Fast and Free! Volume 1

There's a downside to rotary cutters, “quilt in a day” approaches, and quick piecing techniques: namely, those mountains of un-quilted patchwork tops stuffed away in closets, waiting to be used (I know whereof I speak!). One way to reduce the backlog is through machine quilting, which has been around since the 19th century, although host Patsy Thompson cautions that the learning curve is a bit steep (she quotes one teacher's estimate that it takes about 100 hours of practice to become really good). Still, for those desperate to clear the pile of UFOs (Un-Finished Objects), this beginner's guide—featuring plenty of close-ups—will offer a solid start, as Thompson shares her freehand quilting techniques using a regular home sewing machine (not a specialized long-arm machine) for machine quilting (dropping the feed dogs, adjusting the machine's tension, and creating a spray-basting area—a separate chapter also illustrates how to adapt a sewing machine darning foot to an open-toe free-motion foot). After covering the basics, Thompson ably demonstrates a number of stitch design families, including stippling, “Loop-D-Loop,” “Golden Arches, Igloos, and Jester Hats,” and “E's, W's, and Loaves of French Bread.” A helpful how-to likely to circulate well in public libraries, this is highly recommended. [Note: also newly available at the same price are: Fast and Free! Volume 2, Free Motion Fun...with Feathers, and Free Motion Fun…with Vines & Leaves, Volume l and Volume 2.] Aud: P. (R. Reagan)