The Secrets of Elemental Quilting: Innovative Quilting Designs plus Trapunto Tips & Tricks

Focusing on design rather than technique, this guide demonstrates how a motif can be rotated, reflected, or repeated to create an entirely new quilt pattern. Thirty base elements are provided in several sizes for easy tracing, scanning, or photocopying, and step-by-step instructions explain how to arrange copies of the chosen element to create border, corner, block, or frame designs. Illustrations show examples of assembled patterns, and the last chapter provides directions for adding trapunto, a padding technique that adds depth and definition. The DVD counterpart brings the discussion to life as the author creates a custom quilt design based on a single geometric figure, marks a quilt top, and demonstrates three different trapunto projects.

Karen McTavish is an internationally recognized quilter and teacher who has won more than 50 awards and has been featured on HGTV's Simply Quilts and PBS's Quilt Central. She is the author of Mastering the Art of McTavishing and Whitework Quilting. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota.