At Mr X Stitch we love to review textile art and embroidery books for you. There are so many great books to discover, packed with needlework inspiration and textile techniques, so we dive into each book to find out what’s good, what’s bad and let you know why you should pick it up.
With so many great quilting books to choose from, it can be tricky to find the right ones for the stitcher in your life. We’ve put together a list of some terrific quilting books to make your Christmas gift buying easy!
Here are our picks!
This list contains guides for beginners, books that will help you level up with your existing quilting skills, and plenty of thoughtful inspiration, so let’s dive in!
Unconventional & Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar, 1950-2000
A reprint of the classic 2014 collection of off-beat quilts and essays from quilt artists, this is a must-have for the serious quilter. The variety of quilt forms will definitely alter your perspectives and the book serves as an thought-provoking examination of American quilting from the 20th Century.
Quarantine Quilts: Creativity in the Midst of Chaos
The COVID-19 pandemic changed our world forever, and for many people creativity began an important tool for processing their experiences.
This collection of 97 quilts and their accompanying stories is a powerful reminder of how art can come from the most unusual of circumstances.
Quilting with Liberty Fabrics
by Jenni Smith
Jenni Smith’s love for quilting combines with an appreciation of the Liberty fabric range to create 15 quilt projects for you to enjoy.
Jenni’s experience as a tutor shines throughout the book and with it’s fabric cover it is a sumptuous celebration of a classic British brand.
Inspired to Quilt
Melanie Testa’s style of art quilt borders on visual poetry, with strong nods towards watercolour painting, and in Inspired to Quilt, you can discover her process and practice.
This is a quilting book for people with some experience – an amount of prior skill is assumed – but it is a fascinating exploration in artistic direction.
Urban Quilting: Quilt Patterns For The Modern-Day Home
by Wendy Chow
If you are starting your quilt journey and want a guide to making modern quilts that will look great in your home, then Urban Quilting is for you.
Wendy Chow has created a terrific reference book with dozens of diagrams to help you get to grips with the patchwork pieces.
Seasons of Life Quilt
Seasons of Life Quilt is a detailed education in quilting technique, as you recreate 13 blocks from this acclaimed quilt, now housed in the National Quilt Museum.
Sandra Mollon is an award-winning quilter and she helps you master skills including applique, beadwork and mixed media. Not for the faint hearted, this quilting book will definitely help you raise your game!
Around The World: Exploring Art Quilts Volume 2
by Studio Art Quilt Associates
The second volume of SAQA’s Art Quilt series provides another diverse dose of international inspiration.
Packed with detailed images of exceptional art quilts, along with artist interviews, it’s a treat for the eyes and a fantastic resource for refreshing your own creative flow!
Creating Children’s Artwork Quilts
by Shannon Gingrich Shirley
If you’ve got children, it can be tricky knowing what to do with their artwork. But you are in luck!
Creating Children’s Artwork Quilts comes to your rescue with its detailed instructions on how to make more of their masterpieces!
Color, Thread and Free-Motion Quilting
by Teri Lucas
Once you’ve got to grips with the basics of quilting, it can be daunting to branch out in new directions.
Teri Lucas’ quilting book will inspire you to make bold decisions with colour and be brave by dropping those feed dogs and trying free motion quilting!
Simple Shapes, Stunning Quilts
Prepare to be dazzled with the effectiveness in using simple shapes in your quilting.
Stuart Hillard shows why he’s one of the UK’s favourite quilters in this book, packed with designs that you’ll want to try out yourself!
Sarah Payne’s Quilt School
by Sarah Payne
Many quilting books for beginners will teach you how to make quilts of various styles, but the nice thing about Sarah Payne’s book is the range of non-quilt projects there are.
From table runners to bags to patchwork toys, this is a well-thought out guide to exploring your quilted options.
Old Quilts, New Life
by Sarah Fielke
The American folk tradition of quilts is given a 21st century make-over in Sarah Fielke’s fantastic quilting book.
18 projects are explored, dissected and then re-created with a modern colour palette, and you can take part in the experience thanks to Sarah’s detailed instructions.
So there you have it! Our dozen favourite quilting books, each of which is a great gift for the quilt fan in your world.
If they’re just starting out, Urban Quilting: Quilt Patterns For The Modern-Day Home is a great resource for the beginner.
For more confident quilters, we recommend Color, Thread and Free-Motion Quilting for it’s joyful exploration of some common themes.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this post – please share it with anyone who would appreciate a good quilting book!
