Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters

Since learning how to quilt from her husband's grandfather, Angela Walters has been in love with the art of quilting. Today she quilts professionally, teaches, and gives trunk shows. Her work has been published in several books and magazines. Angela lives in Kansas City, Missouri. www.quiltingismytherapy.com

June 12Walters thinks machine quilting is more fun than cutting or piecing. She amply proves that quilting is “another layer of art” through careful instructions in the art of free-motion quilting. Her book is not rule filled: she insists throughout that she’s describing what works for her, and she encourages quilters to experiment to find what works for them. The book falls into three sections. “Getting Started” includes definitions and supply lists; “The Designs” presents 28 patterns of swirls and circles, squares, lines and vines, and arcs and points. The final section on working with designs of modern quilts considers designs of squares, zigzags, strips, and off-kilter (“wonky”) pieces. Instructions direct quilters step-by-step in text and graphic illustrations, backed by closeup photographs of the designs quilted by Walters. In the final section of tips (followed by a helpful glossary), Walters exhorts quilters to answer a question to reveal the most important thing about the quilt at hand: the fabric? the piecing? the image of a child hugging the coverlet?