Book Review: Modern Mix
Book Review from Nicole
This is a great book recently added to our local GVPL catalogue. I came across a quote a month ago from Natalie Barnes that gave a great assessment of fabulous, big focus prints. She said that you can either preserve the scale of the print and showcase it, or you “can do the opposite and cut into it and it come alive because every different cut is going to take you in a different direction”. What a fabulous thing to have in my head as I started reading this book. The premise of the book is using large scale prints in combination with solids in ways that lets the size and scale of the print work well.
I think Jessica Levitt has written a good book and come up with some interesting projects that are well designed. I did prefer the quilt patterns best but I think overall the author has achieved a nice balance throughout the book.
There is a quick run through of quilting terms and supplies; and Design and Colour, looking at hue, value, scale, and contrast. The book layout itself is good, the photography is both clear and pretty. The line drawings within the patterns are well done and plentiful. The projects cover a wide range of items (quilts, pillows, tablecloths, camera case, bags, wall art, organizing things) and a variety of techniques (piecing, appliqué, using interfacing, etc).
The only thing I didn’t like about the books is that for the quilt patterns, only one size is given. So if you want to make a twin instead of a king you’ll have to work out the math yourself. This is not a basic, intro to quilting book, but the patterns are not overly difficult. I would say that a competent beginner could manage most, if not all the projects.
And here is a bit about Nicole herself:
How long have you been sewing/quilting?
I learned to sew on a industrial sewing machine in the costume department at York University’s theatre school twenty years ago. I started quilting in the fall of 2007 when I was on maternity leave with my first child.
How long have you been sewing/quilting?
I learned to sew on a industrial sewing machine in the costume department at York University’s theatre school twenty years ago. I started quilting in the fall of 2007 when I was on maternity leave with my first child.
Favourite quilt you’ve made?
Can’t have favourites, the others will get jealous 😉 Straight answer? The one I’m working on now.
What are you working on now?
Ha! Three sets of kids pjs (two for my kids and one for a friend’s kid), a pouch for the pouch swap, a fabric drawstring bag, a mug rug to swap, a quilt for MY VERY OWN, and a couple of scarves, all due before the 28th of December. Non Christmas projects include: my improv pattern testing project, my giant tea leaves quilt, another scrap quilt I’ve got rattling around my brain, and ….. I’ll just stop there without referring to my spreadsheet.
Thanks Nicole for the book review!