Design then quilt A dynamic guide to creating stunning modern quilts

You could substitute almost any craft activity for quilt in this book's title. Roderick provides a framework for observing artwork in its entirety, giving crafters points of reference they can use to examine and improve their work. A painter and quilter, Roderick introduces the elements (lines, shape, form) and principles (contrast, balance, repetition, harmony) of making 3D fabric art. While readers will find useful real-life definitions, such as different types of lines and the four kinds of visual balance, Roderick is quick to admit that this is not a teaching exercise. Rather, she offers a three-step way to use her critique for personal growth. Two final chapters zero in on using templates and techniques to finalize design, whether trapunto or applique. The book culminates in Roderick's design exercises, such as cutting shapes out of black paper to review and shuffle ideas, and best yet, there are 20 full-color pages of her own quilts to inspire.

Roderick (Improv Quilting) presents an insightful primer on how to utilize visual design elements when quilting. She defines value as "the lightness or darkness of a color in relation to other colors" and analyzes how one quilt uses concentric squares of increasingly dark hues to create a sense of depth. Emphasis refers to how viewers' attention is directed within a piece, Roderick explains, noting that some quilts create focal points through a prominent central design while more conventional block pattern pieces distribute emphasis over the quilt's entirety. Detailing a variety of advanced techniques, Roderick describes, for instance, how to do English paper piecing, which involves wrapping fabric over cardboard shapes that are removed after the textiles are sewn together. Though there are no instructions detailing how to complete a quilt from beginning to end, Roderick includes some fun exercises that will flex readers' creative muscles. For example, she suggests cutting out eight black squares of varying sizes and trying out compositions in which the black squares take up more visual space than the white background, and vice versa. The impressive quilts made by Roderick and her students more closely resemble modern art than traditional block designs, showcasing the craft's avant-garde potential. Intermediate and advanced quilters will be inspired to up their game. (Apr.)