Learning to Quilt – Part II: Magazines

Tanaya and me at Esther’s Fabrics. I’m the one with a tight grip on the bolt of Timtex Tanaya so generously offered to bring me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I currently have subscriptions to 4 magazines: Food & Wine, Threads, Quilting Arts, and American Patchwork & Quilting.

Threads – A long time standard in the clothes sewing world. It’s definitely not a quilting magazine. I mention it because it includes many accessory type projects like the tote bag in the most recent issue. The content of the magazine has experienced many directions in the last few years as it attempted to pull in new readers and satisfy the old dogs. I’m very much enjoying the balance they seemed to have achieved. Each issue contains several good basic technique articles as well as a project or two. The writers include some of the top professionals in the sewing world. I always enjoy seeing my favorites and learning about new ones.

Quilting Arts – Anyone that reads this magazine on a regular basis has a story about how they felt the first time they discovered it. It always contains the ‘aha, I knew there was a different way to quilt, thank goodness I found this magazine, my quilting life is forever changed.’ I’m especially enjoying the technique articles in recent issues. Finishing techniques for bindings, working with the latest fiber art materials and following art quilt designers as they talk about their development process are just a few of the topics I have found extremely helpful and enlightening.

American Patchwork & Quilting – Published monthly by Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection. Filled with original designs by top quilt designers and excellent, easy-to-follow instructions. The magazine has expanded their website to include video demonstrations of common quilting techniques. They do a very good job of featuring both traditional and modern style quilts. I especially like that for each pattern included in an issue they do another version of the pattern with different fabrics. A great way to visualize how your choice of fabrics might work with the pattern.

There are many other special edition publications put out by Better Homes and Gardens. I wonder sometimes if American Patchwork & Quilting gets lost in the shuffle to someone new looking over the newstand offerings. I’ve bought a few special publications over the years and I always feel a bit disappointed with the content, I’m very glad I discovered this particular magazine.

And, of course, add your favorites in the comments!

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Thank you for all the book recommendations on Learning to Quilt – Part I. I have to highlight Kristin’s comment about traditional quilting books:

“I taught myself with Fons and Porter’s “Quilter’s Complete Guide.” It goes from simple to more complex as well and has small, doable projects for each technique. I know the aesthetic now is for the Denyse Schmidt style and Amy Butler-type fabrics, but one shouldn’t discount the country looks in some of the classic books because the underlying techniques are the basis of everything. I also use Diane Gaudinski’s book for machine quilting — and even though I put less than half the amount of thread on a quilt than she does, her tips and techniques are tried and true.”

I couldn’t agree more. There is a wealth of information in the traditional books, don’t pass them by because you think they’re ‘not your style’.