Meet Cindy Walter

Cindy was born in Iowa, into a family of quilters, where she was introduced to sewing and quilting at a very young age. She entered the quilting world professionally in the late 1980's by teaching timeless traditional quilting techniques at local quilt shops.

In 1994, Cindy had the desire to "paint" on her quilts. Thus the birth of the contemporary technique, Snippet Sensations, (published November 1996). The technique was immediately successful and swept the country. In 1998, Snippet Sensations won the PRIMEDIA Award of Excellence as the best publication in the USA in the sewing/craft/quilting category. She produced her Snippet Creations video in 1999.

In 2000, Cindy co-authored two books with Diana Leone, Fine Hand Quilting and Attic Windows Quilts with a View, both Krause Publications. These books are full of beautiful photographs and are perfect for teaching in a classroom situation.

More Snippet Sensations was released October 2000, Krause Publications. It has over 20 step-by-step projects and boasts a large section on turning your snippet project into a quilt, and free motion machine quilting.

One of Cindy's favorite passions is painting fabric. This led her to co-author the Basic Guide to Dyeing & Painting Fabric with Jennifer Priestley in 2002. Jennifer and Cindy have also created several paint kits to make it easier for the quilter to obtain the supplies.

If you like Historical patterns you love Basic Appliqué, co-authored with Gale Baker Rowe. It features 1930 patterns with Traditional and Contemporary Appliqué techniques.

You'll find her newest book very exciting. Contemporary Quilting, co-authored with Stevii Graves, features a summary of the Quilting Industry over the past 20 years, 10 step-by-step projects, and a huge, glorious gallery of contemporary quilts.

Cindy is the co-host of Quilt Central TV show along with Janie Donaldson. Call your local PBS station for airing times. Other TV appearances include: America Sews - PBS; Kaye Woods' Quilting Friends - PBS; Sew Perfect - HGTV; Simply Quilts - HGTV; Creative Corner- PBS, and Home Matters - Discovery channel.

Lectures and Workshops include: International Quilt Market and Festival, HIA, Sew and Stitchery EXPO, International Quilt week ‘98 Yokohama Japan, New Zealand Quilt Symposium, Creativa Festival in Germany, Berlin Patchwork Symposium, Images 2000, Road to California, Quilt Colorado and numerous guild shows.

Favorite Clover Tools

Rotary Cutter with soft cushion handle
For a quilter, rotary tools are like a third hand. I love my Clover Rotary Cutter with the soft cushion handle. It fits my hand perfectly and I'm able to cut through many layers of fabric without effort.

Thread Cutter Pendant
I do a lot of hand work such as hand quilting, stitching bindings, hand applique and basic hand work on garments. I tied a cord on my Clover Thread Cutter Pendant and keep it around my neck whenever I'm quilting to easily cut threads. It saves me the hassle of trying to find where I've set my scissors.

Double Tracing Wheel
I love the Clover Double Tracing Wheel that marks the seam line and cutting line simultaneously. When I was younger, I sewed most of my clothing and I am now devoting some of my studio time to garment sewing. This tool makes cutting and sewing very accurate, especially for the beginner.

Desk Needle Threader
I suggest the Clover Desk Needle Threader to anyone who has trouble threading needles. I gave one to my 90 year old father-in-law who lives alone. He would often have to reattach a button or do some small mending, but couldn't see to thread the needle. He was amazed how well the needle Clover Threader works and thinks the threader is a great invention.

Visit Cindy at www.cindywalters.com to see her full line of books, patterns, videos, lectures and workshops.

Watch Cindy at Quilt Central TV and Quilters TV "Where the Quilting Stars shine" and view resources for patterns, meet teachers and authors, workshops and lecturers online.