title: Simple Contemporary Quilts: Bold New Designs for the First-Time Quilter
author:  Valerie Van Arsdale Shrader 
description: Although no statistical sampling seems to have been conducted, the probability is high that many experienced crafters shy away from quilting because of the time involved and the mandatory precision. Shrader has erased that fear by calling on a dozenartists to create 20 quilts that are simple and modern. The basics are pared down; for instance, she specifies that a sewing machine need only be able to manage straight and zigzag stitches. Fabrics and design do the heavy lifting. "Wild Zebra," for one, pieces together different tonal blacks and whites to achieve an animal resemblance. "Constellation," on the other hand, positions different sizes ofwhite stars against a blue top with random stitching encircling and connecting. Creative techniques provide the sparkand the ease of quilting, whether by using fusible appliqu or free-motion embroidery. Jacobs, Barbara
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  PUBLISHER: Amy Marson
  
  
  CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Gailen Runge
  
  
  ART DIRECTOR / COVER DESIGNER: Kristy Zacharias
  
  
  EDITOR: Deb Rowden
  
  
  TECHNICAL EDITORS: Alison M. Schmidt and Susan Hendrickson
  
  
  BOOK DESIGNER: April Mostek
  
  
  PRODUCTION COORDINATORS: Jessica Jenkins and Jenny Davis
  
  
  PRODUCTION EDITOR: Joanna Burgarino
  
  
  ILLUSTRATORS: Amanda Murphy and Jessica Jenkins
  
  
  PHOTO ASSISTANT: Mary Peyton Peppo
  
  
  PHOTOGRAPHY by Diane Pedersen and Nissa Brehmer of C&T Publishing, Inc.,
  unless otherwise noted
  
  
  Published by Stash Books, an imprint of C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456,
  Lafayette, CA 94549
  
  
  I would like to thank ...
  
  
  the countless generations of quilters who have made the world a more beautiful
  place.
  
  
  ![image](images/image5_1.jpg)
  
  
  Acknowledgments
  
  
  “I’m not creative.” I’ve heard that from quilters countless times in classes I
  have both taught and taken. It simply isn’t true. Quilters are some of the
  most creative people I have ever met. What’s more, many quilt