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Best Books for Quilters (2026)

The 10 best books for quilters in 2026. From walking foot techniques to modern improv quilting, find the perfect book for your skill level and style.

Whether you're looking to master machine quilting on your home sewing machine, explore the creative freedom of improvisational piecing, or build a solid foundation of traditional techniques, there's a book here for you. We've curated this list based on teaching quality, photography, project variety, and how well each book serves its intended audience. From bestselling guides that have launched thousands of quilting journeys to specialized references that tackle specific techniques in depth, these are the books quilters actually recommend to each other.

Books & Affiliate Links

#TitleBest ForPriceISBN/ASINAmazon Link
1WALK by Jacquie GeringWalking Foot Mastery$301940655218Buy on Amazon
2First-Time Quiltmaking (Landauer Publishing)Complete Beginners$171935726234Buy on Amazon
3Urban Quilting by Wendy ChowModern Aesthetic$251950968197Buy on Amazon
4Quilting with Curves by Daisy AschehougCurved Piecing$281644033674Buy on Amazon
5The Improv Handbook for Modern QuiltersCreative Freedom$271617691380Buy on Amazon
6All Things Quilting by Alex AndersonComprehensive Reference$221607058561Buy on Amazon
7Modern Quilt Bible by Elizabeth BettsTechnique Encyclopedia$301446307468Buy on Amazon
8Quilter's Academy (Series) by Harriet HargraveStructured Learning1571205942Buy on Amazon
9Scraps, Inc. (Vol. 1 & 2)Scrap Quilting$241940655048Buy on Amazon
10WALK 2.0 by Jacquie GeringAdvanced Walking Foot$301940655439Buy on Amazon

Book Details

1. WALK by Jacquie Gering

Jacquie Gering revolutionized walking foot quilting with this groundbreaking guide that proves you don't need a longarm machine to create stunning quilts. The book teaches you to achieve professional-looking straight lines, gentle curves, and intricate designs using the walking foot that came with your home machine. Perfect for quilters who want to finish their own quilts without investing in expensive equipment.

2. First-Time Quiltmaking (Landauer Publishing)

This is the book quilting teachers have been handing to nervous beginners for years. It breaks down every fundamental skill—rotary cutting, accurate piecing, pressing seams, and binding—into crystal-clear steps with photographs that actually show what your hands should be doing. You'll complete your first quilt with confidence and understand why each technique matters, not just how to do it.

3. Urban Quilting by Wendy Chow

Wendy Chow of The Weekend Quilter brings a fresh, contemporary perspective to traditional craft in this visually stunning guide. Her patterns feature bold geometric designs, striking color combinations, and a modern minimalist aesthetic that looks at home in city apartments as much as farmhouses. If you've been searching for quilts that feel current rather than country, this book delivers.

4. Quilting with Curves by Daisy Aschehoug

Curves terrify many quilters, but Daisy Aschehoug makes them approachable with her systematic teaching method and 20 gorgeous projects. The book demystifies curved piecing with clear instructions for cutting, pinning, and sewing those tricky seams without puckers or pleats. You'll graduate from simple crescents to complex interlocking circles, adding dramatic visual interest to your quilts.

5. The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters

Sherri Lynn Wood liberates quilters from the tyranny of patterns with this guide to improvisational piecing. Rather than following templates, you'll learn to make design decisions intuitively, cutting and piecing as you go. The book covers eight distinct improv techniques, from score-based systems to free-form cutting, teaching you to trust your creative instincts while still creating cohesive designs.

6. All Things Quilting by Alex Anderson

Alex Anderson, longtime host of "The Quilt Show," distills decades of teaching experience into this comprehensive reference. The book covers everything from selecting fabric and understanding grain lines to advanced techniques like paper piecing and appliqué. It's the kind of book you'll return to again and again throughout your quilting journey, finding new techniques when you're ready for them.

7. Modern Quilt Bible by Elizabeth Betts

Elizabeth Betts created an encyclopedic guide that covers over 100 quilting techniques with step-by-step photography. The modern aesthetic shines through in the accompanying projects, but the real value is in the technique sections—you'll find thorough explanations of piecing methods, quilting designs, and finishing touches that work regardless of your style preferences. Think of it as a quilter's desk reference.

8. Quilter's Academy (Series) by Harriet Hargrave

Harriet Hargrave designed this series as a complete quilting curriculum, taking you from freshman basics through graduate-level techniques across multiple volumes. The structured, skill-building approach means each concept builds on the last, and the accompanying projects are carefully chosen to reinforce what you've learned. Ideal for self-directed learners who appreciate a logical progression.

9. Scraps, Inc. (Vol. 1 & 2)

Every quilter accumulates fabric scraps, and this collection shows you how to turn those treasured remnants into stunning quilts. The patterns from various designers are specifically created for using fabric scraps of different sizes, helping you organize your stash while creating visually rich, scrappy quilts with depth and texture. It's both practical stash-busting and genuinely beautiful design.

10. WALK 2.0 by Jacquie Gering

The highly anticipated sequel to Gering's original WALK book takes walking foot quilting to new creative heights. Building on the foundation of the first book, this volume introduces more complex designs, textural techniques, and innovative approaches that push the boundaries of what your walking foot can do. Essential for quilters who mastered the first book and want to continue developing their skills.

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