Quilter's Academy Vol. 2 - Sophomore Year: A Skill-Building Course In Quiltmaking

I have both books,,,,,one and two of the Quilters Academy ( actually Freshman and Sophomore) I really like this book because it goes into more detail on things I would have had a difficult time figuring out on my own.I had no idea what, " on point" was, or how to set squares other than straight~ yet the diagonal set looked very pretty to me~While I did not make all the quilts from Book 1, it is b/c I have made quilt tops before( on a very easy level), however the information still is quite valuable bc it tells you WHY you are doing something,,,,, instead of learning to blindly follow any given pattern. I am a person who wants to know the hows and whys of design.I learned to knit years ago, and my goal at that time was to be able to design on my own.. any garment. for any size. and be able to add in colorwork or cables to any particular yarn I was choosing to use. I wanted to create my own patterns!It took me a long time and a LOT of reading to attain this goal but I can do what I had set out to doI am finding that it comes down to simple math, (in knitting and also with quilting), so a calculator is a great tool no matter which needleart I happen to be are working on.I really love this second book b/c it is challenging( for me) at this level and while I am still having fun making simple quilts, I plan to work my way thru this book and take my time so I can learn properly. I have 7 grandchildren who want quilts and also our own home and lake home really could use some pretty quilts to lay over the bedspreads ( My taste is New England Cape Cod style, I have Martha Washington bedspreads made from the looms in Maine for all the bedrooms) I would love to lay a pretty folded quilt at the end of each bed to add some color to the bedrooms, or find some lovely quilt holders!The thing is, while I have a love for more historical furnishings, machine sewn quilts will be a great advantage to my decor bc one can purchase reproduction fabrics and have a great time learning about the kind of quilts made at any time in our Nation's history.I dont know a whole lot about the quilting background, ( yet) but I have never seen a patchwork quilt when in Germany or Italy, so I think they are unique to our history here ( I could be wrong, I have not done the research yet)Regardless, I have seen lots of quilts that are from the Civil War era and they truly fascinate me, yet I will do some more Modern quilts for the grandchildren's rooms, complete w/ some " wonky" ( as they call it) Log Cabin Squares ( I am not overly fond of those, but this is per request ) And it may turn out to be a good deal of fun to do a few of those for the kids!You just do not see books that actually TEACH in the needlearts today! I had to search this series out as I knew very little about* non pattern* books,,,,,,I wanted to purchase teaching books that I could refer to time and time again,,,,,,,and understand WHY I was doing a particular step to create the quilt I would be working on. I plan on getting the Heirloom quilting book next so I can learn to quilt on my machine. This may seem to be a lot to do, but I do want to try before I would send anything out to be quilted,, and I have read that with time and patience, your skills can grow. I think being thrifty was something the early quilters did on a very regular basis ( Being thrifty is something that never goes out of vogue!)Thanks to the ladies that wrote these books for people like me that really want to learn the hows and whys of quilting.Design will stem from a greater understanding of how to use this newly acquired information, and while I am aware there are many computer aides to design quilts,,,, I prefer the old fashioned way~ graph paper, and colored pencilsI do the EXACT same thing when I am designing a sweater, especially in Fair Isle ( 2 handed knitting)When traveling I have designed a Fair Isle sweater by taking my colored pencils to a very high spot overlooking the Great Lakes on Mackinac Island in Michigan. I climbed to the highesst point on the island , and the view was nothing less than breathtaking.There is no other way for me to design and understand color than by looking at nature,,,,my gardens( as well as other gardens) and even the different shades of water and stones , background trees etc really DO inspire me, so I know I will not be one to use the computer programs. And the ladies that have created some of the most fantastic quilts did not use a computer either,,,,,they used what they had on hand and trusted their own sense of color ( if they had the choice that is!) so I am in fine company~A huge thank you to the authors that took the time to write this series! It may take me awhile to work my way thru it,,,,but I will have a good understanding of techniques I would have struggled with otherwise.

Very helpful with learning to quilt. Start with the first book and move forward.

I purchased Volume 1 as well and have Volume 3 on reserve...this is a good resource set, explains the basics of quilt making, from buying and preparing fabrics, how to determine good fabric from not so good, tips on rulers and other supplies and even included some yardage charts for easier figuring. The designs of the quilts are not my style, but the information is good and can be applied to other patterns as well. If you are a beginner, I highly recommend, if you are an average quilter, this book can offer a few tips, we never get so good that we can't learn more.

I am reading this book and have learned quite a lot of information on how to make more accurate quilting techniques. There are many informative chapters on all things pertaining to improving your quilting skills.I haven't had a chance to actually use lessons in making a quilt, but I have purchase my fabrics, (some of which I am waiting for the delivery of additional fabrics.I have watched Harriet Hargrave during the past years where she aooeared in different quilting programs. I will not be quilting using the techniques in this book until after the first of the year.

I love this collection. I would like to become an accomplished quilter. I've been sewing for years. But quilting is exact! If if is Not correctly sewn it will Not look right. I hate correcting sewing mistakes. I recommend these books for anyone that is serious for quilting. I haven't read the other volumes of this set yet, but I will. The lessons, or classes in this book are split up. The practice pieces are not necessarily finished. But just that. Sew and learn as you go. You can buy fabric pcs to practice or use what you have. But I love the lessons step by step. Have fun without stress.

My small quilt guild is nearly finished with Vol. 1. Each month one of our members presents a section to the group. Even our long time quilters say they learn something new each time. We start Vol. 2 in January and hope to complete all four volumes and graduate. Harriet Hargrave actually lives in the Denver area and owns a quilt shop here. Having met her several times, I was sure these books would be a success. She's got loads of common sense and always looking for a better way to complete a project. Quilter's Academy Vol. 1--Freshman Year: A Skill-Building Course in Quiltmaking

The whole series or volumes are the best teaching tools. Clear and concise, step by step Instructions from sophomore volume to senior volume. You will learn about setting sewing area, selection of essential tools and supplies, quilting fabrics, cutting and piecing. It is just like going to a 4-year college degree in quilting. Get these book-->the 4 of them and get quilting!

I believe that the class 210 and 220 in this book are a bit of a repeat of the information in the Freshman Year book, but it bears repeating. After those classes this book improves on the Freshman Year skills and shows you how to set on point, setting triangles, adding sashing, planning diagonal sets, bar sets, zigzag sets and more. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that doesn't have a teacher and is learning to quilt from books!

An excellent addition to the quilter's bookshelf. Ideal for the beginner and the expert. It is a follow on the Quilter's Academy One and builds on the lessons in that book. It is written so that everything is clearly explained and set out. the tone is that of a good teacher keen to see the student do well but also understanding that the readers will have different levels of knowledge and expertise. I cannot recommend it highly enough

Not only does HH teach you how to piece, she teaches you how to figure out things for yourself. This is what I wanted from a patchwork class, to learn a skill, not how to make a particular project.

A must have for an excellent grounding in producing quality quilts without losing the fun of quilting. Recommend for both beginners and the expert.

Clear precise instructions. This book keeps me on track and I am able to develop my quilting skills and expand my knowledge of the terminology that is the language of quilting.

Great set of books...have all 5