Abrams Publishing Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts

After looking through this book many times since I got it, I'm really excited to try some of the projects. Although I'm not sure how a 12-hour quilt is considered a last minute gift. I'm actually more interested in the longer projects than I thought I would be because I'm new at quilting and these look very simple. For more advanced sewers, the beginner projects might be better as inspiration, for example I will do a crayon roll (instead of colored pencils) for my young nieces and nephews.If you're new to sewing this book is great because a lot of the short projects are very simple, like quilted coasters and small stuffed birds. There weren't a lot of in between projects, it seems like it jumps from quick and easy right to big quilts. But as I said before, the quilts look very simple and have a modern look to them.Overall, great book but I gave it a 4 because I expected more versatile projects. I don't think I would really give any quilts as gifts, and a lot of the projects are baby oriented. Still a good book to have in your library!

I bought this book for the Color-Wheel quilt, plain and simple. After much thought, I kept it, simply for the convenience of the template. Otherwise I would have returned it in a heartbeat. I want to call this a beginners book. Most of the projects are super-simple. There are 2 that are quilts made with single pieces of fabric that have been quilted in straight lines/tied. One quilt is just a piece of large-print fabric where she outlined the motifs with stitching. There is just a lot of extremely simple piecing/design, hence the speed with which they can be assembled.Yet I hesitate to call this a good beginner book. Because despite pages 11-15 and 128-153 covering how-to issues, there are few illustrations showing technique, and only one picture of each project. (Not always the most informative picture at that.)Now I'm not saying that a single-fabric, straight-line quilted throw isn't a great gift! I'm just saying I didn't need a book to give me that idea. There is an amazing amount of inspiration on the internet right now, this means authors really need to step it up. Give us something we can't find out there for free. Put a new idea into our heads. Joelle Hoverson has an awesome company, I just expected more.

I bought this book because I am an avid reader of purlbee.com and I really wanted to make color wheel quilt. I really liked how you could buy a fabric bundle at purlsoho.com to make the quilt. I had been sewing for about a year, but it was my very first quilt and the technique section in the back of the book was incredibly helpful. There where times where I had to reread the directions one or two times before moving to the next (mostly dealing with cutting fabric), but I found most of the directions clear. The only thing that bothered me was there were no instructions on how to go about how to hang the quilt to the wall, I searched google and youtube and found plenty of ideas, so it wasn't a big deal. There are several other projects in the book I would like to try. I would definitely recommend this book.

I got this book as a gift because I was interested in sewing things as gifts and making fun stuff for myself and my family. The projects in this book are wonderful. The directions have been fairly easy for me to follow and I am novice sewer. The best thing I find about this sewing book is that the projects are separated by the length of time (estimated) it takes to make them. So there are 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hour or longer projects. It's neat to be able to make a gift or something fun in such a short amount of time. That is what I love about sewing. It doesn't have to take days or weeks to make something, unless you actually want it to. I highly recommend this book for a beginner with some experience in sewing, but I also recommend it for the expert who is looking to make something special as a gift or for themselves to enjoy.

I borrowed this book from the library, not intending to purchase it. After looking at it several times and making one of the projects I decided it was a book I would like to own. I made two of the colored pencil rolls and I thought the directions were clear and it went together without a hitch. I have read the directions for some of the other projects, and I believe there may be an error or two. For example, the Six of One, Half Dozen of the Other quilt instructs the reader to make the quilt back larger on all sides, yet the cutting directions make the quilt larger only on the length and not the width. It's probably important to read the directions before beginning and also give them some thought. Overall, though, I give this book top marks.

This book is laid out great. Each project is divided into a section based on how much time it takes to complete the project. The only project I've made is the elephant stuffie. It's an adorable project, perfect for a baby gift, but it is time consuming! I've made simple stuffed animals before and none of them have taken as long as the elephant did. It's also quite small, so lining up the pieces was a little trickier. That being said, it was worth all the time and effort to see the recipient's face when she realized I had made it. The photos in this book are beautiful, too.

Have had this book for a couple of days. I am a beginner and am already addicted to making the quilted coasters!! I look forward to making my way through this gorgeous book. Although I have only completed one (easy) project I have read other project instructions in the book and have no problem understanding them.I also appreciate the helpful techniques section at the back. I have no complaints with this book. I am happy to have it in my growing crafting library.Handmade all the way!!

I was looking for a book with beginning sewing projects that wouldn't be too difficult or take too much time. I was not disappointed! I have already made several projects, and while I had read some of the directions a few times in order to understand them, everything I've made has turned out well and I'm excited to try the rest of the projects in the book. This book is unique in that I would be happy if I could make every single project in the book, they are all wonderful!

this is a good like book for people who enjoy making home decor gifts.Good for hostess gifts and new baby ideas.Well written with good photographs

I love this book. Lovely designs and projects. However, there is just one thing that stops me giving a full 100% rating and that is - the templates do not show the stitching lines! I'm not daft but I spent over 30 minutes wondering what I had done wrong when the instructions said "...place right sides together and stitch, leaving a gap for stuffing as marked on template...", which I did (the belly of the elephant). However, that was not right and I spent ages, it seemed, wondering how the next stage would fit. I undid what I had sewed and in the end I put the whole project together in a different order, marked the templates (for future use), and hey presto! Wonderful fat elephant! I would have liked a couple of simple diagrams with the written instructions. It would have saved me unnecessary time and frayed material - not forgetting a frayed temper!

I've recently found myself travelling to work on a bus, almost door to door, courtesy of my employer and so have a 50 minute journey. As a crafter this is like an early Christmas gift. So I find this book which fulfils a lot of requirements. Gifts that can be made in short periods of time, inspiring photographs and it fits in my bag easily tooI'm not sure it for beginners as there are no step-by-step photographs. The instructions are clear though and at the back of the book there is a guide to terms etc.It also shows you how to use all those pieces of fabric that us crafters have tucked away in our stash. All in all a very good book.Ps some of the projects are on blogs where generous folks have taken pictures to show "how to"

This book is split in sections so you can choose your projects by time: if you want to spend half an hour on a simple gift or maybe 8 hours! It contains some really nice gifts you could make for friends and family, some of them really simple but effective. The steps are clear and easy to follow. The appendix also explains basic stitches and techniques used in sewing and patchwork for those who are new to it.I originally borrowed this from the library but ended up buying it as I keep coming back to projects and eventually I'll probably end up making every one in the book.Really useful if you are stuck for ideas but would like to make a personal gift for friends and family. Great price on Amazon too.

This item arrived with no pattern chart, so was of no use to me at all. I applied for and got an immediate refund. So the matter is settled.