What? Why?

I have a presentation to prepare for a quilt industry seminar in March. My topic boils down to what makes a quilter buy a quilt book? Since Linda and I have been writing quilt books for 19 years you'd think I'd have a clue. I have some clues... but I am sure that you all know better what makes you buy a book than I do.

So I'm asking: 

• What makes you look at one book over another?
• What makes you part with your hard-earned money?
• Do you prefer buying books in a shop or online? Why?

Feel free to answer any question - even ones I didn't ask.

You know what books I've been buying? Moleskines. Especially the 'passions' moleskines. In the recipe division. 

Comments

[Denise]

P.S. Hate to admit it, but buy online for better price. Need more $ for fabric ;)

[Lesley A]

I started quilting about a year ago. My first books were the basics...the "how to's" (pick fabric, cut fabric, stitch, check for a 1/4" seam, etc), and anything that really drew my eye. I'm now a bit more "picky". Some of my criteria:

1. If the cover doesn't draw me in...then it's not coming home with me; it's probably not even getting picked up off the shelf.
2. If I can't actually flip through the book, it's not happening. I buy at the store only (preferably LQS, but book stores as well). I have a NOOK and won't even consider buying a quilt book electronically.
3. It all depends on what is being sold...I picked up a book the other day that had the most fabulous cover, I had drooled over what little I could see of it online...and as soon as I opened it up, big disappointment. Beautiful quilt on the cover, but inside all i could find were patterns for placemats, bags, mini-sewing projects, etc. I think I found 1 maybe 2 actual quilt patterns, and that wasn't enough for me to part with my cash. The ratio of quilts to placemats (you get the idea) needs to be balanced!
4. I talk to the folks at my LQS. I let them know what I'm looking for, and they usually send me in the right direction. Recommendations from another quilter is the #1 way to get me to at least look at a book!

[cityquilter grace]

what prompts me to buy a book is the value, meaning are there enough patterns/ideas to make it worth the money...that's first. occasionally i just buy a book because of the content, meaning it doesn't have to have patterns or such, like a coffee table quilt book to read or look at

[Mary Ellen]

My post will probably echo some of a lot of the posts I've read here.

First of all, I have some favorite designers - Piece 'O Cake (I know that surprises you - hee, hee) Art to Heart and Possibilities to name a few. I generally buy all their books and I don't have to see them first.

For other books, I need to find at least two patterns that I think I'd like to do. What first draws me to the book is, of course, the cover. If the cover is boring, I won't even look.

The only place I shop on line for books is Connecting Threads because you can see some of the inside photos and decide if there's something you'd like - and generally they are discounted which helps a lot in this economy. But, I also buy books at Quilt Shops if I just can't wait - or if they come with a discounted class (because you got the book there) or I know I'll never see that author on Connecting Threads.

I now have somewhere in the area of 300 books - so I don't buy books that have the basic patterns but just with new colors. I can figure that out by myself.

[Patricia]

The cover has to grab my attention. If the cover doesn't appeal to me, I usually find that the content is also unappealing.
I will often buy books for a specific purpose. My latest purchase was a book of very contemporary designs, which I bought because it contains a pattern of a quilt which I am now making for my daughter.
There is nothing like a super color combination to attract the eye, but I try to look beyond the author's color scheme. I am looking for blocks or overall designs that I can make in my own color choices, and designs that can be easily enlarged to bed size. I look at the geometric aspect of the pattern as well as the color palette. I have purchased books that use color schemes that I don't like, but contain patterns that I want to make.
Some things I like to find in a book: lots of step-by-step photos; photos of one quilt done in two or more color options; the author's favorite tools and notions with links to online sources for purchasing those supplies; suggestions for quilting designs for the top with close-up illustrations of the actual quilting; books with DVD included.
I buy at quilt shops and online. I prefer online because of discounted pricing.

[Nurseli]

I agree, I'd rather see a book than buy it online. Though recently I purchased a quilting book online through amazon because it was substantially cheaper. But I had already looked through it at my local quilt shop. Usually color catches my eye first. I am also drawn to books with a more modern quilting feel. I also like when books have projects for all levels- beginner projects + more advanced. I also like when books discuss some of the history behind a block, though you do see that in the more traditional quilt books.
I recently passed up a book that had great colors, discussed using up scraps, but only had a handful of projects and didn't seem worth the expense. I also passed up another book of modern blocks because many seemed like something I could figure out myself and repeated blocks. But honestly, most of my quilting books don't always just have quilting projects in them.

[Christy B.]

Lots of detailed pictures. When I can actually see the weave of the fabric and the strands of the thread I get very excited. I also enjoy a lot of written detail as far as techniques (especially hand applique - The New Applique Sampler is a great example) and also love to learn about a quilter's philosophy of craft. I enjoy reading about quilting as much as looking at pictures and diagrams as much as actually quilting. Books have played a large part in my personal education and I've loved having them in my library to refer to. The ones that I turn to the most are the ones with the most detail.

[Sandy]

With almost 500 books in my quilting library, a new book has to have great appeal before I'll buy it. I buy quilting books to learn a new technique and to see new designs, although I rarely use the patterns. I don't buy books with quilts made from pre-cuts because I have a huge stash and would rather select my own fabrics to make my quilts. I also like quilting books containing accurate historical information.

I'd rather buy books at a discount if I can, so I seek older ones out at book sales, in used bookstores, and thrift shops and I also use coupons to buy new books when I can.