Handfuls of Scraps - Pieced into Amazing Quilts

Well, I bought this book because I had seen a quilt from it on Facebook and it looked complicated enough that I wanted the book that had the pattern. I am an advanced quilter who has been quilting for at least 30 years. I can only comment on the one pattern that I immediately began to make. The pattern is called Slow and Steady and is a hexagon with Snails Trails blocks. In just two days I discovered that the pattern was had you piece it one way for the first two steps but then reverses so that if you use the picture in the book, you will get it wrong wrong wrong. Luckily I hadn't sewn the pieces together as I always put things up on a design wall and it just looked wrong but I thought it was my color choices but inadvertently turned some pieces around when putting them up. That was how I discovered her instructions were incorrect. I went to her website to look for errata but there were none. I wrote to her and she said I was correct and that it had been corrected -- I bought this book a couple of weeks ago....She commented she had five editors but it is clear to me that she did not have a beta tester try her written instructions or they would have easily seen the problems. I was also appalled by the lack of direction on how to assemble the units. There is a general picture but no directions on the order of piecing. I made up my own and put it on my blog. It was not as difficult to put together as I had anticipated but certainly well beyond the capabilities of a beginning or moderate quilter without more instructions. I won't buy another book from this self-publisher I can't speak for the rest of the patterns. There seems to be varying levels of instructions for the different quilts. The first picture is the way it goes together correctly when using her first two steps of instructions while the second picture shows how it was supposed to go together. You will note the swirls go in the opposite direction and steps one and two were wrong to get the final quilt.

If you love the "look" of Edyta Sitar's quilts, their vintage golden color palette and fabric mixtures from batiks to 19th century prints, each of her books is worth buying. Continuing the style of "Reasons for Quilts" the first section of this book features antique quilts from the Sitar Family Collection. Next a few pages with tips for construction and fabric selection. The third section details Edyta's new quilts inspired by the older ones including the English Paper Piecing method to make the cover quilt. In a style which predates the Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts of the 1920s and 30s quilt revival era, this design was called Mosaic in the 19th century. While hand sewing lots and lots of little shapes together may seem overwhelmingly slow, the method is portable and relaxing.

I am a big fan of Edyta Sitar. I love the way she combines her love of old quilts with her designs of today. My friend is busy working on her cover quilt, while I have chosen to begin with her baskets. And beginning with the cover quilt, who wouldn't want to turn every page in this book? That border is outrageous and the hexies are so much fun.

Edyta has a wonderful style and her books are very collectable and wonderfull just to read and look at the pictures. Patterns are really easy and look hard.

The illustrations and patterns are wonderful. Looking forward to hours of stitching from this book. Purchased it for the cover quilt, but there are many that are just as beautiful inside the covers.

This was a gift to my sister, who loves to quilt. She is happy with this book.

I really love this book. I adore antique quilts and this gives you beautiful photos to look at closely of her personally owned and museum quilts. The author then takes you to producing these quilts in today’s world. Fantastic.

Beautiful book and great instructions!

Very good book. Interesting patterns and easy to understand directions.

Love them

Well, I bought this book because I had seen a quilt from it on Facebook and it looked complicated enough that I wanted the book that had the pattern. I am an advanced quilter who has been quilting for at least 30 years. I can only comment on the one pattern that I immediately began to make. The pattern is called Slow and Steady and is a hexagon with Snails Trails blocks. In just two days I discovered that the pattern was had you piece it one way for the first two steps but then reverses so that if you use the picture in the book, you will get it wrong wrong wrong. Luckily I hadn't sewn the pieces together as I always put things up on a design wall and it just looked wrong but I thought it was my color choices but inadvertently turned some pieces around when putting them up. That was how I discovered her instructions were incorrect. I went to her website to look for errata but there were none. I wrote to her and she said I was correct and that it had been corrected -- I bought this book a couple of weeks ago....She commented she had five editors but it is clear to me that she did not have a beta tester try her written instructions or they would have easily seen the problems. I was also appalled by the lack of direction on how to assemble the units. There is a general picture but no directions on the order of piecing. I made up my own and put it on my blog. It was not as difficult to put together as I had anticipated but certainly well beyond the capabilities of a beginning or moderate quilter without more instructions. I won't buy another book from this self-publisher I can't speak for the rest of the patterns. There seems to be varying levels of instructions for the different quilts. The first picture is the way it goes together correctly when using her first two steps of instructions while the second picture shows how it was supposed to go together. You will note the swirls go in the opposite direction and steps one and two were wrong to get the final quilt.

If you love the "look" of Edyta Sitar's quilts, their vintage golden color palette and fabric mixtures from batiks to 19th century prints, each of her books is worth buying. Continuing the style of "Reasons for Quilts" the first section of this book features antique quilts from the Sitar Family Collection. Next a few pages with tips for construction and fabric selection. The third section details Edyta's new quilts inspired by the older ones including the English Paper Piecing method to make the cover quilt. In a style which predates the Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts of the 1920s and 30s quilt revival era, this design was called Mosaic in the 19th century. While hand sewing lots and lots of little shapes together may seem overwhelmingly slow, the method is portable and relaxing.

I am a big fan of Edyta Sitar. I love the way she combines her love of old quilts with her designs of today. My friend is busy working on her cover quilt, while I have chosen to begin with her baskets. And beginning with the cover quilt, who wouldn't want to turn every page in this book? That border is outrageous and the hexies are so much fun.

Edyta has a wonderful style and her books are very collectable and wonderfull just to read and look at the pictures. Patterns are really easy and look hard.

The illustrations and patterns are wonderful. Looking forward to hours of stitching from this book. Purchased it for the cover quilt, but there are many that are just as beautiful inside the covers.

This was a gift to my sister, who loves to quilt. She is happy with this book.

I really love this book. I adore antique quilts and this gives you beautiful photos to look at closely of her personally owned and museum quilts. The author then takes you to producing these quilts in today’s world. Fantastic.

Beautiful book and great instructions!

Very good book. Interesting patterns and easy to understand directions.

Love them

I'm already a fan of Edyta's and have 3 other books and several patterns by her, but this book is even more inspiring! She is fabulous with color and design and this book tops them all! I highly recommend it.

As always......Edyta Sitar is inspiring. Love her designs. This book is a little different highlighting her families collection and quilts as well as her take on some traditional quilt designs with Edyta's flair.

Love Edyta Sitar's books & this one is wonderful as usual. Good instructions for her lovely quilts

Saw a quilt in this book at a quilt show. Thank goodness the quilter referenced 'Handful of Scraps' on her exhibit information. Book does not disappoint with good directions.

I love this book. It has lots of great quilt patterns to try. I am working on the grandmothers flower pattern. I would recommend it highly as a book purchase.

Great author who simplifies difficult patterns. She is very accomplished, I am hoping to get there!

I love all Edyta Sitar Quilts and books

I LOVE this book.!!! Patterns so beautiful. I hope I can do one of them justice. Thank you.

Arrived quickly. Full of eye candy for the quilter.

Beautiful patterns and great pictures of antique quilts

I look forward to using up my scraps and enjoy Edyta's fabric sensibility!

Wow. I need to start on several.

I've made several projects from this book...love them all.

The quilts are stunning! Would make every one of them if I had the time.

Some great patterns.

Great book with helpful info.

Just thumbed through haven't done any patterns. Very descrptive and detailed. Great for intermediate or advanced sewer and piecer.

Wonderful book. Bought it to make the cover quilt but have found several others that are just as lovely.

love the book many great projects

Fabulous! Amazing designs. Not for the beginner.

Love this new book by Edyta Sitar!

very happy

Wonderful book!!

Wonderful book with a good variety of patterns. I am making the hexie on the cover without the insane border!

Love this beautiful book. It is fun to look at and to pick out my next project. I will be making the quilt on the cover.

Edyta's quilts are amazing:she is so talented and creative.

Beautiful book.

I thought it would have lots of quilt ideas/patterns for quilts made out of hexagons. Instead it has lots of quilts made out of scraps and only this one using hexagons. So I was disappointed as I wanted ideas for hexagons.