Book excerpt: Quilting is a hugely popular pastime, with many people all over the world producing beautiful quilts to be displayed as wall hangings for display, as well as to be used as bedcovers and throws. Now available in paperback, this best-selling title is THE essential guide to quilting. This book aims to cover all the basic techniques that are used in making a quilt, whatever kind you might wish to create. Learn about materials and equipment, and choosing the right sewing machine to work for you in chapter 1, then move onto fabrics and their characteristics in the following chapter. A section on colour and pattern will help you design your quilt, as you decide which of the quilt-making traditions you are most drawn to: wholecloth and strippy quilts, pieced quilts, appliquéd quilts, embellished quilts or folded quilts. With inspirational photographs of traditional and well-loved designs in each section, as well as specific techniques that apply to each quilt, you will be spoilt for choice. There is also a section on the care, cleaning and storage of quilts, as well as a glossary of quilt-making terms. This comprehensive guide also offers clear instructions and hundreds of illustrations and diagrams to show each stage of the quilting process. It’ll be the one resource that you will turn to time and time again.