Finish (almost) Any Quilt: A Simple Guide to Adapting Quilts to Finish As You Go

I bought this book because I love all aspects of quilting EXCEPT for the actual machine quilting. I learned hand quilting years ago from my grandma. I didn't quilt for many years, then 5-6 years ago I "rediscovered" quilting. I also found a wonderful local quilt shop that I now feel like is my 2nd home. My friends there all did their quilting mainly by machine. They were astonished I did all of mine by hand. They convinced me to give machine quilting a try..I did, and the rest is history as they say. The only issue I have is the actual quilting part. Free motion quilting (fmq) to be exact. I just couldn't get the hang of it. And yes, I am my own worst critic (aren't we all, usually?).I have wonderful machines, even one with a 12" harp; so the issue is me. I find I do fairly well on smaller projects, which is why qayg is right up my alley!I had watched YouTube videos, including Ms. McManus'. I found her to be relatable and clear on her instructions. I also found her video detailing how to make an inexpensive sewing machine table to be a wonderful idea!When I found she had written this book there was no question, I had to have it.Honestly it's been several months since I purchased and thumbed thru it. I was putting the sashing on a quilt top last week when I remembered this book. I pulled it out, and the techniques she used worked perfectly on my quilt top!This is also the 1st time I've loved the back of the quilt almost as much as the front.Also since I've been doing more fmq using her techniques, I did a crib size quilt the "regular" fmq way and its the 1st time I haven't taken out any quilting stitches. My husband couldn't believe it!I also have noticed in the reviews if there is an issue Ms. McManus has personally replied to the reviewer offering help, refunds, and she even recommended several other author's books. Now that's customer service.

Very thorough, carefully organized book that describes in detail the how-tos of author's QAYG (Quilt as you go) quilting techniques. McManus is a total expert and speaks to the reader from years and years of experience. I actually read every word of this book online (kindle) but decided it was so good, I absolutely HAD to have my own hard-copy. The photos are outstanding and support the step-by-step processes she describes. Author really stresses the planning process as being integral for success and speaks directly to the beginner (as well as experienced) quilter. Actually, I am currently making my first quilt and have tried to follow all of McManus' tips and hints. When I didn't (e.g. starching fabric prior to cutting) results were less than best and extra effort to mitigate cost far more effort than had I just followed the author's advice. Quilting is absolutely a learned and practiced skill and this book has helped greatly with both. As a negative, some of the typos are distracting. I wish the author had spent more time on the actual techniques of rotary cutting. The photos of finished quilts, using the QAYG quilting techniques she describes, are inspirational.

Honestly, I had to go back to some different YouTube videos that already existed that showed how to join blocks in a very similar method (everyone knows who makes these videos so I won't list it). This book gives great suggestions on what type of blocks will work better and you will also get very generous measurements on the joining sizes when it come to attaching the blocks. She also shows samples of finished quilts done in this method. Marguerita also gives you her personal overview and insights from her years of experience doing this method which will add so much to your knowledge of not only doing this method but what type of blocks and patterns work better. This alone is worth the book. I will also add that the 22" square ruler I got from Quilt in a Day is almost necessary as a companion tool to be successful in making a big queen quilt as you will want to make your blocks bigger (and consistently the same same size which this huge ruler lets you do on a 22" block). I already joined two big oversized blocks together using her directions and measurements and was very successful. Its very, very easy once you get it. I guarantee you'll be 100% successful in joining already quilted blocks into a finished queen or king quilt - all done on your domestic machine.

Back in the 70, when I didn't know anyone who quilted and had literally never seen a quilt face to face, I made a bed quilt for my daughter using instructions for quilt as you go. Every stitch from the piecing to the quilting was done by hand. It was a disaster. The front looked OK, but the back was a mess because it just did not go together at all.This book teaches you how to take quilt blocks you already have, or others that you want to make from scratch, and put them together on a sewing machine NEATLY. She tells you how to make the blocks all the same size, how to put borders on it, how to quilt it and finally how to get it together so you will be proud of the results.You get to do the machine quilting on small "sandwiches" and then put the sandwiches together into the larger project.I haven't used her method, but after reading the book, I know it will work and that the problems that I had with that long ago quilt won't happen when I do use her method. She obviously spent a lot of time thinking this through, and there are enough videos on YouTube showing her actually doing it that I know it will work.

I bought this book as I love the "Crazy Shortcut Quilt" was brilliant and I now make all my quilts that way and I thought this book would have the next stage to the quilts in the 1st book I bought. However, it didn't have any further designs and I feel that this book contained a lot of elements that were already in the 1st book. I feel anyone just starting to learn to quilt should read this book first and then follow up with "Crazy Shortcut Quilts" the first book Marguerita McManus wrote. This would be ok for Beginners". Little bit disappointed for myself therefore as I have been quilting for more than 10 years and felt it was elementary!.

This book claimed to be a simple guide to adapting quilts and finishing them. There were some new ideas for me based on quilt as you go techniques and I liked the idea (oft repeated) that it was better to finish something, even if it was less than perfect by traditional standards. I did feel that this was a much smaller book in terms of content, which had been padded out and made to look more substantial.

I found this book very interesting. I make a lot of Project Linus quilts and find the ideas in the book very useful and time saving while at the same time producing a very nice quilt. The author also gives plenty of ideas to stretch the imagination and at the same time using some of one's stash. If you do not want to spend a lot of time making triangles etc., this could be the book for you. I look forward to more books by Ms McManus.

This seems to have a reasonably comprehensive cover of quash which was my interest. I might be more positive if not nagged by Amazon review website. Any more nagging will produce negative reviews!

The font size is very large and the methods were limited. However, it is a useful guide for beginners to this method.