Fascinating process made accessible to even
the most modest handler of a sewing needle. (Review by Caroline Smart)
My mum taught me to sew, knit and crochet
at an early age but the world of quilting always seemed hugely complicated and
way beyond my capabilities. However, I do believe that if Elizabeth Betts had
brought out her quilting guide book 50 years earlier, I might have been
encouraged to venture forth into this medium!
Betts’s Beginner’s
Guide to Quilting turns this fascinating process into something that is
accessible to even the most modest handler of a sewing needle.
Her designs are bright and uncluttered.
The book is well-illustrated and her comments and guidelines are chatty and
non-academic. You almost feel as if your teacher is sitting beside you.
Carefully explaining the kind of tools and
equipment required as well as their purpose, Betts discusses the various
techniques from simple hand-piecing through to the creation of the charming
quilt featured on the cover of the book and, my favourites, the Grab and Sew Quilt and the Here and There Quilt.
Basically, you can get as complicated as
you have the time or the initiative for – and the imagination can run riot. One
of her wall hangings – Scooter Strips
- is a quirky take on the traditional log cabin quilt block. A Funky Town Wall Hanging features a row
of houses with open windows and fun figures inside – inspired by the Victorian
terrace houses seen all over Britain.
The book features 16 large and small
projects. There is also a quick glossary list of common quilting and sewing
terms as well as a helpful list of suppliers throughout South Africa
Elizabeth (Liz) Betts runs a quilt
studio/shop based in her home town of Brighton and Hove in the UK. She has a
gentle approach to quilt-making, believing that enjoying what you are making is
as important as the finished result. Her work has featured in countless
galleries and exhibitions. She lives with her husband and two children, as well
as an old retired greyhound and a whippet - each having their own handmade
quilts!
Beginner's Guide to Quilting by Elizabeth Betts is printed in soft cover by
Random Struik and retails at R220. ISBN: 9781432303402 – Caroline Smart
The book
is also available in Afrikaans.
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