Hand-Stitched Quilts

Through one quilt, learn how to patchwork and quilt by hand in this accessible how-to book.

Highly commended in the 'Best Sewing Book' category at the Creative Book Awards, 2024.

Slow stitching and mindful crafting is more popular than ever, and with just a few notions you can peacefully create a stunning quilt entirely by hand, in your own time and at your own pace. 

In her brand-new book, best-selling author and teacher Carolyn Forster will demonstrate all the techniques to hand-piece a variety of blocks and hand-quilt them together. Not only will you have a beautiful hand-made quilt at the end, but you can join thousands of other people today who are returning to the roots of traditional patchworking and quilting. 

Through a series of ‘bite-size’ lessons, you will be taken through the process of making your quilt chronologically, so you not only understand the order in which to craft your quilt, but you build up your skills as you progress through the book. Learn how to cut out your fabrics with and without templates, how to sew your patches together, and then get stuck into sewing a gorgeous library of blocks! There are 27 different blocks to make, each with its own piecing instructions, piecing diagrams, and helpful photographs that show the front and back of the block. Templates for every block are included at the back of the book, at full size. 

Once your blocks are ready to go, Carolyn shows you how to quilt them, using a combination of hand stitching and big-stitch quilting. Illustrated instructions are also included on how to construct and bind your quilt at the very end. 

With dozens of exquisite blocks to make, and useful and inspirational information throughout, this is a beautiful book that will take the mystery out of making hand-stitched quilts, and spark your quilting ideas for years to come.

Book Contents

Introduction 6

Quilt materials 8

Piecing materials 9

Cutting & sewing fabric 10

Equipment for hand piecing 20

Starting to stitch 22

Piecing 26

Book of blocks 32

THE BLOCKS 34
Two Patch & Four Patch 36, Half Square Triangle 38, Kansas Dugout 40, Flying Geese 42, Album 44, Bright Hopes 46, Spools 48, Bow Tie 50, Snowball 52, Mill & Star 54, Courthouse Steps 56, Woven Ribbons 58, Pansy 60, Grandmother’s Star 62, Western Star 64, Wishing Star 66, Drusilla’s Delight 68, Southern Star 70, Arrowhead 72, Carpenter’s Wheel 74, Marbles 76, Water Wheel 78, Sailor’s Joy 80, Cassiopeia 82, Turkey Tracks 84, Thirties Tulip 86, Sunburst 88

Adding sashing & post squares 90

Making the quilt your own 92

Sewing the quilt together 96

Tacking/basting & quilting necessities 104

Tacking/basting the quilt 109

Hand quilting 115

Binding the quilt 122

Labelling & aftercare 128

Patchwork templates 130