If you love traditional quilts with a warm modern twist you are probably familiar with designs by Edyta Sitar owner of Laundry Basket Quilts. Edyta has just released a new book, "Reasons for Quilts", which is long on stories of why she made many of her quilts and lots of eye candy photographs but short on patterns and directions. The book comes with a CD which is not mentioned in the body of the book. One could assume that all patterns for all the quilts pictured would be on the CD but sadly the CD only has directions for nine of the quilts. This is a beautiful book but just be aware that patterns for many of the quilts must be purchased separately through Edyta's company, Laundry Basket Quilts.
The CD does not require any additional computer program such as Electric Quilt. Each pattern is a stand alone PDF which includes directions, any necessary pattern pieces and in some cases step by step photographs to help you master some of the more difficult piecing.
Edyta's stories tell us a little of her personal and family history along with her thought process as she has developed as a quilter. Edyta was raised in Poland. She was not familiar with the tradition of quilting until after she married her American husband in the early
1990's. His grandmother was a devoted quilter and Edyta shares with us the many life lessons she learned from this wonderful woman as she learned to quilt. Edyta writes of her mother's reaction to the first quilt she sent back to Poland. Edyta had stitched over 100 small basket blocks for this very special quilt. When her mother unwrapped the quilt she began to cry. "Edyta must be poor! She sewed so many little pieces together." Her mother thought Edyta could not afford larger pieces of fabric.Experienced quilters will be able to recreate many of the quilts from only their photographs. My only criticism of the book is that it does not indicate which patterns are included on the CD. I am afraid that many quilters will be disappointed after purchasing the book to find they must spend more money to purchase a pattern for the quilt they have fallen in love with on the pages of the book. As a coffee table, eye candy book for quilters it is wonderful.
Susan Price