Design, Make, Quilt Modern: Taking a Quilt from Inspiration to Reality

I'm about a third of the way through it and already this is the most useful book on design I have ever read. I never intended to design my own quilts. But first I added some extra rows to a pattern quilt I was making. Then I started modifying more parts of the pattern on quilts I was making. Finally I began designing my own quilts, mostly from the seat of my pants. What I find incredibly useful about this book is that it is giving structure and a better understanding to elements that I (sometimes) intuitively included. But, best of all, this book is really about helping the reader design their own quilt. Other design books I have read have typically been a more rigid "here is how I design" presentation. Ms. Black uses her quilts as examples to illustrate the various principles and ideas but emphasizes that what is most important is if it feels right for you! Also, while she includes many tips and guidelines (which is why I am reading it slowly so as to absorb them) she emphasizes that all tips don't always apply and don't always need to be front of mind. What a relief! As a result I am not only learning skills, I am also learning to approach design with a sense of joyfulness.

Love this book. Heather Blacks teaches readers how to look at the world in order to design quilts. Really opened my eyes. Highly recommended.

This book is great !! A nice addition to quilt book library