Ever since I discovered the work of Jimmy McBride and Luke Haynes I’ve been thinking about doing a quilt. I can feel it in me and I’m going to find a space to make one. But I don’t really have the foggiest idea how to actually start making the thing, and so Kathreen’s book is a god-send.
In case you didn’t know, Kathreen is the driving force behind WhipUp.net, one of the best crafting blogs out there without a doubt. And she’s a damn nice person to boot.
Whip Up mini quilts is a well designed workbook that introduces you to the world of quilting and gives you a terrific array of patterns to help you on your way. There are 24 mini quilt patterns in total and they’re of sufficient breadth of design that there’s something that will appeal to everyone. The limited size of the designs mean that the construction period is pleasantly short in comparison, and the scale is manageable for n00bs upwards.
The patterns come with detailed instructions of how to go about everything, and by the time you’ve done a couple of them, you’ll have a robust handle on how to go forward and quilt your own stuff. Or you could keep quilting the whole book. I’m thinking about it…
Kathreen has curated a collection of contemporary quilted designs from some top quilting talent including Victoria Gertenbach, aka Boodilly and Jude Hill, and Kathreen flexes her shibori skills to deliver a top notch design of her own. I really liked several of these patterns – particular favourites included Power-Line Sky by Meg Spaeth and Granny’s Delight by Nicole Vaughan. I think I might try Lisa Coll’s cool geometric design and see what happens.
The book is ring bound, sturdy and very useable. It has 46 pages of instruction and covers the whole process in straight forward terms. It works perfectly as a manual and has a pocket at the front containing the designs for elements of the quilts.
I’m new to quilting, I’ve never done it, but this book makes me feel like picking up the next bit of fabric I find and having a go. It’s a great book and I hope it finds its way into the hands of all the people who haven’t really thought about quilts in a contemporary way. The book contains enough variety to get anyone going and will genuinely push the boundaries of many people’s perceptions of the craft.
I’d say more, but I need to go off and get some fabric. Anyone got any spare shirting? 
Whip Up Mini Quilts by Kathreen Ricketson is published by Chronicle Books, and is available on Amazon, or via whipup.net. I’d normally give away a book after reviewing it, but I’m keeping my copy of this. Sorry.
Go get your own copy.
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