Quilt Improv

Modern quilts seem to me to use many bright and sometime discordant colors, asymmetrical piece placement, and a mixture of shapes.  The Incredible Modern Quilts from Everyday Inspirations: Quilt Improv by Lucie Summers uses all the above mentioned to create some very eye-catching designs. 

The book's first chapters illustrate methods on how to create 13 different quilt building blocks. Below are two of those quilt blocks.

The remainder of the book show how the author finds design idea from her world to create her quilts.  I liked how Summers organized her quilt idea.  She took pictures of the view she wanted to incorporate into her work, selected the various patterns and colors of fabric, and then made a detailed drawing of the plan. I particularly like the quilt Garden Wall.

What I take from this book is several great ways to piece together quilt blocks and how to organize my quilt ideas.

Crochet tips and tricks

I am having a great time with crocheting and have been researching how-to book.

A renowned knitter Lily Chin has published a basic crochet title. 

    

 It begins with describing hooks and yarns including charts showing US, metric and UK differences.  Basic stitches are described and illustrated in black and white drawings.  The book moves to making a swatch (boring but necessary) and how to adjust patterns to best fit your body.  The author includes all types of shorts cuts and tips to make your project easier.  This is the first book I have seen on crocheting that covers how to fix your mistakes, be they small or requiring major surgery.  Each tip or technique is described in detail and is accompanied with  black and white illustrations.  A great book to tuck into your project bag to refer to as needed.  Sorry no projects included.