Quilting makes the quilt. I couldn’t agree more. As I have said before, quilting is quite possibly my favorite part of the whole process of making a quilt.  This is when the quilt comes to life, when it becomes dimensional, when the full vision becomes a reality.

We are beginning a blog series about machine quilting and last week I told you about some of the machine quilting books in my library. I explained how they each represented various aspects of this vast subject and offered insight into machine quilting technique, and then I promised to reveal my favorite book of them all.

Quilting Makes the Quilt by Lee Cleland
This book is a marvel and, understandably, a best-seller. Imagine: Lee Cleland chose twelve traditional quilt patterns and made each one five times using the same fabric and batting. Then, she quilted the quilts in a variety of designs so that we could see in an instant what a difference the quilting makes.

I never tire of looking through this book. It is simply amazing to see the transformations of the quilts based on the way they are quilted. Just by turning the page, you can see the impact of straight-lines versus curved; matching thread versus contrasting; all-over versus custom fit. It is inspirational and educational.

While the quilts certainly steal the show, the book also includes an excellent chapter called “Making Designs Fit”. There are patterns for all twelve quilts and a pull-out section contains many of the quilting designs used on the quilts.

“Something special, even magical, happens when you begin to quilt. Smooth fabrics take on intriguing texture, motifs stand out in crisp relief, and graceful patterns swirl across blocks with no regard for piecing boundaries. Quilting is a process, a stitch-by-stitch transformation of fabric and batting into something difficult to describe and pleasing to behold.”  ~ Lee Cleland

Before Quilting

After Quilting

 Quilting makes the quilt!