This easy-to-read book with clear illustrations is great for those just starting machine quilting, but also offers tips for experienced machine quilters. Sue Nickels extensively covers the features of different types of needles and thread to improve your machine quilting technique. Her easy, uncomplicated exercises that progress from straight line quilting to free motion help beginners build their confidence. She uses the backdrop of beautiful Amish and other traditional quilts to introduce making feather and other continuous line patterns.

Lynn Jurss & Sherry Ramaila

This delightful book helps you welcome Spring with 18 realistic paper-pieced bird patterns including perennial favorites hummingbird, cardinal, robin, and chickadee. While the multi-part bird blocks look complicated, the instructions are clear enough for anyone with basic knowledge of paper piecing. You can do a project from the book or combine your favorite bird blocks into a custom creation. A bonus is the beautiful "tree" border. This book provides a great way to use scraps and even make a small Ways and Means quilt!

Lynn Jurss & Laura Murphy

Twelve women who served in WWII are highlighted, each one associated with a quilt block. There are patterns for all twelve blocks, along with patterns for several quilt settings. Each block has a star in the center, implying that each woman was a star. For example, Block 1 describes Ruth Stilson Writt, who was always in love with airplanes. As a young woman she made sacrifices in order to learn about airplane engines and then to earn a pilot’s license. Eventually she landed a job training men looking to be military pilots. All of the other women in the book can inspire us to break through traditional boundaries.

Lynn Jurss & Laura Murphy

Did you make a resolution to try something new? Perhaps take a workshop or learn a new technique? Do you love the look of silk ribbon embroidery but just don't have the time to do the handwork? Susan Schrempf's machine silk ribbon embroidery book might be just the thing to encourage you to try something very different (and beautiful). She has terrific, large clear photos of each step or stitch that are building blocks for stems and flowers–roses, daisies, large leaves, rose buds, and ruching. Her gallery of ideas shows lots of variations of the basic stitches to create many different flowers. Simple Silk Ribbon Embroidery by Machine is available in the library.

Lynn Jurss & Laura Murphy

This books shows you how to make two quilts from each jelly roll of fabric. A jelly roll consists of forty 2 1/2 inch strips (each the width of cotton fabric, about 42" wide). The book is loaded with lovely traditional designs and inspiring color combinations. It is suitable for beginners with clear instructions, but can inspire any level of quilter with new block combinations and fast piecing using up those strips. Quilts can be assembled quickly if you keep strips on hand. Make it scrappy by saving your remnants, and cutting them into strips!

Lynn Jurss & Laura Murphy

Trish donated this book on one of her visits to the Guild. It's short, but packed with information about curved piecing and Trish's trademark coloring of quilts with crayons and inks. The instructions are more suitable for intermediate (rather than beginner) quilters. Trish tackles piecing curves (even extreme ones) using a Pellon interfacing product with a preprinted grid. She transfers the quilt design onto the grid in reverse, cuts it apart, irons it on to the backs of the fabrics, and then uses the grid lines to match the pieces together. Her coloring instructions include the use of Tsukineko dyes. She also includes a pattern for a tulip quilt. Her techniques are nice additions for quilters building their skills.

Lynn Jurss & Laura Murphy

Every one of the borders shown in this book is amazing. Although many of them look like (and probably are) a lot of work, the book shows how borders can enhance the center of the quilts. The entire quilt is a complete work of art with a pieced border. Techniques highlighted in the book include foundation piecing and strip piecing. Familiar patterns incorporated into borders include flying geese, card trick, and snail’s trail. Some of border patterns are classified as “simple no-math” or “low-math” for those who are not motivated to perform a lot of calculations.

Lynn Jurss & Laura Murphy

This lovely book features patterns for 125 applique, pieced, and sashiko patterns inspired by traditional patterns, textiles, and family crests. Blocks are rated by degree of difficulty so that even the beginning quilter can enjoy and use this book.  The book includes very clear photographs and diagrams of block construction, a primer on sashiko technique, and 23 sashiko designs.  The gallery of quilts is stunning. This book nicely complements Janice Ota’s July workshop and meeting program.

Lynn Jurss & Laura Murphy

Liberated Quilting may just push you “out of the box.” Rather than providing patterns, Gwen Marston introduces a process and a chance to play. She liberates traditional patterns by relaxing the rules, showing you how to make quilts that are uniquely yours. She plays with log cabin, baskets, stars, wild geese, medallion quilts, and saw tooth borders. Gwen’s wit and common sense along with a great album of quilts brings it all alive, and shows how fun and visually effective this process is. After reading this, you can’t help but jump into your stash and start "liberating."

Lynn Jurss & Laura Murphy

This book has something for everyone. Some of us don’t know where to start when creating an art quilt. Authors Jane and Elin talk about how to get inspired and start the creative juices flowing. Then, once we have ideas, they tell us how to get those onto paper and then fabric. All of us, including the more experienced artists, can benefit from tips on using threads and paints and other materials such as foil, charms, beads, buttons and rubber stamps. And if the terrific pictures and detailed instructions aren’t enough, there are plenty of references to other artists, books and websites.

Lynn Jurss & Laura Murphy