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Victoria Findlay Wolfe
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15 Minutes of Play: Improvisational Quilts Kindle Edition

by Victoria Findlay Wolfe (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 266 ratings
See what can happen when you make time to play

Scraps never looked so good! This is improvisational piecing reinvented - learn how to create your own creatively-collaged swatches of fabric in just 15 minutes a day. As you play, you'll sharpen your design skills and learn more about combining colors and prints in new ways. Discover just how distinctive classic blocks like Sawtooth Star or Flying Geese can be, when they're constructed with more spunk and spontaneity!

• Create a unique piece of "made-fabric" in just 15 minutes with Victoria's improvisational scrap-piecing methods
• Learn how to incorporate your made-fabric into traditional quilt blocks, then watch your quilt design emerge
• Includes 11 fun challenge exercises to strengthen your creative muscles, plus a quilt gallery full of inspirational images
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  1. Print length
    100 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    C&T Publishing
  4. Publication date
    November 1, 2012
  5. File size
    57.8 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download

Editorial Reviews

Review

Take some time out of your day and play! Learn how to create your own collaged swatches of fabric in just 15 minutes a day using your own scraps. Victoria will show you how to incorporate your “made-fabric” into traditional quilt blocks like Sawtooth Star and Flying Geese. You’ll sharpen your design skills and learn about color combination as you play. A quilt gallery is included to inspire you.


― Quilter's Digest

Follow the 11 challenges to break out of your mold and make improvisational scrap-pieced fabric you can incorporate into quilt blocks.
― American Patchwork & Quilting

Victoria recommends setting aside 15 minutes everyday to be creative and to play. Her idea of play is to freely sew to make "fabric" out of small scraps. Her made-fabric used in traditional blocks gives the blocks a modern look.

If the reader has forgotten how to play, the book includes 11 challenges that are designed to loosen up the creative inner child. -- Stevii Graves, Journal of the International Quilt Association, July 2010 ― International Quilt Association Journal

More than anything else, this is a book about how to break away from making quilts by copying what others have done and following step-by-step instructions to systematically create a finished piece. Victoria's emphasis is on process, not product. While she does provide a fairly detailed guide to four different ways of sewing scraps of fabric together to make blocks that you can then cut up and use in your patchwork blocks—'crumb piecing', as it is commonly known—her focus in on developing your creative spirit and giving yourself permission to have fun and go with the flow. She sets 11 creative challenges, such as "Use fabric you don't think you can use" and "Make a medallion quilt from a set of previously-made blocks that never grew into a quilt". A lot of readers will feel uncomfortable with Victoria's approach, but you'll be using loads of tiny scraps of fabric you possibly don't value all that much—that is, you don't need to buy or cup up gorgeous yardage. And this approach might be a revelation that opens doors to all kinds of new opportunities. The book includes photographs of lots of quilts made by a cross-section of creative minds. ― Australian Homespun Magazine

About the Author

Victoria Findlay Wolfe learned to quilt and sew as a child on her family farm; now she teaches and designs full-time. She’s also a painter and a photographer with a degree in fine arts, and she runs a community program that provides quilts to families in need. Victoria lives in Manhattan, New York.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00BQA3VWW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ C&T Publishing (November 1, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 57.8 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 100 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 266 ratings

About the author

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Victoria Findlay Wolfe

Victoria Findlay Wolfe

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Victoria Findlay Wolfe, is a NYC based International Award Winning Quilter and teacher. She was raised on a farm in central Minnesota, and learned to sew and quilt when she was just four years old. Victoria has an online Quilt Store in where you can find all of her own products including her own template line! VFWquilts dot com

Her quilts have won many awards and she has had a number of solo exhibitions around the world. You can see Victoria in the Crafts in America Quilt episode on PBS.

Her Newest work Option Expedition is on view at the International Quilt Museum through December 14th, 2024.

Victoria’s work balances between Art Quilts, Traditional & Modern Quilts and has a master flair bringing the fine art of quilting to the modern age. She is proud to be a quilter, a mother to Beatrice, and a wife to Michael Findlay, the true loves in Victoria’s life. Victoria lives with her husband, Michael Findlay, an art dealer and author, and their Daughter Beatrice.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
266 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this quilting book encouraging and creative, with clear directions and great photos throughout. Moreover, they appreciate its fun, stress-free approach and how it helps develop design sensibilities. Additionally, the book receives positive feedback for its readability and fabric use, with one customer noting how it incorporates traditional patterns.

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66 customers mention "Inspiration"66 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspirational, providing encouragement for the creative process and being great for quilt exploration, with one customer noting it's all about thinking outside the box.

"...This is easy to understand and has inspired me to play around." Read more

"...This book is for beginners and advanced quilters. It's fun for all of us. I came back to Amazon today to order one for my sister...." Read more

"...I've already been inspired to just sit down and sew and create "made fabric"...." Read more

"Great source of inspiration!" Read more

53 customers mention "Fun book"53 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fun and creative, with one customer noting its stress-free approach to quilting.

"...This book is for beginners and advanced quilters. It's fun for all of us. I came back to Amazon today to order one for my sister...." Read more

"I love this book. There are great stories, inspiration quilts, blocks to try and 11 challenges...." Read more

"...I like making scrap quilts and improv piecing. I found The content of the book fun and with good ideas for using "made fabric"...." Read more

"Great book. When I buy a sewing or quilting book I seldom read the whole thing. I mean it's usually for reference and ideas...." Read more

40 customers mention "Creativity"35 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creative approach to quilting, loving the designs and examples provided, with one customer noting how it helps develop personal design sensibilities.

"...The quilts are amazing, the ideas are terrific. Victoria Findlay Wolfe has written a keeper!..." Read more

"I love this book. There are great stories, inspiration quilts, blocks to try and 11 challenges...." Read more

"...The author is a textile artist and her love of fabrics and colors comes out in every sentence...." Read more

"...Many examples of quilt patterns are given, and many ideas can be generated by the quilt pictures, as well as the many patterns...." Read more

21 customers mention "Ease of learning"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to learn from, with clear directions and explanations, and one customer notes that Victoria Findlay Wolfe breaks down her instructions effectively.

"I'm excited to start playing with my fabric. This is easy to understand and has inspired me to play around." Read more

"...It's well written and the photos are numerous. The easy to understand directions and ideas made me want to get started "playing" with fabric right..." Read more

"I love this book. There are great stories, inspiration quilts, blocks to try and 11 challenges...." Read more

"...Although she has lots of photos of her quilts, there are many instructions, how tos, examples, and solid meat of making found fabric...." Read more

13 customers mention "Photo quality"10 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the photos and illustrations in the book.

"...It's well written and the photos are numerous...." Read more

"...and directions, there's plenty of information/encouragement with lots of photos to help you take those first baby steps towards playful..." Read more

"...'s easy reading; I like the format; there are lots of great ideas and photos. The possibilities are endless for using scraps of any size...." Read more

"...I found the photography disappointing...." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read.

"What a great title, "15 Minutes of Play"! It's well written and the photos are numerous...." Read more

"...It is also good read from cover to cover.) Most of us live pretty structured lives (enough said)...." Read more

"...Her encouragement and enthusiasm is also a treat. This is a good text for a quilter looking to expand and breakout of traditional teachings and..." Read more

"...It's easy reading; I like the format; there are lots of great ideas and photos. The possibilities are endless for using scraps of any size...." Read more

8 customers mention "Fabric use"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's approach to fabric use, with one mentioning how it incorporates traditional patterns and another noting the creative freedom it provides.

"...I found The content of the book fun and with good ideas for using "made fabric". I purchased another copy for a gift, which arrived today...." Read more

"...It is different and unique the way she uses the fabric in traditional patterns." Read more

"...I love scrap quilting in its truest form. Fabric doesn't have to be precut in order to make a block, so nothing is wasted...." Read more

"...It has stories and tells how to make your own fabric with the scraps left from other projects...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Pat
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is well written and very inspiring!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I'm excited to start playing with my fabric. This is easy to understand and has inspired me to play around.
    Helpful
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  • JoAnne T.
    5.0 out of 5 stars My New Favorite Book!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    What a great title, "15 Minutes of Play"! It's well written and the photos are numerous. The easy to understand directions and ideas made me want to get started "playing" with fabric right away. Once I finished reading the book I started reading it again. The quilts are amazing, the ideas are terrific. Victoria Findlay Wolfe has written a keeper! She gives so much encouragement for the creative process and so many ideas for having fun along the way. The book left me with no questions, just a desire to create. The author made everything so clear that I think she is the kind of teacher I would love to see in a quilting class.

    This book is for beginners and advanced quilters. It's fun for all of us.

    I came back to Amazon today to order one for my sister. If I loaned her mine, I would never see it again!
    32 people found this helpful
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  • Love To Sew
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I love this book. There are great stories, inspiration quilts, blocks to try and 11 challenges. I've already been inspired to just sit down and sew and create "made fabric". I would highly recommend this book if you like Gwen Marston, Freddie Moran, Roberta Horton, or other similar quilt book authors. My only wish would have been to have closer photos of the quilting. Many of the quilts were quilted by well-known long arm quilters and I would like to see their quilting in finer detail. However, I'm still giving the book 5 stars since I really do love everything else about it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • R. Paul
    4.0 out of 5 stars Second purchase of this book - disappointed in quality of printing
    Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I purchased this book for myself in 2012. I like making scrap quilts and improv piecing. I found The content of the book fun and with good ideas for using "made fabric". I purchased another copy for a gift, which arrived today. I found the photography disappointing. The color of the paper on which it is printed appears to be less bright white and the colors are not nearly as vibrant as my older copy. This would not inspire me at all; I probably would not have purchased it if I saw it in a store as even the cover is rather dull. I am considering keeping this for myself and gifting my older book which is in perfect condition. I would hate to kill someone's enthusiasm in improv piecing before she even gets started.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Sunny Spicer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone likes to play!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great source of inspiration!
    Helpful
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  • MGS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, one of the best in the genre...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Great book. When I buy a sewing or quilting book I seldom read the whole thing. I mean it's usually for reference and ideas. THIS book however, is all good. I read it like any book. Very inspiring and at the same time, a great learning tool for fabric combinations and new ways to look at fabric art. The author is a textile artist and her love of fabrics and colors comes out in every sentence. Since my idea of quilting is to use what you have if you have it, and scrap quilting is pretty much where it's at for me, I love this book and am already starting a project.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Gazelle101
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good condition means good condition!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I love the ideas in this book and though it was published ~10 years ago, it is very relevant. HPB said it was in good condition and it is almost like new.
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  • goldendog
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Quilting!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    '15 Minutes of Play: Improvisational Quilts' by Victoria Findlay Wolfe is a fun book for using up all of the scraps that quilters create in making other projects! The idea of the quilts is similar to the styles of Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Crumb Quilts, but with more ideas. Wolfe uses the sewn scraps (made-fabric) in more traditional quilts, as well as more `wonky' patterns. Many examples of quilt patterns are given, and many ideas can be generated by the quilt pictures, as well as the many patterns.
    In 15 Minutes of Play, Wolfe recommends playing and sewing for 15 minutes of sewing this made-fabric every day, but I like to do this a couple of hours at a time, whenever I can, and having a stack ready for making the blocks. If I keep at it, I may be able to use up all my scraps! (not likely!)
    [...]
    24 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • manu
    4.0 out of 5 stars Crazy quilting ideale per recupero piccoli pezzi di stoffa
    Reviewed in Italy on January 19, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    E' un bel libro che utilizza il crazy in modo diverso ed originale, ideale per recuperare pezzi minuscoli di stoffa.
    E' un libro in inglese (ovvio) ma facilmente comprensibile grazie alle belle immagini.
    Bello, mi piace
    Report
  • 佐吉
    5.0 out of 5 stars 刺激されます
    Reviewed in Japan on May 15, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    自分で考えつきそうなもですが、なかなか余り布を美しく変身させる事は難しい。
    なんだかパッとしないでき上がりになりますが、この本を参考にすると
    いろいろな色彩や柄の組み合わせがインスパイアされます。
    必要ないと言えばそれまで、参考になると言えばそれまでで
    結局自分がそこから何を感じ何を刺激され新たなアイディアを生むかと言う事で
    参考資料として私は価値ある本だと思います。
    Report
  • Suzanne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fast delivery
    Reviewed in Australia on January 17, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Beautiful book great ideas
    Report
  • af
    5.0 out of 5 stars Viele Tipps
    Reviewed in Germany on July 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Die Autorin gibt viele wertvolle Tipps, wie Stoffreste zu etwas Neuem gestaltet werden können.
    Das Buch ist wirklich hilfreich.
    Report
  • textartiste
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un excellent livre pour accommoder les restes ...
    Reviewed in France on July 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Je possède beaucoup de livres sur l'usage des chutes et celui-ci me semble un des meilleurs pour toutes celles qui comme moi hésitent à jeter et aiment travailler avec de tout petits bouts variés. L'idée de "jouer" 15 minutes par jour avec ce qui nous tombe sous la main de stocker le résultat et ensuite de construire avec ces tissus recomposés est très séduisante, même si elle n'est evidemment pas nouvelle (l’auteur ne le prétend pas!), le livre contient beaucoup d'idées d’utilisation différentes (mais pas de modèles ce qui pour moi est un avantage ), il invite à "faire avec ce qu'on a" et à en tirer le meilleur parti, c’est une approche à la fois modeste et convaincante de l'art textile que j'apprécie. Un livre qui "met en route et n’incite pas à copier.
    Report

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