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Modern Quilt Magic: 5 Parlor Tricks to Expand Your Piecing Skills
Grow your cache of quilter's tricks with 5 awe-inspiring patchwork techniques that are easier than they appear. Learn a new piecing trick in just 15 minutes or less, and watch your skills soar to a whole new level. Say "presto!" with partial seams for both quilts and blocks, Y-seams, mini improv piecing, and free-form curves. Victoria Findlay Wolfe shares 17 projects, including the eye-fooling Herringbone and LeMoyne Star quilt patterns, plus full-size templates and 6 quilt coloring pages to help you work your own quilt magic.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2017
53 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 23, 2017
If you don't want to make a herringbone quilt, skip this book.
October 28, 2017
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Modern Quilt Magic: 5 Parlor Tricks to Expand Your Piecing Skills by Victoria Findlay Wolfe, © 2017
17 Captivating Projects
*· A magic wand for quilters! Take the fear out of tricky piecing with simple, step-by-step instructions
*· Piece 17 projects for intermediate-level quilters, including 12 quilts and 5 smaller pillows and mini quilts
*· Stitch new takes on well-known techniques with award-winning quilter Victoria Findlay Wolfe
My Review:
I preordered a signed copy of Modern Quilt Magic in July after seeing the wonky colors! Love how they are put together in an irregular pattern and not matching at all! Loved it!! The patterns of our lives are not following a trail of another but rather the path God sets before us, individually.
"Cascade" is what drew me in!
Arrange the Pieces
On a design wall (or the floor), arrange the pieces to create a gradational effect. I started with pairs of left and right curves from the same fabrics in an arc. Then I played with some, making matching pairs into V's and filling in with other single curves. Use the photo as a reference and have fun seeing how your fabrics work together from dark to light and back again!
Modern Quilt Magic, 113
This scrappy quilt pattern shows Fabrics, Crib, Twin, Full, Queen, and King along with how to make the curve. Step-by-step is shown with instructions on cutting and arranging the pieces; constructing and joining the rows and finishing.
"Cascade" Victoria Findlay Wolfe, 2016, quilted by Shelly Pagliai
Here are topics covered: Partial-Seam Construction; Blocks with Partial Seams; Mini Made Fabric; Y-Seams; Free-Form Curves; with Coloring Design Pages and Patterns with a notation to "use a ruler to measure these inch marks to verify that printout is correctly sized."
I enjoyed this book so much I wanted to share it!
***This review was written in my own words. No compensation was received. I preordered this book from the author's website.***
Modern Quilt Magic: 5 Parlor Tricks to Expand Your Piecing Skills by Victoria Findlay Wolfe, © 2017
17 Captivating Projects
*· A magic wand for quilters! Take the fear out of tricky piecing with simple, step-by-step instructions
*· Piece 17 projects for intermediate-level quilters, including 12 quilts and 5 smaller pillows and mini quilts
*· Stitch new takes on well-known techniques with award-winning quilter Victoria Findlay Wolfe
My Review:
I preordered a signed copy of Modern Quilt Magic in July after seeing the wonky colors! Love how they are put together in an irregular pattern and not matching at all! Loved it!! The patterns of our lives are not following a trail of another but rather the path God sets before us, individually.
"Cascade" is what drew me in!
Arrange the Pieces
On a design wall (or the floor), arrange the pieces to create a gradational effect. I started with pairs of left and right curves from the same fabrics in an arc. Then I played with some, making matching pairs into V's and filling in with other single curves. Use the photo as a reference and have fun seeing how your fabrics work together from dark to light and back again!
Modern Quilt Magic, 113
This scrappy quilt pattern shows Fabrics, Crib, Twin, Full, Queen, and King along with how to make the curve. Step-by-step is shown with instructions on cutting and arranging the pieces; constructing and joining the rows and finishing.
"Cascade" Victoria Findlay Wolfe, 2016, quilted by Shelly Pagliai
Here are topics covered: Partial-Seam Construction; Blocks with Partial Seams; Mini Made Fabric; Y-Seams; Free-Form Curves; with Coloring Design Pages and Patterns with a notation to "use a ruler to measure these inch marks to verify that printout is correctly sized."
I enjoyed this book so much I wanted to share it!
***This review was written in my own words. No compensation was received. I preordered this book from the author's website.***
Read
June 5, 2025Enjoying the Bright Hopes Block instructions so far... just scratching the surface of what is here. Glad to say my first attempt at the Bright Hopes pattern has been completed. It was a bit rushed, but I hope to revisit this pattern again in the future.
For a beginning quilter I'd recommend a book with more basic patterns like Triple Rail pattern or basic Nine Patch. Modern Quilt Magic has much to offer both intermediate and advanced quilters. Victoria Findlay Wolfe also has partnered with several others in bringing her most recent exhibits to fruition.
Victoria Findlay Wolfe is known for her 15 minutes of play strategy for using up scraps and engaging sewists in creative exercises. Her patterns can also be found in "Quilting with a Modern Slant" by Rachel May and the March/April 2013 issue of Quiltmaker Magazine. She is known for her large scale geometric patterns and bold use of color.
Seeing her exhibit in person in recent years at the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, NE was a treat. I am thankful for the friend in the Modern Quilt Guild who introduced me to her work and prompted me to take time out to see the work of others in the Manhattan Quilter's Guild while their exhibit was on display here in Nebraska.
For a beginning quilter I'd recommend a book with more basic patterns like Triple Rail pattern or basic Nine Patch. Modern Quilt Magic has much to offer both intermediate and advanced quilters. Victoria Findlay Wolfe also has partnered with several others in bringing her most recent exhibits to fruition.
Victoria Findlay Wolfe is known for her 15 minutes of play strategy for using up scraps and engaging sewists in creative exercises. Her patterns can also be found in "Quilting with a Modern Slant" by Rachel May and the March/April 2013 issue of Quiltmaker Magazine. She is known for her large scale geometric patterns and bold use of color.
Seeing her exhibit in person in recent years at the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, NE was a treat. I am thankful for the friend in the Modern Quilt Guild who introduced me to her work and prompted me to take time out to see the work of others in the Manhattan Quilter's Guild while their exhibit was on display here in Nebraska.
August 26, 2017
I just received and finished this book. There is so much to explore and enjoy here. If you have not tried partial seams before, the instructions and illustrations are clear and make sense. The projects build on the technique and then you will discover the artistry of Victoria Findlay Wolf as she shares various patterns and secondary patterns that emerge from using the techniques, value and color.
Y-seams and curved piecing "tricks" are also explained and then more amazing design combinations including some improve piecing.
In my opinion, you need to be an intermediate level or a very confident and accurate beginner. However, I love that Victoria Findlay Wolf has given us a modern esthetic with some traditional techniques to take our quilt piecing to another degree of complexity.
Y-seams and curved piecing "tricks" are also explained and then more amazing design combinations including some improve piecing.
In my opinion, you need to be an intermediate level or a very confident and accurate beginner. However, I love that Victoria Findlay Wolf has given us a modern esthetic with some traditional techniques to take our quilt piecing to another degree of complexity.
January 15, 2022
Solid 4.5 star book.
A wise man I knew once said, "Anyone can make something simple complicated. True genius is seen when one makes the complex simple."
She has made an effort to explain some piecing techniques which can be challenging in a way that makes them feel simple and doable. Her text encourages not only trying to techniques but trying them with confidence that this WILL work for you and turn out beautifully.
The illustrations are excellent with clear graphics to indicate steps and examples of actual quilts done a couple of different ways with the same technique applied. This is a great book to have as a resource and well worth checking out from the library.
A wise man I knew once said, "Anyone can make something simple complicated. True genius is seen when one makes the complex simple."
She has made an effort to explain some piecing techniques which can be challenging in a way that makes them feel simple and doable. Her text encourages not only trying to techniques but trying them with confidence that this WILL work for you and turn out beautifully.
The illustrations are excellent with clear graphics to indicate steps and examples of actual quilts done a couple of different ways with the same technique applied. This is a great book to have as a resource and well worth checking out from the library.
November 28, 2019
Really! That was easy!
I have been reading every quilting book, looking at pictures trying to figure out how it was done. With the book, after skimming it on my initial run, I got it! I was not sitting there after thinking "I have no idea what you are talking about". It is so refreshing to read an instruction book ;on quilting) then wanting to just get to it. And the HUGE bonus, I made a mistake in my very 1st braid quilt. Don't want to rip seams or do it all over. Now, I can just remove mistake and insert new section!
I have been reading every quilting book, looking at pictures trying to figure out how it was done. With the book, after skimming it on my initial run, I got it! I was not sitting there after thinking "I have no idea what you are talking about". It is so refreshing to read an instruction book ;on quilting) then wanting to just get to it. And the HUGE bonus, I made a mistake in my very 1st braid quilt. Don't want to rip seams or do it all over. Now, I can just remove mistake and insert new section!
December 9, 2017
Looking for something different in quilting books? This is it.
Wow-I can see why this quilter is famous. Techniques in this book are not seen in any other quilt books I have come across, and I have read about 300 books!
While most of this is beyond my patience level, I will try the partial seam blocks, and will review and digest her suggestions on looking at things.
Wow-I can see why this quilter is famous. Techniques in this book are not seen in any other quilt books I have come across, and I have read about 300 books!
While most of this is beyond my patience level, I will try the partial seam blocks, and will review and digest her suggestions on looking at things.
January 8, 2023
Most of the designs don't catch my eye, but ones she calls "mini made fabric" interest me a lot. They look great and use up scraps. I also appreciate that she includes several sampler projects in case you want to try a technique without making an entire quilt.
January 12, 2018
If it was not for seeing a video of Victoria demonstrating the herringbone technique I'd find the illustrations to be an even more daunting guide. I do enjoy her enthusiasm.
January 26, 2018
I love the methods she shares! Can't wait to try some more of them. Directions are very clear.
January 29, 2019
Enjoyed reading this, and now I am enjoying practicing the skills included in the parlor tricks. The quilt Cascade is a bucket list quilt for me!
May 11, 2021
Partial seams, Y-seams and curved piecing techniques. I don't want to make any of the projects but appreciate her explanations.
January 19, 2025
This is the best & most dynamic book I’ve read on y seams!
October 14, 2017
Lovely layout and good explanations on various techniques. Perhaps too structured an approach for me right now but some tempting design ideas for later?
Read
March 15, 2018Pretty book. Printed in the USA. I like her writing and general commentary. While Wolfe and I have very different color sensibilities, I can appreciate her quilts and the book's projects. I find this book makes me more accepting of my own different style. I can and have done partial seam construction but the thought of doing a whole quilt of them is more than I can stand! Maybe someday I'll try free-form curves. Library book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews