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Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts

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From two pioneers of today's modern quilting movement, Quilting Modern teaches quilters how to use improvisational techniques to make graphic, contemporary quilts and quilted projects. Explore seven core techniques and multiple projects using each technique--all presented with detailed instructions. Also included is step-by-step direction from Jacquie Gering and Katie Pedersen on tools, materials, and quilting basics, as well as expert advice on color and design.

New and seasoned quilting artists will love making stunning bed, wall hanging, pillowcase, and table accessory quilts with this must-have resource. Quilting Modern is a field guide for quilters who strive to break free from tradition and yearn to explore improvisational work.

Quilters can make the 21 projects in the book, but will also come away with the new knowledge and skills to apply to their own unique designs. In Quilting Modern , quilters will find the support, structure, and encouragement they need to explore their own creativity and artistic vision.

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2012

45 people are currently reading
135 people want to read

About the author

Jacquie Gering

4 books6 followers

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5 stars
118 (42%)
4 stars
102 (36%)
3 stars
47 (16%)
2 stars
9 (3%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Erika Mulvenna.
531 reviews25 followers
August 21, 2014
A really fabulous book! These are quilts I actually want to make. I absolutely LOVE the modern look of the projects, and that there are other things to make besides quilts (like pillows, placemats, table runners). Really great instructions and clear, easy to read diagrams. Also includes wonderful information on quilting tools and materials, basic techniques, tips, and tricks. As long as the modern quilt esthetic appeals to you, no matter if you are an experienced quilter, a beginning quilter, or someone who is interested in starting - you will love this book.
Profile Image for Lime.
165 reviews
June 15, 2017
Jacquie is a great teacher!
Profile Image for Joy.
354 reviews37 followers
July 28, 2021
Solid on technique, and helpful in discussing the design elements that go into a quilt. Insofar as these projects involve a twist on more conventional methods (e.g., log cabins but tweaked for effect), I appreciate the new possibilities they reveal.

That said, if even an improvisational quilt calls for as much planning as these, I'd rather stick with more conventional methods.

One peculiarity: I often appreciated the illustrating sketches ("We pieced things together in approximately this way") more than the photographs of the finished quilts, generally (I think) because they read as higher-contrast and thus *revealed* the structure behind it all, rather than disguising it (which makes the entire quilt look more random/incohesive).
Profile Image for Cindy.
181 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2018
I kept renewing this book after I checked it out from the library because I wanted to refer to the techniques. I will probably buy it.
This book not only has interesting and beautiful quilts but good tutorials on skills you can apply to any quilt design. Without any pressing projects on my plate, I will likely practice some of the techniques from this book to expand my knowledge base.
248 reviews
June 16, 2018
Oh! In this book I have really found my peeps. I get so excited reading about the techniques and thinking about all the improv options I have open to me! I wouldn't have thought this book would be so rich and eye-opening, but it is truly inspirational
194 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2021
Excellent book on modern quilting technique with projects to try. Need to get my own copy to keep as reference and because there is never enough time to quilt! Have checked out of library multiple times. Want to try angle piecing, stitch and flip triangle technique and more.
Profile Image for Donald Schopflocher.
1,467 reviews37 followers
April 10, 2018
As an experiencer quilt piecer who has been designing quilts for many years, I was delighted to find a book that expanded my design and construction options in such unexpected ways. Superb.
Profile Image for Katie.
164 reviews
November 26, 2020
Some really nice projects, but do you need to write patterns for improv?
597 reviews3 followers
July 5, 2022
I flipped through every page. Lots of modern quilt ideas. Will come back to this later when I have a need! Thanks for illustrations, great ideas and good directions.
485 reviews5 followers
September 13, 2015
I really liked the cover of this how-to book: the juxtaposition of aqua and lime next to slate gray, the pebble quilting on the slate gray, the double crosshatch quilting on the blue and green fabrics. BUT the improvisation techniques just don't look good aesthetically. Free piecing--a cycle of auditioning, cutting, sewing and reviewing--looks too piecemeal and too imperfect for my tastes to go to the trouble of quilting a large blanket. However, I do plan to hold on to this library book a bit longer because there are some projects that I think I could adapt into a quilt I would want to complete, like the Shattered Quilt and descriptions of techniques and stitches of machine quilting for the home sewer that are useful.
Profile Image for Claire.
693 reviews13 followers
August 31, 2014
Reread the book. Sometimes it pays.

It seems a good way to be introduced to improv piecing.

At first it seemed an oxymoron: patterns for improv quilts. But Gering and Pedersen make it work. There is enough structure for the uninitiated to feel secure enough to experiment; the experimenting is personal improvisation.

Techniques are introduced, variations given, then projects using one or more of the variations. When a project uses techniques from other sections of the book, there is adequate cross referencing.

Good for beginners and there are enough hints that someone already improvising would find something new as well.
Profile Image for Amber.
3 reviews3 followers
May 29, 2012
I love this quilting book! It really is in a class by itself and so unique from all the other quilting books I've read. The techniques and quilts in the book are so fresh and modern and both authors do such a wonderful job blending their voices seamlessly through the book. I cannot recommend this book enough! I've already made one quilt from the book and am about to start on my second one. A must have for both experienced quilters and beginners.
Profile Image for Kristel.
152 reviews
July 22, 2012
I'm glad I borrowed this from the library rather than buying it. There are ideas in this book that I liked, but exactly nothing I want to make. (Or anyway, nothing I need the book on hand if I want to make my own version of. I'll probably make my sister some variation on the place mats, but I don't need my hand held via book ownership to work it out.) This is a beautiful book, but it didn't speak to me the way some other craft/quilting books do.
Profile Image for Marsha.
10 reviews1 follower
June 6, 2013
I checked this out from the library and enjoyed looking at it. I purchased an online class on modern quilting techniques that I am going to take this summer and wanted to look at some examples. It was good for that. I liked quite a few of the quilts and learned from the techniques. The two authors are well known teachers.
1,653 reviews
October 30, 2012
10/12 Checked out of the library. The quilts were ok but I think I am a very traditional person. I like what I like and the teachiques were good but the quilts gave me some ideas but I would not make most of them.
Profile Image for Mary Rohrbeck.
117 reviews4 followers
March 4, 2013
Perhaps I have read too many books on Modern Quilting lately but there was nothing new or very informative in this book. There were a couple of good techniques that I might use but none of the patterns interested me, which is highly unusual.
Profile Image for feathers.
65 reviews5 followers
April 12, 2013
i took a quilting class with katie, and she is wonderful. it was helpful to have the book to look up stuff afterwards, but we're not design dream dates. however, in a classroom setting, katie is super-encouraging and inventive.
Profile Image for Emmy.
80 reviews9 followers
January 3, 2015
Although the specific style of modern quilts in this book did not appeal to me, the book does have good information on technique, and a solid discussion of quilting stitches with detailed photographs.
Profile Image for Candy.
1,547 reviews22 followers
November 2, 2015
I added border of "pods" to my current project- just the perfect final touch! They were FUN to make. I tried one "from memory" but ran into trouble, so went downstairs and got the book. No problem then.
Super instructions and step by step pictures.
Profile Image for Sheila.
582 reviews2 followers
February 14, 2019
This book included techniques and projects for improvisational quilts with blocks that were easy to do and lots of big spaces and quilting. None of it appealed to me. Jackie Gering's quilting techniques I do like.
471 reviews2 followers
July 17, 2012
Great designs but not very good directions especially if you are a beginner. Simpler is not always better. I guess I am just an old style quilter.
443 reviews
February 13, 2013
The instructions for making a quilt wall make this totally worth it. I liked some of the designs but not all of them.
Profile Image for Leigh.
1 review
May 15, 2013
FANTASTIC! Finally found a quilting book that tells me what I need to know!!!
Profile Image for Karen.
560 reviews3 followers
July 7, 2013
So many "modern" quilt books are quite derivative, but this book is different. There many austere beauties in this tome.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,029 reviews18 followers
September 28, 2013
I don't think I'm quite modern and hip enough for this quilting book.

Read in September 2013.
381 reviews22 followers
August 1, 2014
This was a pleasant surprise. It's not a rehash of traditional patterns done in new designer fabrics for 20-somethings. This is a substantive book about design and techniques.
Profile Image for Kayla.
27 reviews
October 25, 2014
The free-motion quilting part was informative and well-done, but I found that the actual quilting projects were not what I would like to create. They were a bit too wild and loud-looking for me.
Profile Image for Jill.
56 reviews
July 13, 2022
A lot of great ideas with amazing illustrations and information. This book was certainly well thought out and is quite inspirational for anyone in need of new creative ideas and/or inspiration.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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