Conscious Crafts: Quilting

As a newbie to quilting, I found this book fascinating and very inspiring.

It gives clear concise information on the tools and techniques to get started without over complicating the process.

As I looked through the book, every project I thought I’d like to make; which is quite often rare when you look at craft books. Often there is one or two projects and the rest that you wouldn’t normally make. Every project in this book I would love to make. I love that you can use recycled fabrics.

The project start small; with a coaster, trivet, needle book and increase in size and technique until you’re making a full sized quilt.

This book i’d definitely come back to year after year and one that wouldn’t be gathering dust on my book shelf.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for letting me have an advance copy, I will most be starting my quilting journey very soon.

Conscious Crafts: Quilting is a book that promotes mindfulness through quilting. It is a lovely book full of photographs and a variety of useful projects. It is suited to beginners as some of the starter projects are small and simple, such as making coasters. The author has included a variety of projects including bags, quilts and cushions and provides instructions for all the basic technques. She also shares techniques for adapting the projects to your own tastes and for mending and repurposing things. It would make a lovely gift book for a crafty friend..

Beautiful, cozy, and minimalist patterns that make me want to snuggle right up and quilt. I don't even know how to quilt yet but this makes me want to learn! The photography is gorgeous and the projects seem fun. Can't wait to dig in!

I love to practice mindfulness in my every day crafting. I was really excited when I heard about Conscious Crafts: Quilting – 20 mindful makes to reconnect head, heart & hands by Elli Beaven and couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
The projects are beautiful and there is nothing which I wouldn’t want to spend my time making. The projects include patchwork coasters; strip trivets; needle book; storage basket; patched pencil case; slow stitch bag; rainbow cross body bag; clamshell beach bag; coaster and waste not cushions; wild fan, border, log cabin, butterfly play and ad astra quilts; arrow wall hanging; patchwork curtain; and mending under and over patching.
The Conscious Crafts series places mindfulness and well-being at the heart of making. Picking out proven meditative crafts and bespoke authors, these practical, contemporary guides are an inviting introduction to reconnecting head, heart, and hands. Also available from the series is Conscious Crafts: Pottery, Knitting and Whittling.

This charming book is packed with beautiful ideas made by various quilting techniques. From cushions to coasters, it's all explained very clearly, with helpful diagrams throughout.
There is a great introduction that sets out the tools and useful techniques. I love the poetic links to mindfulness and find the book to be very calming.

[I received a copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]

Conscious Crafts: Quilting is a simple and appealing quilting manual with tutorials by Elli Beaven. Due out 31st Aug 2021 from Quarto on their Leaping Hare imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
The layout is logical and easy to understand. The introduction covers tools, materials, and supplies, and a short but accessible technique primer. The following chapters contain the project tutorials starting small and simple and moving on to pieced projects including a small pencil case with zipper, quilted beach bag, soft furnishings, and more. Each tutorial contains an introduction, tools and supplies listed bullet style (both American and metric measures are given), and step by step instructions. All of the tutorials include clear line drawings of the steps as well as a color photo of the finished project.

The projects are simple enough and without so many pieces that full size templates are not necessary. It's worth noting that this book provides instructions for both hand and machine sewing and piecing. Both UK and American terms are used for equivalent processes and items throughout: wadding/batting and zip/zipper for example. I liked that the author's emphasis throughout is on conscious process and mindfulness as well as upcycling and re-using fabric.

Really appealing projects. The graphics and colors throughout are restful; chiefly blues and neutrals. This would make a superlative selection for a makers' group, home workshop library, gift (with sewing supplies?), or similar. This would also appeal to handcrafters looking to learn new skills in the weird and stressful post-lockdown limbo we all find ourselves in these days.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.