Way back when I first joined the staff of Gen Q, we were at my second Market. I had spent the summer hearing about Thomas because he would be on the cover of our next issue. I didn’t know too much about him.
And then I got to hang out with him at the Fabric 2.0 party with Lisa Sipes… and this happened.
That was it! I was smitten.The next day he came to the Gen Q booth and we talked for what seemed like forever.
Thomas Knauer and Tracy Mooney in Generation Q Magazine Booth at Quilt Market
If you take the time to sit with Thomas, you learn about his background in art and design and how he found himself immersed in the quilting world. He has grand ideas about where he would like to see quilting go.
Some of that is in this book, Modern Quilt Perspectives: 12 Patterns for Meaningful Quilts.
This is one of those books that I will be carrying around for a while. It is WAY more than a pattern book. It makes you think about WHY you quilt. What is your motive? What do you want to say? Because Thomas’s quilts do just that.
From In Defense of Handmade…
In Defense of Handmade Photo by Tracy Mooney
to Palimpsest (Pride Flag)…
Palimpsest Photo by Tracy Mooney
His quilts do so much more than keep his family warm. They make a statement that needs to be made. A statement that asks you to think about things a little differently. I urge you to take a look at this book and get inspired. Thomas is one of those people that has a lot to say. Give him a chance and hear his story. It is an interesting one, I promise!
Now on to the good stuff! Leave a comment on this blog post for a chance to win a copy of this amazing book! We will announce the winner on April 10.
And visit these amazing people to hear more about this book and for more chances to win!
March 14: Thomas Knauer
March 15: Lisa Sipes
March 16: Robert Kaufman
March 17: Victoria Findlay Wolfe
March 18: Katy Jones
March 19: Bill Volkening
March 20: Kelly Biscopink
March 21: Audrie Bidwell
March 22: Mary Rachel Kolb
March 23: Rachael Gander
March 24: Sew, Mama, Sew
March 25: Cloth Paper Scissors/Cate Couldacos Prato
March 26: Cheryl Arkinson
March 27: Barb Delaney/Quilting Daily
March 28: Fat Quarterly
March 29: Pellon/Erin Sampson
March 30: Sew Modern/Lauren Hawley
March 31: Rachel May
April 1: Mary Fons
April 2: Amy Smart
April 3: Quilter’s Connection/Heather McArthur
April 4: Teresa Coates
April 5: Generation Q/Tracy Mooney
April 6: Barb Delaney/Cloth Paper Scissors
April 7: Sara Lawson
April 8: Kim Niedzwiecki
April 9: Rashida Coleman Hale
April 10: Thomas Knauer
Thank you, Thomas, for inviting me to participate in this blog tour. It is indeed an honor.
Winner, winner chicken dinner!
Which makes our winner Diann who said:
Diann Cornell April 8, 2014 at 9:15 am [edit]
This looks like a book I really want to have.
Indeed! Diann, look for an email from us for instructions. Thank you to all who entered our contest!
{ 54 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the inspiration from this book. I have never looked at quilts like this before! Thank you for sharing.
Wow, what a cool sounding book! I’d love to win a copy!
Thank you for sharing your experiences with Thomas. With each post I have read about him and his new book, I have learned a little more about how he seem to impact people. I hope that one day I too will be able to meet with him
Loving the tour. Thanks for participating.
Sounds interesting. I’d love to have this book.
Thomas’ work is spectacular. His quilts certainly give you something to think about.
he is very creative. very curious about this book, hopefully……..lol
very interesting article. Thanks for the generous prizes.
OMG! I love his work! And I would LOVE to win a copy of his book. Thanks.
This is one book I’m really looking forward to reading so I’d love to win a copy. From what I’ve read about the book so far his perspective is very thoughtful. It’s a good thing when we are urged to look beyond the surface of our craft.
All I can say is, “Wow!” I am very impressed by Thomas’s quilts. I particularly like “In Defense Of Handmade.”
What a beautiful looking book.I am trying to make more modern looking quilts that my children will want.
I love the quilts that are pictured. This has to be a great book!
This book looks great and the quilts shown are spectacular!
Would love the opportunity to know more abou Thomas and be inspired by his book. Great GenQ read…
It’s always fascinating to hear where people get their inspiration from.
Looks like you have fun every time you get together
I’m sure this book is fun and a good read.
I love Thomas’s fabric and quilt designs.
The books sounds very interesting, as does the author. Thank you so much doe the chance to win his book.
I love what you written about so far, I would love to win a copy! Thanks so much!
tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com
It’s fascinating to hear how people came to quilting and why they stayed. Thomas’ story is a great one and I would love to learn more! Take care, Byrd
How refreshing! I am new to quilting (not sewing though) and would love to read his book!
Gotta love a guy that is comfortable enough to throw a skirt on and get his picture taken. I read about Thomas in your
But whatever works!
Winter 2012 issue and he is very interesting! I love how due to his illness, how he was able to turn it around into something positive and quilting became his new career! Amazing! I’m not so sure though, about his reference to a sewing machine being a band saw
Thomas’s book sounds great and I would love to win it to add to my library of quilt books.
I really like “In Defense of….” and would love to have this book
thanks!
I love your magazine & Thomas’ fabrics, thanks for this opportunity to win a copy of his new book!
I have always loved In Defense of Handmade. His book sounds very cool!
Every review makes me want this book more and more. Thanks for the chance!
I would love to win a copy. It looks like a great book. Thanks
I am enjoying the blog tour about the book. I would love to have one.
I like Thomas’ idea of making this more than just an instruction book.
This is such an inspirational book. I love that each quilt has come from an idea, to represent something, rather than to just look nice (nothing wrong with that). I will certainly think about my future quilts in a different way. I would love to win a copy.
This looks like a very good book, really interesting perspective. I would love to win a copy.
Beautiful looking quilts, designed from a very interesting perspective. I’d love to win a book. (Not sure if I’ve double commented -apols if I have) PC weirdness.
Thomas sounds like a wonderful man. I hope his book is a hit.
This is the most interesting sounding quilt book to read that I have come across. Not just for the patterns but for the stories that go with each one of them. I would love to win his book!
This book seems different from most of the quilt books I own.
and the quits are very unique— Love the bar code!
i just cant wait to see this book. im enjoying the blog tour!! thanks for a chance.
Hi!!!! I would love to have this book!!!! Thanks for the chance to win it!!!!!
Way to go Thomas on being so original and thinking deeply about what you do. So many of us get stuck in the hustle-bustle of life and soon find ourselves rushing through everything just to get on to whatever is next. I think we could all take a note to slow down, think deeper, and actually enjoy what we do and who we do it for. Awesome.
I really enjoy Thomas’s fabric, and from the looks of things, I’m going to like his book just as much! Especially that “In Defense of Handmade” quilt – fabulous!!
Would love to win a copy; I love his story of getting into quilting.
I have totally loved this blog tour. It has given me a great insite into the way that Thomas thinks and the way I will view and make quilts in the future. I am looking forward to reading his book from cover to cover.
This book looks fantastic! I love this part of your review: “It is WAY more than a pattern book. It makes you think about WHY you quilt. What is your motive? What do you want to say? Because Thomas’s quilts do just that.”
I am loving Thomas in that skirt!! Looks like a fab book
This looks a fabulous book – I love the bar code quilt!!
Sounds like an awesome book! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
This looks like a book I really want to have.
I would LOVE to read this book–and also do some of the quilts! I used to do a lot of stitching and feel like I can express myself with that, but I’m lost when looking at fabric. The book sounds very thought-provoking.
Hello, such a neat blog!
Thanks for a chance to enter the giveaway!
HAPPY STITCHING!
This looks like a fun book.
My quilts are made to make the recipient feel happy and comforted.
This book looks very exciting, not the same old thing again. Thanks for the chance.
Thomas starts the kinds of conversations I’d like to see more of in our community. I hope someday we can move past the “modern vs. traditional” hangup and start thinking more about the multiple layers of quilts beyond the three tangible ones. But that’s just me
Looks like a book I definitely need in my library. Love Thomas’ quilts.