Classic to Contemporary String Quilts by Mary M. Hogan

Classic to Contemporary String Quilts

by Mary M. Hogan

From wall hangings to full-size bed quilts, these 14 fun stash-busting projects take string quilts in a new direction. Mary M. Hogan uses strips and scraps of fabric to reimagine traditional and beloved quilt blocks as string blocks.
Get ready for a stylish, fresh take on a time-honoured quilt making technique-string quilts! Strings are strips and scraps of fabric that are usually too small to be useful for most projects, but they're just right for the fun designs in this complete step-by-step guide. Classic to Contemporary String Quilts takes quilters through every step of the string quilting process with helpful tips and suggestions. The front of the book is packed with string quilt techniques followed by 14 quilt projects with clear instructions and diagrams. Author and quilting teacher Mary M. Hogan reimagines many traditional and beloved quilt blocks, like the Card Trick or Churn Dash, as string blocks. Using strings, each classic quilt is unique, and updated for the 21st century with bold colours and contemporary settings.

Reviewed by annieb123 on

4 of 5 stars

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Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Classic to Contemporary String Quilts is a new tutorial guide for using even the tiniest scraps, sewn together ('strings') to make larger units for piecing. The history of quilting contains a lot of frugality. It was relatively rare long ago for fabric to be purchased specifically for quilting or coverlet projects. Scrap baskets contained leftover materials from clothing construction, household furnishings, worn out clothes, etc. These were recycled into quilts and even the smallest pieces were saved and used.

Author Mary M. Hogan is a quilt designer and teacher with several books to her credit. Due out 8th April 2019 on Fox Chapel's Landauer imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is an appealing book. It's full color and lavishly photographed and diagrammed throughout. There's a good introduction and tools and materials list included in the introductory chapter. Worth noting that there are no additional tools necessary for these techniques, other than the basic ones which are likely to already be in the quilter's sewing room.

The basic instructions are followed by more in-depth methods for using every type of scrap, even the tiniest ones. The 13 project tutorials which come after are built on the introductory sections and many of them cleverly utilize the limits of having uneven bits of fabric which don't extend evenly ('disappearing stings') as a bonus, for example to represent bare branches in a still life tree quilt. (loved that one on page 37). There were several of the projects which called out to me. I followed the instructions to piece some basic blocks, including a few churn dash blocks which will see use as a baby quilt for a colleague who's expecting.

There's just something so fundamentally satisfying to me about having and using my 'stash'. I learned to quilt from both of my grandmothers who grew up in the depression and never outgrew the frugality they learned as a necessity during their childhoods. This book speaks to that reluctance to throw any usable scrap away. I'm always on the lookout for clever and attractive ways to 'bust' my stash. This one definitely fits the bill.

This is a nice addition to the quilter's library and especially for those of us who have generous stash baskets, will provide a very satisfying way to use up some of those scraps.

Four stars.

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

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