Hari Walner's Continuous-Line Quilting Designs: 80 Patterns for Blocks, Borders, Corners, & Backgrounds [Paperback]

This book is a welcome addition to my book shelf's ever-growing "Theory and Design" section. Yet I struggled for several days with this review; nearly every positive is tinged with a slightly negative "but". I want to stress that I actually LIKE this book overall, and rate it highly for its content. The color photos are quite striking and the machine quilting examples are exceptionally beautiful.

Contained in this book's 112 pages are

1) a meaty but very scant 17 pages of actual how-to text
2) about 60 pages of black-and-white stitching diagrams
3) about 21 pages of full-color stitching examples

If you were to simply leaf through this book, the extensive black & white sections might alarm you and put you off. But keep thumbing, and you will be rewarded with several smaller full-color sections. This odd organization is actually my first key issue: each B&W diagram has a corresponding full-color located in a completely different section of the book, so you have to keep leafing back and forth to resolve the references. Also, the how-to information is broken up into one section at the very beginning of the book and another at the very end of the book; again, more forward and backward leafing.

The color examples are sumptuous, and include notes on which type of fabric, batting, and thread were used; this is important and interesting data for both beginning and experienced quilters. If you've ever considered making a whole-cloth quilt, I think these examples were stitched on solids deliberately to further inspire the quilter.

Each black and white diagram includes one actual pattern (to be enlarged or whatever) and a corresponding smaller navigation diagram. My issue with the navigation diagrams is that they are so small and the arrows so incomplete that I find it difficult to correctly trace over some of them. In the case of the very first design called "Camelot", I simply cannot trace over the diagram completely in a single line without losing my place over and over. Perhaps larger, more thorough diagrams (and just a few more written instructions) would make it instantly clearer.

Also, despite this book's subtitle "80 Patterns For Blocks, Borders, Corners, & Backgrounds", there are actually very few background examples. MY eye sees mostly block-based designs here. What I really wanted and expected were a few more background filler-type designs; there are really only 2 pages' worth here. And you really have to extrapolate from the photos if you want exposure to some spectacular new ideas. I would love to read more from Ms Walner as to how she evolved the background designs that appear in the color photos and some general guidelines for adapting those specific designs. They are really striking and exactly what I want to learn how to do. Each larger scale block-based design is accompanied by a "just right" background filler. This book did succeed in making me aware for the first time that matching a background design to the larger designs is an accomplished skill in itself.

This book further drives home the point that "free-motion" does not necessarily mean "no marking"; for all but perhaps the background patterns the new-to-intermediate quilter will probably need to trace the designs onto the fabric. There is one larger scale design called "Old Oak" which is a bit more free-form and might not have to be marked.

As mentioned, there are some really lovely designs here. My personal favorite is the "Splendid Swan" which incorporates meandering scroll-work into the swan's head and body. Also, Walner is one of the first authors/instructors I have heard to actually encourage pressing seams open for a top that will be continuously quilted. This is welcome but paradoxical news for some strictly-in-the-ditch stitchers who insist open seams are never allowed.

Although I might not recommend this book as someone's very first free-motion book (it is definitely not an exhaustive design/technique reference), it certainly is a buy-worthy compendium of practical ideas and gorgeous examples. Sometimes we just need an extra book that inspires us with new ideas and visual examples. I happily put this book in that category.

I have more than a few books on machine quilting and I would rate this as one of my top two favorites. The designs are small enough to scan into my computer so that I can print them off in the desired size or use the chart listed in the book. There's fantastic stitching directions with a design index. All this along with knowledge on types of batting, thread and fabric. If you are looking for machine quilting help you will not be disappointed with this book.

Wow this book is just full of inspiration.
If you love hearts you'll find plenty of way's to incorporate them into your quilts with the design's
in this book. I feel My quilts will now have that professional finish and I will
feel proud that I've made them myself. Thoroughly recommended.

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