Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts :: Education by Design Store

Editorial Review
More than half of the projects in this book can be completed in less than 8 hours

In an age of mass-produced, look-alike merchandise, there’s no greater pleasure than to receive—or to give—a handmade gift. To make gifts for family and friends testifies to your esteem for them and to your loving dedication of precious energy and time.

And there’s the rub. These days, few people have time to create elaborate hand-fashioned gifts. Understanding the demands on contemporary crafters’ schedules—but understanding, too, their wish to express their love and care in this very personal way—led Joelle Hoverson to write Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. Now, in the follow-up to that extremely successful 2004 volume—with nearly 80,000 copies in print—Hoverson and photographer Anna Williams present Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts.

The book—designed for use by both first-time and longtime quilters—features 30 patchwork and quilted projects organized according to the amount of time it takes to complete them: less than 2 hours, 2 to 4 hours, 4 to 8 hours, 8 to 12 hours, and 12 hours or more. The gifts are inspired by Amish, Appalachian, and Japanese quilting traditions, among others, and range from easy pillowcases and covered scrapbooks to simplified (but heirloom-worthy) log cabin and crazy quilts. Hoverson also shares an overview of her approach to color as well as the tools and techniques she used to complete the projects in the book.
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Customer Reviews

Disappointing

2008-06-05
The cover sold me on this book but the projects inside are not all that inspiring. A pincushion, easy quilt, color wheel out of fabric, simple coasters - I didn't find the book worth the price.

Lives up to it's name

2008-05-02
I saw this book featured in Martha Stewart Living and loved the items pictured there. I looked at it a few times at my local bookseller before I gave myself permission to buy. I love the way the book is divided into sections by length of time, and I think the patterns themselves are fresh, beautiful, and creative. I am in the process of making one of the quilts, and it has gone just as the directions indicate. They have been easy to follow. I am so pleased with how the quilt is going to look, and it reminds me how precious it is to be able to make a gift for someone you love. It is one of those transcendent moments when something that has given you pleasure, gives pleasure to someone else ( wow, that sounds like sex.)

Great Book

2008-04-03
I have enjoyed this book. It's stuffed full of creative crafts both simple and complexed.
It's one of my favorite books in my library. I find myself going back to it, time after time.
If you like to sew, this book is sure to please you.

Yes...great photography...

2008-04-03
As many have mentioned in previous reviews, the photography is gorgeous. But this is not a book on photography. I purchased this book and after receiving it in the mail, I returned it a few days later. I was disappointed in the "simplicity" of most of the projects. I wanted to love this book but couldn't justify keeping it just because of the "nice pictures". I should think that perhaps this may be a decent book for sewing novices, but if you are an experienced needleworker, and dare I say even a semi experienced needleworker/quilter/seamstress you may be underwhelmed just as I was. I also found the price to be a bit steep considering the content. I honestly couldn't imagine paying the retail price!

Had the "Look Inside" function been added to the main listing page, I would never have purchased this book in the first place. I honestly can't remember the last time I was so disappointed by a book. I wanted it to be good! I wanted it to be a creative inspiration! It was not, at least not for me. Others may be pleased as pie with the uber easy projects and "eye candy" imagery, but those looking for a bit more...more substance, more creativity, more inspiration...just plain "more"...need to look somewhere else.

And just once more I want to stress the utter simplicity of many of the projects. I realise these are supposed to be "last minute" projects. Sadly many of the projects, at least to my eye, end up looking like none to little effort taken sort of projects...so basic, and not in a good way. Do not get me wrong, I adore simplicity. But many of these items would not appear as charming if the recommended designer fabrics are not used.

...a sewing book needs to be much more than beautiful photography and pretty fabrics.

Nice projects

2008-03-31
I like this book and the lovely projects inside, but written instrustions for me are difficult to follow then visual ones. I wish the author could have put some pictures for instrustions.

Great ideas, great photos...

2008-07-20
Great gift ideas, beautiful colors, great photography. My only wish is that the instructions were a little more detailed. As a beginning sewer, it's a little intimidating. I'm sure for others with more experience, it's just the right amount. Good book overall.

A Breathe of Fresh Crafting Air

2008-07-12
This book is without a doubt one of the most inspirational and beautiful crafting books I have come across. At first glance, the photographs and fabric choices are so compelling I almost forgot the book contained actual projects and instructions. With that said, once I sat down with the book and inspected the contents, I found the projects to be sweet not corny, simple not boring, and elegant not plain.

Too many crafting books waste pages in the beginning talking about the basics of needles, thread and other basic techniques. What I love is the brief section on Exploring Color. It is something often missed or overlooked and so important when dealing with any art. The author has an obvious strong grasp of color not using it as a sort of assault on the senses in a careless manner, but rather to enhance the projects and fabric choices letting all aspects of the projects speak for themselves.

I have been crafting for only a couple of years and while this doesn't give me the viewpoint of an experienced artist, I feel I have a fresh perspective. If you're new to the patchwork and quilting world, this book will be what you're looking for when needing some inspiration and manageable projects to tackle. If you're an old-hat at this, maybe it's time to branch out. This book will definitely breath some new life into your sewing and quilting.

Really Bad

2008-07-06
Others have mentioned the cover of the book was the selling point. I must say that is what sold me on the book. After looking inside, I was a little disappointed. The instructions are the worse. "Cut one 38 inch deep piece." What on earth does that mean? Is that length or width? Don't waste your money. You will read the instructions a million times before you understand what the author wants you to do.

Terrible Instructions

2008-06-19
I love the pictures but, as other reviewers have mentioned, the instructions are horrid. Instructions were missing or so vague it took forever to figure it out. (I was making the little elephant.) Mind you I have been sewing since 7th grade and I am 52, so I have some experience. I quilt and have made many clothes and other things along the way. I have never seen instructions like this. Please do not buy this book unless you just want to look at the pictures. It was a waste of my time and money and I threw the book away.

Beautiful frustration: is it worth it?

2008-06-10
I got this book as a Christmas gift from my wish list. I loved the simplicity of the projects and the gorgeous fabrics (maybe that's why the projects are so lovely?), but once I started to try to make my first quilt (Little Bits pg.90)for my toddler boy I've had to read and re-read the directions so many times before cutting! I started about 2 months ago, then stopped because of frustration with the unclear directions. I picked it up again, and guess what, I'm frustrated again! I think diagrams would help so much to make it clearer for cutting, sewing and layout of ALL the pieces, instead of providing a diagram for just one detailed section. For a visual learner, which is what I am, pictures speak more than words in this case. As mentioned by other reviewers on different patterns,it seems that parts of the instructions are incomplete or missing. ie, the putting together of the back pieces of Little Bits quilt. Unless I totally missed it after re-reading it so many times. My eyes started to blur and my brain began to blow steam. So now I'm resorting to putting that part aside and finding help on-line somewhere. Or going to the local fabric store for help, again. Hopefully they won't try to rope me into spending money and signing up for an open quilting class like last time after giving so-so help. I just want clarification on the directions and sew my quilt before my little boy is off to college!