
Quilter's Complete Guide
Marianne Fons & Liz Porter
1993
Beginner & FundamentalsThe one-volume reference quilters reach for first — rotary cutting, piecing math, borders, binding, and both machine and hand quilting basics from two of quilting television's most trusted teachers.
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Why Teresa recommends it
“This is the book I hand to anyone who tells me they want to start quilting and don't know where to begin. Marianne and Liz don't skip steps or assume you already know what "squaring up" means — they show you, plate by plate. I still keep my old, taped-together copy on the shelf next to my rotary mat. (and bless it for surviving three moves)”
— Teresa Drummond, NiftyFifty founder
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