The Modern Quilt Workshop: Patterns, Techniques, and Designs from the FunQuilts Studio

by Bill Kerr, Weeks Ringle

Prepare to be inspired. This book shows novice and expert quilters alike new ways of planning, designing, and constructing contemporary quilts. The Modern Quilt Workshop takes you through every step of making a quilt, encouraging you and challenging you along the way. You'll learn basic principles of quilt design, as well as new technical skills that will make your quilts more beautiful, more durable, and more fun to make. Never before published, these breathtaking patterns were created to help you learn specific design and technical skills. Want to learn how to piece circles flawlessly? Need to fine-tune your color choices? Confused about how to choose quilting patterns? Follow the step-by-step diagrams and you'll be mastering new design concepts and innovative techniques with each new project. Each of the 15 quilt projects shows the level of difficulty, lists the skills you'll learn, and shows how each quilt might look in different color combinations. Design tips in each chapter teach you what to look for in fabrics, or options for how to quilt the quilt. Measurements and yardage requirements are provided for 4 sizes, from baby quilts to bed quilts. Cutting templates, and tips for using them, are included. A thorough section on quilt construction and assembly helps even the first-time quilter learn the basics of cutting, piecing, aligning seams, thread color selection, choosing batting, quilting, and binding. Beginning quilters will love the simple, yet sophisticated, patterns that can turn a pile of cotton fabric into a work of art. Advanced quilters will hone technical and design skills, as well as master new techniques, such as improvisational piecing and working with sophisticated color palettes. Whether you wish to create a treasured family heirloom or a beautiful gift for a friend, these unique patterns will inspire you to try something new.

Genres: Quilting, Sewing, Nonfiction, Crafts, Reference, Art

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

just finished a queen-sized plain spoken, and it's beautiful! i love using solids, which i've never thought much about before. the quilting also inspired me to dust off my free-motion foot and learn how to do it, and honestly, it's opened a whole new quilting door for me. i'm not sure whether i'll make another from this book anytime soon, but it's totally worth it just for the inspiration.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the titles recognized as the introductory book to modern quilting.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the best of the modern quilt books that I have read, but I did like two of the quilts, which are simple in design and using solids which is the thing that I am trying to do more of.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reluctantly had to take this back to the library, but I read through all of it once and was starting to study the directions more in detail—it's a really great resource for the kind of quilting I hope to do one of these days. The directions are good (or, at least easy to read—I haven't actually tried to make anything based on them yet) and I like the philosophy and attitude of the husband-wife team who wrote it!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I viewed one of Weeks Ringles' classes on modern quilt design on Craftsy and enjoyed it. She referred to several books for more information on various techniques, and this was one. It is valuable as a resource for techniques and for design decisions. Each pattern is shown in the colors they actually made up and in several other potential colorways. Valuable to see the contrast. For those who want them, there are patterns too.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this for Valentine's Day - it came early and I opened it thinking it was a textbook for my husband. Whoops!

I love this quilt book and while I haven't made anything from it quite yet (a few other projects are blocking my path) I am really trying hard to move forward so I can make a modern quilt of my own!

[Lynnea Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK Wow. These quilts are gorgeous. I have wanted to quilt for ages now but shied away mainly because I thought I'd have to start out learning all the classics and traditional blocks, which I was not inspired by. This book has quilts for beginners up to advanced with great instructions. I am hardly able to contain myself till I can start working on several of them.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know anyone who can show me quilting and sewing basics in person, so I need to gather what I can from books and the internet. I like the instruction given here and also more than a fair share of the patterns. They range in difficulty, so that's nice too.

[Tammy Sadorus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous displays of samples - from easy to hard - very inspiring to say the least.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Plain Spoken" is, by far, my favorite pattern.

[Chelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many quilts, so little time.

[Mindofwinter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great source for insights on making modern quilts. Offers alternatives to traditional methods and design in a lot of areas. The patterns are pretty, too.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ubber cool designs that aren't your g'mamas wedding ring quilt! Fell in LOVE with the bookshelf quilt, and yes, that will be my first endeavour from this book- already got my fabrics picked out. :)

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

good for techniques, not a fan of the patterns tho

[Seana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing that really caught my eye, maybe just not my style.

[Sarah Wu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for ideas. Pretty intimidating.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Quilts.

[Emmaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love these guys (www.funquilts.com)
An inspired book!

[J2418 K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Library Book: Helpful information