Quilting: 20 mindful makes to reconnect head, heart & hands (Mindful Makes)

by Elli Beaven

In Conscious Crafts: Quilting, maker Elli Beaven reveals the meditative nature of the quilting process and its empowering skill set for creating, mending and mindfulness.

Making is mindfulness made practical, and quilting is a renowned and rewarding craft. Drawing on the traditions of hand quilting, Elli has created 20 modern makes, ranging from simple coasters, bags and cushions to quilts and curtains. She shares the basic techniques of quilting and shows how these can be adapted and developed for different projects, as well as mending and repurposing.

Clean photography, contemporary illustration and heart-affirming text are neatly sewn together to celebrate handwork and the act of crafting for a sustainable future.

The projects: patchwork coasters; strip trivets; needle book; storage basket; patched pencil case; slow stitch bag; rainbow cross body bag; clamshell beach bag; coaster and waste not cushions; wild fan, border, log cabin, butterfly play and ad astra quilts; arrow wall hanging; patchwork curtain; and mending under and over patching.

Packed with inspiring ideas and practical guidance, Conscious Crafts: Quilting gives you the skills to get started with this fulfilling craft, and shows how the quilting process and the satisfaction of creating your own unique makes can benefit your well-being.

The Conscious Crafts series places mindfulness and well-being at the heart of making. Picking out proven meditative crafts and bespoke authors, these practical, contemporary guides are an inviting introduction to reconnecting head, heart, and hands.

Also available from the series: Conscious Crafts: Pottery.

• ISBN13: 9780711257450
• Publish Date: 3 August 2021
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: The Ivy Press
• Imprint: Leaping Hare
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 144
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Conscious Crafts: Quilting is a simple and appealing quilting manual with tutorials by Elli Beaven. Due out 31st Aug 2021 from Quarto on their Leaping Hare imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
The layout is logical and easy to understand. The introduction covers tools, materials, and supplies, and a short but accessible technique primer. The following chapters contain the project tutorials starting small and simple and moving on to pieced projects including a small pencil case with zipper, quilted beach bag, soft furnishings, and more. Each tutorial contains an introduction, tools and supplies listed bullet style (both American and metric measures are given), and step by step instructions. All of the tutorials include clear line drawings of the steps as well as a color photo of the finished project.

The projects are simple enough and without so many pieces that full size templates are not necessary. It's worth noting that this book provides instructions for both hand and machine sewing and piecing. Both UK and American terms are used for equivalent processes and items throughout: wadding/batting and zip/zipper for example. I liked that the author's emphasis throughout is on conscious process and mindfulness as well as upcycling and re-using fabric.

Really appealing projects. The graphics and colors throughout are restful; chiefly blues and neutrals. This would make a superlative selection for a makers' group, home workshop library, gift (with sewing supplies?), or similar. This would also appeal to handcrafters looking to learn new skills in the weird and stressful post-lockdown limbo we all find ourselves in these days.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.