The Quilter's Resource Book

This book seeks to show, through approximately 250 full-color photographs, the diversity of quiltmaking traditions from around the world. Quilts have been made in myriad cultures throughout human history. Those made in the Western European tradition are usually regarded as "typical," but the art of quiltmaking encompasses much more. Even traditional quiltmaking in western Europe, which includes forms generally regarded as "American," and practiced in many parts of the New World, covers a vast variety of styles and designs. And when we stray outside the Western European tradition, the ring widens into a remarkable array of fabric artefacts. The generally accepted definition of a quilt is a textile made from two layers of fabric with a layer of padding between them, and quilted textiles can be used as covers, hung on walls, and worn. The three broad categories of quiltmaking techniques - patchwork, applied work, and quilting - are covered in this book in separate sections in Chapter 1, with sample blocks for each technique. Chapter 2 is a gallery of examples of different quilt styles from all around the world, celebrating the skills of individual makers. Each style is explained, and there are detailed captions with information about each individual quilt. The Quilter's Resource Book will be an invaluable source of reference and inspiration for everyone interesting in the craft of quilting.