The Quilter's Color Club: Secrets of Value, Temperature & Special Effects -- 12 Hands-On Exercises -- 8 Projects

This book contains easy to read and understand information about using color to make eye-catching quilts. It is largely basic information, and quilters who are looking for more in-depth information would do well to read books by Joen Wolfrom, for example.A problem with this book is that Christine Barnes unabashedly states and reiterates that light values appear to recede and dark values seem to advance, which is the opposite of the accepted idea, without so much a nod that her opinion is strange or anything to back it up. She apparently fails to take other factors such as color saturation or purity, for example, into consideration when making such comparisons. If you can ignore that misinformation and see the real reason that certain fabrics are more noticeable, you will have come a long way in your understanding of color.Some of the quilts for different projects (traditional, block-based) are structured and colored so similarly to others that you may have a deja vu moment when you turn the pages. There are gallery quilts included which demonstrate more variety of style, and perhaps that is enough for the less confident quilter.The suggestion that quilters meet in small groups to work through exercises and share is a good idea, and will surely spawn many helpful sessions. Her use of quick mock blocks likewise is a useful plan, and both are time-honored activities among quilters.The Quilter's Color Club is pretty enough that I bought it after browsing through a friend's copy. Perhaps I should give it 4 stars on that basis, but potential readers need to know that this book is not the be all and end all of available color instruction.

The Quilters Color Club is an excellent primer on the use of hue, value, intensity, color combinations, patterns and texture, light effects and transparency in the construction of quilts and garments (Asian inspired vests, in this case). Fabrics are evaluated from the standpoint of intensity and visual temperature. Many of the sample quilts are constructed from simple blocks that allow the quilter to maximize experimentation with color and texture, and there are a number of examples of full scale complex quilts from established artists that illustrate the principles and provide inspiration. If you read and study this book and work the exercises in it you will definitely improve your color composition skills. If you like working with stripes, batiks and intensely colored florals, you will love this book. Barnes uses fabrics from contemporary designers that you will be able to find if you want to do the projects.If you want to see some of her work prior to purchasing the book, go to her website; her gallery is awesome! The quilts from her website that are included in the book are Parfait Dreams, Lotus Leaf Squared, Puss in the Corner on the Courthouse Steps, and Tropical Hole in the Barn Door. The vest patterns in the book use different fabrics than the ones on her website. Highly recommended.

Bought to make quilt featured. Even though a quilter with some winning quilts, I looked at the instructions and found difficult to follow. If I had not been knowledgeable quilter, would have been hard to complete quilt.

As soon as I received this book I read it from cover to cover. I tend to make more quilted clothing than quilts and I have struggled in the past to find color combinations that really say something special. This book gives me so many ideas on creating wonderful combinations of fabrics I would never have thought of. Every page is a feast for the eyes in terms of color and prints and stripes and how they relate together. I can't decide which project to try first, either Galaxy or Luminaria. I'm usually such a visual learner, but with the fun "Color Cues" and "Give it a Try" boxes,it was very easy to read and understand. This book is like one of those sewing retreats I read about but can't attend. Before I start anything I need MAGIC FABRICS (page 34)! Thanks for writing such a thoughtful and FUN book all about color. Mrs. H. Emmett Cedar Ridge, CA

This is the best book out there for quilters on understanding color and how to use it well. So many quilters get into the trap of using only what is foisted on them at their local quilt shop, using only fabrics from one designer's line. They are afraid of color and confused, not knowing why their quilts look so dull when they used the fabrics the lady's at the quilt shop suggested. They loose faith in themselves and assume they must not be good quilters or along those lines. Break out of the chains fellow quilters!! This book will help you take control of your quilts and start getting fabulous results. You will understand color and use it with amazing results.

I attended a lecture by Christine which was filled with great ideas and creative thoughts. I hoped the book could be a tool to remind of the many valuable lessons and encourage me to use her techniques. It is wonderful. Filled with her creativity and patterns as well as techniques. Very glad I bought it. It offered wonderful ways to make your quilts glow just bu using her thoughtful fabric choices and placement.

This book about color has very poor color printing. All of the color prints (which is most of the book) look muddy and muted. I have used some of the fabrics in the book, and I know that they are bright and vibrant, and not at all the greyed down tones as printed in this book. C&T Publishing usually can be trusted to publish quality quilting books, but not this time. The author must be embarrassed to have her name on this.I generously give two stars because the scanty narrative could be helpful for a beginning quilter.

This book is awesome. It is the best book on quilting color that I have seen in 30 years. It is organized so that you or a group of quilters can do each project and learn so much. She covers many of the standard terms such as hue and value etc, but in such a way that anyone will understand (even if you have no color wheel experience). Every quilter should own this.

I bought the book after seeing Christine Barnes on an online tv show. The book lays out very clearly all the theory of working with colour, and has various projects to make to illustrate the difference colour choice makes.

ProsExcellent examples and exercises choosing fabrics based on colour wheel. (Triad, compliment, split compliment etc.) Suggestions on how to best implement each scheme.Very good explanation and examples of temperature, transparency, luminosity.Very good explanation of "magic fabrics" that help enliven quilt blocks.ConsNarrow choice of fabric styles. Kaffe Fasset, Marcia Derse, overload of stripes, ombres & batiks. A few solids. No 30s, no 1850 reproductions.My book was print on demand which is not the best choice for a book on color. Might be why other reviews mention poor quality.

Good book, looking forward to using it.Nice bright cover and pictures, I hope the instructions will be easy to understand

inspiring,clearly illustrated.