As for “honest” reviews, I agree that “purchased” reviews are unfair and misleading. But, I guess you’d have to know the reviewer and their likes and dislikes to know if their feelings matched your own. I would love to see the list of books you think are groundbreaking or breathtaking. Maybe that would be a good thing for a book review section… list the reviewers top 10 favorite quilt books “at the time” or “for the year” or some other criteria.

Love your blog and miss reading during the deadlines for the magazine.

Kevin B.

Connecting Threads used to show many pages from inside the books. They now show fewer pages and tiny pictures. BUT at least they mark when a photo was inspiration only.

Things to point out:
Do you need a specific ruler, notion or tool?
I bought a bag pattern that required so many hard to find non-fabric things that it would cost $16 per bag plus $11 postage from 3 online sources without even factoring in fabric, yet it was touted as so simple and useful that you will want to make one in every color. Sent that sucker right back.

Do they make things more difficult then they need to be? Can you assemble the design in units instead of blocks and avoid having that large area made up of 4 triangles when one solid patch is more pleasing to the eye?

Do the patterns call for stupid fabric requirements? I have always liked the patterns from Glad Creations. They write wonderful directions, but, their fabric requirements don’t say that they are based on speedy cutting which makes you buy more fabric than is needed. The first one I made called for something like 1/3 yard cuts of 28 darks and 20 lights plus background and sashing. No way was I going to buy all that for a 5′ quilt. When I went through the cutting directions I was able to map out all those cuts from fat quarters and had a third of each FQ left over. Ended up being a nice quilt that busted stash. I shared this info with the quilt shop, as well as my map and the pattern then sold like hotcakes. So did a lot of fat quarters.

How often does the publisher or author have to post critical corrections on their site? I know we all make mistakes, but some like Fons and Porter and Planet Patchwork seem to rarely get it right. They seem to live in the world of it doesn’t matter, not one of the occasional mistake.

I have probably made only 3-4 quilts from printed patterns. They are mostly eye candy or jumping off points and I use my own easier ways to cut it and put it all together.

Those of us making quilts today have a wealth of fabric and tools to choose from which is wonderful, but unfortunately this industry is going the way of many before it in that it is becoming a bottom line, bottom feeding conglomerate run by those who know very little about the doing. It’s like the designers who placed car ashtrays in the direct line of air vents which meant that ashes and sparks flew all over the place.

Happy Birthday Eve – Ann

That being said – I also recognize that delicate balance between reviews and advertising when you get a magazine involved, not to mention that many of us are reading reviews to decide where to spend our sometimes limited resources -and sometimes it does come down to book OR Quilter’s Home OR fabric. Unfortunately. Especially when we can submit/read reviews for free at various big online book retailers.

You know what I mean I’m sure and I know what you mean. I’m sorry for saying 60. That isn’t really what I meant. I meant the quilters that turn their nose down on anything different. I love vintage and vintage is my style but I like to do something unique with my quilts and mix it up a little. I really don’t like cookie cutter quilts with all matchy matchy fabric anymore. I used to but it is boring to me at this stage of my quilting experience.

I really am sorry. But I think now you will understand (at least I hope you do) more what I mean.

thanks for your opinion, I am grateful for it

nanette

Suggestion: Include a synopsis of the content so I can judge if the book that isn’t perfect for you might be great for me (or my guild’s library). Is it targeted to hand piecing vs machine? Is the focus on technique or patterns? How many patterns? Rotary cut measurements or templates? If rotary cut, does it just give you dimensions of pieces A through XX, or is there an efficient layout of strip cuts and sub cuts? If templates, are they full sized or do you have to enlarge by 428%? Does the book lay flat if I need to scan/copy patterns? Does it require a special tool beyond the rotary cutter and generic ruler? Is a DVD included? A website for author contact/corrections? These are just a few of the things that come to mind after my first cup of coffee.

Got get ‘em, tiger.

beth

Loving that paper cut quilt too!