Here’s the deal: although I have a machine quilting tutorial here on the blog, and also a post dedicated just to straight line machine quilting, I know that I only skim the surface on what magic you can wield on your home sewing machine. The quilting world is huuuge and the possibilities are endless! So even though I love thinking that you and I are quilting together in spirit like two peas in a pod, I also want to bring a few more amazing quilters and authors into the mix. So let me share with you the best machine quilting books you can buy that will catapult your quilting into a whole new league of sewing.
The 5 Best Machine Quilting Books
Having a good quilt book by your side can be really helpful, whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned sewist. It’s almost like having a trusted friend hanging out on your sewing table, giving you tips and reminding you to have patience when things seem to be falling apart. Here are the best machine quilting books that have stuck by me when I needed them the most:
Jacquie Gering is basically the Wonder Woman of the modern quilt world. I got to meet her once at QuiltCon when she gave me a hand quilting award for Mod Mountains. Afterward I chatted with her and she is one of those people that has such a comforting presence – a true teacher and giver at heart.
In her book, she covers all kinds of different quilting questions that can pop up while you’re learning to quilt with a walking foot. It covers the basics, as well as describing more advanced motifs.
An added bonus is that if you’re not that into reading, you can also attend Jacquie’s Craftsy Class so you can pretend she’s hanging out with you in your sewing room. She covers a lot of the same information, it’s just nice to hear her patient voice speaking great sewing truths in your ear as you work. Is that weird? No. It’s totally not weird.
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Catherine Redford hails from my town, (Chicago, heeeeyyyyyy) which automatically makes this book awesome. But if that’s not enough for you, would it help to know that I personally know the author??
Long story short, I went to college with Julia Redford, aka Catherine Redford's daughter. Julia was one of the top graphic design majors in the year above me and since I was one of the top graphic design majors in my year (just go with me on this, OK?) we ended up working side by side at the publications department on campus. Fast forward 10 years, and I'm having coffee with Catherine Redford at Quilt Market in Houston. She and I kept hearing about each other and were so excited to finally meet!
She gave me a copy of her book and I knew right away that it was special. Catherine gives some amazing advice with step-by-step explanations of the quilting process along with TONS of helpful photos.
Marti Michell’s book has great photos, and shows you how to "quilt-as-you-go" or quilt in small sections so you can successfully complete a full quilt project on your own sewing machine. It’s perfect for all of you king-sized quilters (although I still don’t understand you, crazy people.)
Note: This book is better after you have a little bit of quilting experience. OR you can check out her Craftsy Class on Machine Quilting in Sections! The concept is easier for new quilters if you can watch her in action!
This class was actually the first thing I watched on Craftsy and I found it positively deeelightful! When I was at Craftsy studios last week doing some filming, one of the producers told me that Marti is 90 years old and still working as hard at her quilting business as ever. How fabulous! What joie de vivre!
Get the Rocksteady quilt pattern you see here! It's a PDF instant download.
Ready to step it up and get your free-motion foot out? Angela Walters’ book on free-motion quilting will make you swoon with the possibilities. Angela will convince you, yes you, perfectionistic quilter, into trying out free-motion quilting and embracing the artistic imprecision of it all! I guarantee you’ll be inspired by the gorgeous photos she has of her free-motion designs.
And yet again, you have a Craftsy option if that’s your jam. You can also check out the Angela hosting the Midnight Quilt show here!
Angela and I met ON CAMERA this past winter at QuiltCon 2018. She and the Craftsy crew surprised me and we ended up doing a quick 5 minute segment. WARNING: I am wearing heels in addition to my 5'8" status – let's just say it looks like Jack and the Giant, the only thing missing is a bean stock. The show should be live soon, so keep an eye out on the Midnight Quilt Show YouTube channel.
I have been a huge fan of Leah's videos for years. She has hundreds of videos on free-motion quilting and walking foot quilting. I highly recommend checking some of them out.
With her walking foot book, she shows how to push the boundaries of what you think your walking foot is capable of – very practical and inspiring!
I should also mention that I got to meet Leah last year and she is such an inspiration! She truly is in the TOP of her field.
Now that I think about it, I've gotten to meet all of these authors. Since I'm personally recommending all of their books, I thought it wise that I meet all of them. 😉 Just doing my due diligence for you, my lovelies!
Have another addition to the best machine quilting books? How did you learn machine quilting? Leave a comment below and we’ll keep the list going. I love getting recommendations from you! xo
Ordered me some new books! Thanks Suzy! ❤️
I’m here to help! 🙂
I’ve been wanting to get Jacquie Gering’s book for quite a while now. You gave me that ‘push.’
You won’t regret it. She has so much knowledge to offer!
I only own 1 on this list. An early Christmas list perhaps?
Haha! I like a girl who can buy herself Christmas presents all year round 😉
Thank you for sharing your quilt book list!
Thanks for sharing this. Great to have new suggestions. I have Leah Day’s book and I love it. She too recommends Jacquies book. And I have to get me an Angela Walters book. Amazon, here I come ……. Again!
I’ve watched Marti Mitchell’s Maxine Quilting in Sections on Craftsy, Angela Walter’s Free Motion Quilting videos but I have not ventured out to do any quilting except with my walking foot. I was so disappointed to know that some really greats were at the Houston Quilt Festival and I did not see them. I’m going to have to hang around more next year. Maybe you will be there!!!!
I’ll be there for Quilt Market and then possibly a little bit of the show. Keep an eye out 😉
I have Jacquie’s WALK book & refer to it every time I’m starting to quilt.
I’ve checked out several of these books actually and own 2 of them. My favorite book is Modern Machine quilting! I’m so glad it made your list! It is definitely worth buying, but I will admit that I learned most of my machine quilting skill with good old fashioned trial and error to discover what worked best for me.
As much as I adore the machine quilting, I have to admit all of your Instagram posts lately with your jersey quilt are pulling me into the direction of hand quilting! You may have finally pulled me a little close to the other side in terms of favoritism 😉 Thanks again for sharing these books, Suzy!
No matter how many books I own on one subject, there’s always some learning through trial and error. We just have to learn for ourselves before it truly sticks! 🙂
I am so enthralled by what I see and I did my first quilt (at 80 years) – a queen size, It was very challenging, but you inspired me . I am glad to see your patterns. Thank you Suzie. – Rita
And don’t forget the first (and still the best IMHO) book on Machine Quliting: Harriet Hargraves “Heirloom Machine Quilting, 1995 C&T Publishing. She covers it all, Walking Foot, Free Motion, QAYGo, Batting, Thread, machine settings and set up… The original! Happy to see Marti’s book here too!
Love this. I have 3 of these 5 books! Just wish I had more time to quilt.
Thanks for the reviews! I have several of these books and have done some small practice sessions but I still find quilting more than straight or wavy lines VERY intimidating. I also very much appreciate the Craftsy class info to go along with each book! Why didn’t I think about looking that up since I have an annual subscription to Blueprint?!? Maybe that will get me to practice more!!!
I would like to add that my go-to books for quilting ideas are by Christina Cameli — I love her Craftsy/Bluprint class on free motion and her books make simple patterns look even easier. She also has some great tutorials on YouTube. I’ve taken a class with her and she’s just so low pressure, and really shows how simple patterns can combine to make something really impressive. I love Angela Walters, but sometimes her fabulous quilting is a little intimidating!
Great choices. I’ve got three of them. I’m crushing on Christina Cameli’s newest book, Texture Quilting (her two other quilting books are good too). I’ll also endorse her Bluprint classes.
You mentioned quilting side by side in spirit. Again and again as I sew I see your finger scratching at a small amount to ooch a top fabric on over to make your seam a little more perfect. It works. Haha. No response needed. Just know that you are a fun teacher. ❤💚💙💙❤
Awwwww! I hope it’s a manicured finger! I never have my nails done, so in this fantasy you should let me be well manicured 😉
I own all of these books. I am never sure if that’s a good thing or not though…
Hahaha! It’s a great thing 😉
Should I get Walk or Walk 2.0?
I haven’t heard about Walk 2.0. I would say get that one.
I’m unsure if you are selecting the products listed in the ” Shop related products” section, but it made me giggle to see ” The Foot Book” by Dr. Suess.
Ha! Those are randomly selected ads by Amazon, but definitely a funny choice on their part!
Oh Yes! Any of the books by Angela Walters and Leah Day are fantastic resources! I learned by using the “Freehand Filler” books by Sue Patten.