Wise craft quilts A guide to turning beloved fabrics into meaningful patchwork

*Starred Review* For many, quilting is the ultimate recycling. Vintage or second-hand fabrics, whether from cherished events and persons or thrift-shop finds, provide the foundation for Stocker's collection of 21 quilts, all with amazing stories attached. In fact, Stocker goes a few steps further in encouraging each quilter, novice or experienced, to give all of us permission to cut into that special fabric. That said, she launches in media res with the Willy Loman Quilt, composed of sample swatches collected, most probably, by a salesperson. Other quilts creatively incorporate baby clothing, old denim apparel, a wedding dress, even marathoners' racing bibs made of Tyvek. Each includes a selection of color photographs, graphics when necessary, and instructions to calm any beginner. Along the way, Stocker teaches readers about boro (the Japanese tattered cloth), the humility block, the Japanese style of taupe fabric that resembles tones of natural clay soil, and cyanotype (saving memories via sun printing). There are templates, quilt labels, and a list of resources. A memory-filled way to preserve personal stories.--Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2017 Booklist

Stocker (Wise Craft) specializes in breathing new life into found and vintage supplies, and her first sewing book takes a variety of textiles, including vintage handkerchiefs and tablecloths, upholstery samples, baby clothes, and a wedding dress, and transforms them into quilts. Her aesthetic is decidedly modern (Denyse Schmidt, who wrote the foreword, is a good comparison), and her keen eye for color and design shine throughout the projects, which span many styles, including both precise and improvisational piecing. For quilters accustomed to sewing with cotton fabric, working with denim or Tyvek race bibs can be a challenge, and Stocker includes plenty of guidance for effectively using these nontraditional quilt fabrics. VERDICT There are so many innovative projects in this impressive collection that it's difficult to pick a standout. Quilters interested in nontraditional -textiles will be inspired. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.