Is there anything more wonderful and valuable than a well written quilting book? We’re thinking no… at least not in this quilty world of ours. There is something magical about flipping through the pages of a new book — admiring the projects, looking on in amazement thinking ‘no way could I do that!’ But then… you start at the beginning. You read through the intro, the tool recommendations, the artfully written instructions for how to just start… to take step one and learn something new. It can be exhilarating, really, and it often results in the completion of a project that you might never have thought possible.
This is the wonder that has come to our minds in reading through Quilts with an Angle (C&T) by Sheila Christensen. The book takes something that looks complicated and breaks it down into the smaller parts. Giving tips, shortcuts, reference guides and more, all intended to build a new skill and enhance your own quilting mastery.
Sheila starts with the basics. She discusses available tools including various types of rulers and her go-to Aurifil threads. She shares thoughts on color theory and instructs on different approaches to color strategy and arrangement.
Sheila on using Aurifil Thread: I like to use a cotton thread with my cotton fabric, and Aurifil 50 weight is my thread of choice for piecing. It is fine and strong and produces very little lint. A bonus of using this finer thread is that you don’t have to change the bobbin as often and seams sit flatter.
From there, Sheila dives into the basics of cutting and piecing triangles. She talks about different strategies based on which rulers are being used and shares some of the most handy charts we’ve seen! She provides reference templates so that quilters can check the size of their cut shapes, making sure that everything is perfect before moving forward.
Honestly, it’s a dream for beginner quilters! Sheila even gets into tips for chain piecing, block construction, and provides quilting suggestions.
Sheila’s instructions are easy to understand and follow a logical path. She takes readers from triangles to trapezoids, diamonds to parallelograms, hexagons to jewels and more. All of the skills built along the way are tested with a final chapter in designing your own blocks.
The wonderful instruction is enhanced by the quilts showcased within the book. The short story… we’re in love!
Thanks so much to Sheila and C&T for including us on this book tour. Don’t forget to check out giveaway details below to win your very own digital version of Quilts with an Angle + 2 LG spools of Aurifil thread to get you started:). Have fun!!
Hoping to purchase a copy? Grab one here via C&T or here via Sheila’s shop, Quilters’ Lane.
BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE
The tour started last week, so be sure to click through to check out the other stops along the way! 🙂
April 16: C&T www.ctpub.com/blog
April 17: Wendy Welsh wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.com
April 18: Sheila Christensen www.mysteryquilter.com
April 19: Angie Wilson www.gnomeangel.com
April 20: Juliet van der Heijden www.thetartankiwi.com
April 21: Kim Moos www.cottoncuts.com/blog
April 22: Yvonne Fuchs www.quiltingjetgirl.com
April 23: Aurifil www.auribuzz.wordpress.com
April 24: Jacquie Gering tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com
April 25: Sheila Christensen www.mysteryquilter.com
GIVEAWAY
Click here to enter-to-win a digital copy of Quilts with an Angle + 2 LG spools of Aurifil 50wt thread. You do not have to complete all the options to be entered but the more options you choose, the more entries you have! Entries will be accepted from now through 11:59pm Eastern Time on Monday, April 29! Winner will be randomly selected and contacted via email. Good luck!
ABOUT SHEILA
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Sheila Christensen took up quilting when she saw a sign outside her local quilt shop for a class. She says: “I was walking along Queen Street one day and saw a sign advertising a table mat class. I had never done any quilting before but I signed up and ended up making four mats for Christmas presents that year. After that I attended a beginners’ class and was hooked!” In 2011, after being an avid customer of that shop for a number of years, Sheila purchased it! The shop, a specialist Patchwork and Quilting shop located in Masterton in the beautiful Wairarapa region of New Zealand, is one of the most popular in the country thanks to a wide range of fabrics and notions, a rich class schedule, and a friendly and knowledgeable staff. Sheila teaches classes in the shop, has taught at the National Symposium, and does a small amount of teaching with small groups and at other shops.
**Images courtesy of Sheila Christensen and C&T Publishing
Looks like a must have technique book.
Congratulations on your book Sheila. I know it’s fantastic because I already have my very own copy.