June 14 Kathy Doughty has run a patchwork shop called Material Obsession since 2003 and in this book, she talks about when she first opened, wanting to push boundaries and explore new approaches to layout, fabric and quilt design. Her approach to quilting is reflected really well in this book, which takes the quilter to new levels and introduces methods of working that are fresh and exciting. The first part of the book deals with the tools required for working this way. It is worth mentioning that there are nine quilting rulers mentioned in this section, and some of the strip rulers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. In order to approach the quilt projects in the book, you will need a fair amount of specialised equipment for the copious amount of cutting. Also, there is a lot of piecing and putting together, so this is not likely to be a suitable book for the beginner. However, the book is lively and colourful and the quilts are traditionally pieced in a very modern way. Split into three main chapters – Working with the Stash, Working with Templates, Working with Scale, the quilts featured are perfect for these different approaches. Particularly useful are the tips and notes featured throughout and an introduction to how the quilt started. There are illustrated steps of how to put each quilt together and finish it. The names of quilts too are humorous – ‘Madness’, ‘Fractured Heart’, ‘Basket Case’ and give you an idea of what you are going to be producing. There are also some quilts designed for men using more muted colours. (David Butler’s range is particularly suitable for these.) This is a great book if you want to find a new and bold direction to take. You will need to have some experience with piecing and cutting but if you are working your way towards this, it is a very appealing book to strive for.
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