1, 2, 3 Quilt: Shape Up Your Skills with 24 Stylish Projects

by Ellen Luckett Baker, Laura Malek (Photographer)

In this follow-up to 1, 2, 3 Sew , expert seamstress and craft blogger Ellen Luckett Baker shares her fun building-block approach to quilting. Organized by quilting shapes—squares, triangles, hexagons, circles, flowers, stars, and diamonds—this easy-to-follow guide provides a simple way to master the elements of quilt design. Twenty-four projects progress in difficulty, allowing readers to develop technical skills as they work through the book. From the minimal Argyle Apron to the stylish Hexagon Handbag and more intricate Star Quilt, these modern, bright designs will appeal to beginning and intermediate quilters alike.

Genres: Quilting, Nonfiction, Sewing, Crafts

168 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2013

Reviews

[Andrea McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had some issues with 1, 2, 3 Sew, which I was happy to see not repeated in this book.

The measurements for all the projects I've tried work and the instructions are clear and result in a good product. My 10-year-old daughter even tackled the first project (I did the slicing and pinning), and made a lovely checkerboard. My one complaint is that most of the projects are best suited to solids and many are quite basic. While yes, I am learning to quilt, the occasional bit of complexity would be a welcome break.

[Jacqueline M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really great book for beginners. Like the author's previous book 1,2,3 Sew, the reader is guided through 3 projects per section that build on previously practiced skills. For example when dealing with squares, you will create a very simple checkerboard/tic tac toe reversible game board which teaches strip piecing and tied quilting, next a quilted patchwork zipper pouch (working with tiny piecing, scrap piecing, and zippers), lastly a simple full size quilt (quilting, binding, finishing a quilt). The directions are clear and there are modifications suggested for more advanced quilters who want to try out the projects. I also appreciate that it is spiral bound but the spiral is encased. So you can lay the book flat next to your work station but it won't get snagged on anything. I would recommend this to new quilters starting out.

[C. Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a beginner quilter, I was introduced to styles I didn't think possible (hexagons, scallops, and circles namely). I loved the vocab included, and how each project progressed in difficulty. Most of them seemed pretty easy, but the instructions for some were impossible to parse just upon reading it.

Maybe when the fabric is in front of you it all makes sense, but I struggled with vague steps, and even vaguer images. The images needed to be colored for one, and not illustrations. I think since Luckett Baker obviously created all the items in the book, it is reasonable to ask for at least one picture at every step, of which there are none. Only completed projects are ever shown. Some projects are explained in their entirety without a single illustration to accompany it.

Besides these issues, I did enjoy the book and learned a lot from it.

[Rosey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good primer.

[Arlian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of these designs are really lovely! I would happily rock several of these in my house, though honestly where the hell I would have room for more quilts and blankets I really do not know. If I had people who I could give gifts as extravagant as these, I'd definitely make quite a few of these.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great one for someone wanting to learn to quilt. There are projects for making entire quilts and for making smaller items like coasters, and bags. Several varieties of patterns and quilting styles.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made the log-cabin style squares quilt, and it went great. Beautiful photos, accessible projects well described