a) I have the "First Quilting Book" too and just because it was so neat beside of the knitting books in the Borders Store when we were in Iowa. But there must have been a deeper meaning behind this all because when I forced my husband to drive to a out of town Yarnstore, we found out the store closed years ago and no there is a Quiltshop in it.

b) For the beginner (which I really am) it was really helpfull to read and use the generel instruction in the "Last Minute Patchwork Gifts" Book, this book finally made me trying my first Quilt and the and the hints helped me a lot.

c) You see you don`t have to push me to the dark side I am already gone :) (And how I can see from some other bloggers who mainly knit, I am not the only one)

d) At least, when you can not find a mystery book about quilts, what about the movie "An american Quilt" which I enjoyed much before I started to sew something. A lovely film

e) Thank you for the interesting book information, I always search for good beginner books, but I have the disadventage that I can not go into a store and flip through them . (I prefer the english ones). Especially the Homemade thingie sounds really interesting because I am a perfectionist and my so far two Quilts do not look perfect to me and I am frustrated about that.

f) At least I was saying I will do only one quilt now and than leave it for the time when kids are in school or grown up, harhar, I am in the midth of finishing the second and because my son demands so I already plan the third, ahem.

So keep on sewing and my best wishes

Sibylle

I may have mentioned it before, but I enjoy reading about knitters venturing into quilting. I have gone the other way and it's so interesting to see quilting with new eyes again.

So far I have the opposite experience with quilt shops vs yarn shops. I think with time it probably balances out. I've quilted for 20 years and only knit for 3.

Thanks for sharing the book! I hadn't seen that and I know I'd enjoy it. :)

I'm de-lurking to give you a heads-up on, shall we call it, "quilting fiction". The Elm Creek Quilts books by Jennifer Chiaverini are really fun. Dare I say way better than mediocre. They are not mysteries, just fiction. I found them by accident when desperate(?sp) for an audiobook. I'd love to hear your opinion if you get a chance to check them out.

Check out the Elm Creek quilters series by Jennifer Chiaverini. They aren't mysteries, but I think you would like the quilting theme. Her writing has really matured as the series has progressed(I think that book #12 just came out).

So exciting you are getting into quilting. Knitting was my "gateway drug" into crafts, which lead to embroidery, then sewing, then quilting!

Too late, I also wanted to recommend The Elm Creek Quilters. Nice reading, without too much thinking!
If you enjoy reading about history (almost as good as mystery), try 'Hidden in plain view' by J.L.Tobin.
When I left the US I took with me for my first quilting book 'The Complete Guide to Quilting' from Better Homes and Gardens. I chose it because most of their techniques resembled the first quilting classes I took in Cambridge, MA.

Check out Monica Ferris's needlecraft mysteries, starting with _Crewel World_. They are IMO above average mysteries - not excellent, but above average - and feature many, many different forms of needlecraft. It's not much of a spoiler to say that our heroine (and sleuth) winds up owning a needlecraft store, and therefore must learn to dabble in pretty much anything involving fiber. IIRC, each book more or less highlights one particular needle craft along the way, but many are mentioned in every installment. I haven't been in a position to own more than the first to date, but I have read many of them, and enjoy them greatly. :)

Nothing wrong with being a crafty dork of any kind! :-)

When you have someday ventured into paper piecing (aka foundation piecing, which is machine sewing through paper, not English paper piecing), may I humbly suggest that you look up paperpanache.com . There is always a free mystery available.

I've just started quilting myself. A friend sent me Quilts, Quilts, Quilts, which has been totally awesome! It's so much fun.

I love That Dorky Homemade Look. When I start stressing about not being able to line up my seams right, I read that essay. Then I go look at the amazing Gees Bend quilts. And I remember that this is about the love, not the seams. (Love the Harlot, too.)

p.s. - I recommend the Visual Guide to Quilting, A to Z (or a name close enough to that you should be able to find it) for figuring out options for doing stuff.

Another multi-craft lurker (sewing - clothes and quilting and various sized bags, cross stitch, knitting, crochet...)- also a reader - popping out to say:

Another good read in quilting related fiction/mystery is the Benni Harper series by Earlene Fowler - and there are many of them, more or less in sequence (although I think you can read them as stand-alones also).

Not exactly quilting mysteries, but have a look at Earlene Fowler's mysteries, they are named for quilt patterns, the heroine is the curator of a craft museum. Great quilting books are Jennifer Chiaveri (sp?).

I've read the Monica Ferris books, but I stopped buying them after about book 4. They're OK, but I'm just not a big mystery reader.

I love reading about pretty much any craft though I'm primarily a knitter and crocheter.

I agree about the Elm Creek Quilt books by Jennifer Chiaverini. They are not mysteries nor are they romance novels. The reader gets a real sense of community when reading her books. Her new book Winding Ways Quilt has just been released but recommend reading them in order.

I too am a knitter who enjoys quilting. I am a novice at best in both crafts/arts. I like knitting for its portability and quilting for its creativity. I began quilting when a local knit shop closed and I missed the sense of community. I learned of the active local quilt guild and I attended one meeting. I was hooked! I love being part of a multigenerational community that has been active for decades.

If you haven't read a quilting book by Harriet Hargrave yet (or even better, taken a class from her), you must try one out!

It took no time at all for my fabric stash to be almost as obscene as my yarn stash! You're right, quilt shops are friendly places to be. They even seem to work better amongst themselves with things like shop hops.

You must look for the Elm Creek Quilts books! They are written by Jennifer Chiavelli and there about a dozen or so books in the series so far. I'd recommend the Christmas Quilt to start off with...it's so heartwarming, but they are all excellent. Waaaay better than mediocre knitting mysteries, if you ask me, and I've read just about all of them. :)

Oops...I see I'm late to the party, but it's nice to see so many people love the Elm Creek books!

I love Lisa Boyer! I gave "That Dorky Home-Made Look" to my mother for Christmas several years ago.