Weekend Review: Tucked Up in Bed

 

Tucked Up in Bed / Jennie Rayment
Haslemere, Surrey, UK: J.R. Publications, c1997.
112 p.

As promised, here is the third book in the set of titles by Jennie Rayment that I now own! This third volume features both new and repeated designs for fabric manipulation, all designed as 12" quilt blocks so that you can put them together into a project as desired. There is also discussion of layouts, borders, and more practical quilting info to make the best sampler you can.  

As usual, the "nipping and tucking", as she likes to call it, creates intriguing shapes and patterns. All of them are described well, with good instructions for each. She refers back to things from the first two books as well, so it's nice to have them all, but you wouldn't absolutely need them. She gives examples of the techniques in muslin for clear viewing, but there are also lots of colour plates showing the quilt blocks made up in colours and prints. Fabric choice really makes a difference to the final piece! 

The tone remains light-hearted, with amusing anecdotes sprinkled in - she really does have a sense of humour and ability to poke fun at herself. This one is more traditional in the sense that it focuses on quilt projects and home goods more than any garment design, so it's not as much of a must-have for me personally as the first two. It is more about putting things together than creating brand-new manipulations. 

I enjoy the retro feel of these books, however, alongside the really interesting fabric work. The DIY feel and personal voice of the writer really add to the entertainment value. Worth checking out if you ever come across it!