Fusible Magic by Nancy Johnson-Srebro, softback published by C&T Publishing in the USA. ISBN 978-1-57120-858-3, price 21.95 US dollars from www.ctpub.com

If you are looking for quick to make quilts, stop by this book. It has 9 patterns to make in a day plus 23 pattern shapes. Fusible projects are quick and easy. Lots of added inspiration offered by the gallery. Learn how to make templates, choose fabrics and fuse without fuss. I like the Rising Star Medallion pattern best. Includes a 100 favourite simple blocks.

Rotary Cutting Revolution by Anita Grossman Solomon, softback published by C&T Publishing in the USA. ISBN 978-1-57120-829-3, price 29.95 from www.ctpub.com

A quick, one-step way to cut your fabric. Big designs and ideas are made possible with this simple cutting technique. I like the Xcentric, Arrowhead, Old Italian and Stripes quilts. Full of useful ideas, blocks and time-saving methods, this book is for all quilters. Block guides and cutting chart included.

Quilted Symphony by Gloria Loughman, softback published by C&T Publishing in the USA. ISBN 978-1-57120-660-2, price 29.95 US dollars from www.ctpub.com

First of all, let me say the design is outstanding. Gloria shares the things that inspire her, she discusses the basics of design and composition. Discover how to transfer your ideas into design. Get ahead with colour by following Gloria’s ideas for schemes. Add colour with paints. All about the basics and construction and so much detail. Great examples of finished works. Recommended for all quilters.

Secrets of Digital Quilting by L. Schwarz-Smith and K.C. Smith, softack published by C&T Publishing in the USA. ISBN 978-1571-2065-96, price 27.99 US dollars available from www. ctpub.com

This is an absorbing guide to making quilts with the aid of a digital camera and computer. It tells you all you need, how to get images from your camera onto your fabric, how to embellish your design. Includes basics, design and construction of quilts. It includes eight projects, twenty five techniques and embellishing with paints and inks and lots more.

If you have ever wanted to use your camera and computer to create fabulous quilts, this is the book for you. Great insider knowledge is provided as ’secrets’. How to get the best from your camera, use Photoshop and print onto fabric.

The Gentle Art of Quilt-Making by Jane Brocket, hardback published by Collins & Brown. ISBN 978-1-84340-533-7, price 20.00 from www.anovabooks.com

A quality feel to this book full of glorious quilt designs. It comes out tops for design, colour and is an absolute must for the beginner with its simple way of quilting. What I like most about this book, is it gives the basic design ideas – a small storyboard of how the designer approached the design. Something you can expand upon or come up with your own themes and unique designs. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

A Baker’s Dozen from the staff at That Patchwork Place, softback published by Martingale Press in the USA. ISBN 978-1-56477-975-5, price 21.99 US dollars from www.martingale-pub.com

Nothing to do with baking but rather cooking the quilt blocks! If you have ever bought a jelly roll or layer cake and it is lying around gathering dust – get yourself a copy of this wonderful book for 13 very good recipes for beautiful quilts. Some unusual shapes are used. I love the ladybirds (ladybugs) and the circle cushions. As with all the Patchwork Place books, it has good instructions with templates where necessary and great designs.

The Quilt: New Directions for an American Tradition by Quilt National, softback published by Schiffer Books. ISBN 0-916838-92-7, price 10.95 US dollars available from www.schifferbooks.com, and in the UK and EU, price 9.95 GBP from www.bushwoodbooks.co.uk

The first thing I have to mention is that this book represents quilts from a 1983 exhibition of Quilt national. Quilting had just come of age, it had left the grandmother image behind and made steps towards being an art form. So why would I recommend that you buy this book, 27 years on? For two reasons, one it stands as a historical record of those early days and two it has some jolly good designs inside. See what was considered breaking ground then and compare to today’s quilts. Nicely presented although the text sections look dated now, many of the quilts stand the test of time.

Quilting Traditions by Patricia J Herr, published by Schiffer Books. ISBN 0-7643-1121-2, price 29.95 US dollars available from www.schifferbooks.com in the USA, and 24.95 GBP in the UK and EU from www.bushwoodbooks.com

This book serves a dual purpose, a record of historical quilts along with the people who made them and an inspirational tool for traditional quilt design. Subtitled ‘Pieces From the Past’ it traces the history of quilting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA. The text is interesting and informative and the book is well illustrated. All types of quilts are covered from log cabin and crazy quilting to motifs particular to the region. If you are interested in quilting and the history of quilting, this should prove useful.

Sashiko Style, softback published by Japan Publications Trading Co. Ltd/Joie Inc. ISBN 978-4-88996-214-7, price 13.50 in the Uk, 17.95 US dollars, available from www.jpbooks.co.uk

If you have not discovered sashiko yet, it’s time you did. This is the perfect book to help you. It includes many sashiko stitches with clear photographs of a sample piece as well as a diagram of how to work the pattern. The patterns are divided into different types. Complete instructions are given for basics too. This book has several projects that I think you will want to work, I know I do. The stitch directory also makes you want to create your own projects. This book is therefore useful for complete beginners onwards. As a bonus, this book includes life-size patterns. It is in English, but you should be bale to work out the patterns from the diagrams alone anyway. An excellent book on sashiko that I highly recommend.

Tile Quilt Revival by Bobbi Finley and Carol Gilham Jones, softback published by CT Publishing. ISBN 978-1-57120-801-9, price 23.95 from www.ctpub.com

Reinventing a Forgotten Form, this book brings tile quilts back to life. I love the front Lotus front cover design. This book gives a history of tile quilts. Easy to follow instructions on how to make quilts with the applique method. Discover how to simplify a pattern for a tile quilt and how to design your own tile quilt.