographic instructions for making a quilt, quilting, binding, applique, making up a pouch and embroidery. The rest of the book contains the sets of instructions for the projects. These are in written form apart from some simple drawn diagrams for piecing and making up, making this a book more for the reasonably confident quilter or for somebody who has had plenty of sewing experience in other areas. Each project has a small photograph to remind you what the finished item looks like plus a list of materials (but not tools), layout diagrams, cutting guide and construction steps. At the back are full-sized templates and more layouts plus pull-out pattern sheets and a short list of suppliers in the UK and US. To sum up this is a beautiful and imaginative book that will appeal to anybody who loves to sew and enjoys flowers. * myshelf.com * First of all I would be say please don't be scared off if you don't like flowers. There is so much to this book and all of the designs can be transferred to different fabric designs. Yes the fabrics used in the book are flower fabrics but you don't have to use the same fabrics. This is a step-by-step guide to making so beautiful projects. Absuko has used flower based fabrics and themes for her projects but I feel that they would be easily transferred to different fabrics. The projects are designed to be made by people who are already quilters but the instructions are clear and easy to understand. As you can see there are a lot of projects held within the book. The book will keep you busy for a long time! * Crochet Addict UK * 30 colourful quilted projects that would make anyone happy. Find a step-by-step guide to quilting techniques such as piecing, applique, embroidery and binding. Clear instructions and diagrams as well as good photography and full-size templates. There is also a pull-out sheet for pattern pieces. Large colour photos are shown at the front of the book, followed by the instructions themselves with a small photo of the project and diagrams where necessary. The projects include a baby quilt, pencil case, scissor holder, pin cushions, sewing kit, lanyards, bracelet, bags and purses, teapot cosy and mat as well as placemats, passport holder, mini quilts and wall hangings. All the projects have great charm and wide appeal. The step-by-step guides use small photos. * YarnsandFabrics.co.uk * This is a good sized book and it's made better by the full size templates in the back of it. The patterns are for items that most of us would want to try out / use around our homes or to make as colourful gifts. There are 30 projects with step by step instructions and each project also shows a colour photo of the finished item so you know what you are aiming for.Sew Flower Quilts & Gifts * Cherry Edwards * This is a very well illustrated book with some lovey things to make and has very understandable instructions and the templates are very good * Denise Walton * Lots of inspiration in this book, lovely good clear instructions. More suitable for someone to expand their knowledge of quilting rather than a beginner * Diana Bailey * I love this book, It has loads of lovely small projects with great pictures showing the finished items and instructions. It also includes full size pattern sheets which I love as find it off putting when you have to increase the given pattern by 100%. Its very inspiring and I cant wait to get my sewing machine out. * Sue McAndrew * I have had this book for a while but unable to do any projects I just keep looking at the pictures. With the gorgeous patterns and how much information goes into helping you plan out what you are doing. I love this book the detailing at the beginning allows you to browse the 30 projects before deciding what you want to make, By viewing the designs beforehand you are also able to pick something more to your leave.. As a beginner some of the terminology and process can be a bit challenging however I choose to do the tea cosy to start with. Once I decided what I wanted to do I went on to look at what I needed for it and this book covers that as well. The patterns are attached to the back of the book and you have to copy them from the original to make your project. Following the instruction lists what materials you need and how to do it. You do need to really pay attention at this stage as you need to follow whether you need to add the seam allowance or not. * Nuala Christina Rees * What a lovely colourful book and a brilliant way to use all your fabric scraps, easy to read clear instructions and very good templates to use over and over again. This would make a lovely gift for anybody that loves to sew. * Debbie Stone * Easy to read patterns, colourful pages. Well explained. Lots of projects. Love the full size charts. * Lorraine Stone * I was sent this book as a free copy from the publishers, Search Press. It is a fantastically presented book and what impressed me the most was the full size, paper patterns in the back of the book. With most new patchwork and quilting books you have a disc with the patterns on. The instructions are easy to follow, and are in both inches and centimeters. The diagrams are beautifully detailed. Really looking forward to trying out some of the patterns for myself. The fabric choices are bright and cheerful and really fit with the vintage feel of the projects. * Emily Davis * Excellent book - Very clear instructions and love the full sized pattern sheets at the back. Could not decide what to make first and settled on the patchwork lunch tote. * Kathy Downing * Lovely colourful book with projects to suit everyone. Nice pictures and instructions with templates at the back. Can't wait to get started! * Pauline Valentine *

Edition details

• Publisher: Search Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1782214895
• ISBN 13: 9781782214892
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 144