French Braid Quilts with a Twist

May 19, 2014
Miller (French Braid Obsession) has dedicated 11 years to the technique of piecing quilts that mirror hanks of hair tightly plaited in French braids. This fourth book in her “evolving style” coaches quilters in the sometimes tedious intricacies of marking, cutting, and piecing strips of fabric to stunning effect. She addresses two questions that have arisen about her process: the first is about fabrics that resemble chevrons in the braids and the second concerns the sizes of segments. Although previously, Miller has supported closely shaded fabrics in the “run” of the braid, she has now broadened her thinking, based on quilts made by others: “less-than-perfect braid runs still looked good.” As for size, Miller varies segments in each quilt project and also within some of them. While laying out detailed instructions for the experienced quilter, Miller offers a semi-invisible way to machine-bind. The eight projects include scrap-quilt versions, such as “Crazy Braid,” and ones with floating stars. Her encouraging style is firmly pedantic, and her tips are based on experience.