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Use and Ornament: An Exploration of the Improv Quilt

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Use and The History and Future of Improv Quilting invites crafters to open the door to creative freedom with free-spirited quilter Nick Ball’s improvisation techniques.

Throw away your patterns and let your imagination soar! Nick Ball’s techniques will offer a liberated approach to sewing and open up a world of creative possibilities. As you experiment with textures, shapes, and colors, you’ll find your own creative way of quilting.

Use and Ornament is a great resource that takes the reader through a journey of the many facets of quilt-making expertise, from preparation, through the elements of design, to completion using the perfect balance of guided instruction and creative freedom.

Includes Color Illustrations

236 pages, Hardcover

Published July 9, 2024

3 people are currently reading
24 people want to read

About the author

Nicholas Ball

25 books

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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Profile Image for Robin.
914 reviews
August 8, 2024
(The author's name is Nicholas Ball. )
This book is really several quilt-related books in one: an introduction to the author, a brief history of improvisatory quilts (Welsh quilts, crazy quilts, Gee's Bench quilts), eleven interviews with contemporary quilters, a brief section on tools and notions, eight quilt processes (not patterns, but illustrated by specific quilts), and a word about collaboration focused on working with the long-arm quilter who finishes Nicholas Ball's quilts. Accompanied with lots of full-sized colored photographs of quilts and details, this is definitely an inspirational not-just-for-your-coffee-table book.
Profile Image for Alyson.
824 reviews6 followers
February 7, 2025
"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

Thanks to the public library I've had this beauty around to read little by little about improv quilts. I'm still on my hiatus from Insta, so I went straight to the quilter websites. Fascinating. Very intrigued to try some of these approaches featured in this book.
Profile Image for Sue.
568 reviews
December 27, 2024
A lovely book, interesting quilters, and history of improv quilting.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews

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