Although I have quite an extensive collection of quilting books, I still have a soft spot in my heart for the very first book that started my quilting library. I don’t know if it is just because as the only quilting book in my possession at that time I perused it so much until I left it completely dog-eared, or because it was gifted to me by my beloved Jared. 🙂 In any case, I’d like to share my thoughts on in today.
501 wonderful blocks… this continues to be my all time favorite block book!!! If I were only allowed to keep one of my many quilting books, this would be it!
Laid out with 250 pages of 4-inch piecing and appliqué patterns, I have easily adapted many of these blocks to foundation piecing, and have also enlarged them without any problem. All blocks are shown in very clear color photos, along with the piecing diagram. The book is divided by themes: Traditional Patchwork, Appliqué Flowers, Appliqué Folk Art, Baltimore Album, Sunbonnets, Calendar, Hearts, Christmas, Easter, Santas, Haloween, Signature Blocks, Pieced Flowers, The 1930s, Trees and Leaves, Birds and Butterflies, Building Blocks, Ships and Planes, Stars, Baskets, Alfabet, Numbers, School Spirit, Juvenile, Noah’s Ark, Barnyard, Teatime, Cats, Sewing, Southwest, and Columbus.
Included are step-by-step instructions for 40 fun projects: quilts, wallhangings, mantle/shelf quilts, linens decorated with block borders, wearables, basket wraps, hotpads, tea cozy, table runner, tree skirt, stockings, ornaments… and on and on.
The last part of the book contains a complete illustrated section on Tips and Techniques that cover everything imaginable regarding the methods used in making the blocks and projects: supplies, templates, machine sewing, piecing, appliqué, yo-yos, embelishments, pressing, finishing, and more. It also provides a complete block index, divided by themes, techniques, and patterns, to make it super easy to find any given design.
I am a self-learner. I taught myself to sew and to quilt. And I taught myself how to draw. I am learning how to dye my own fabrics and am dabbling with mixed media. I am a quilt designer and teacher, and design and publish my own line of quilt patterns. With this blog I would like to share the bits and pieces of my life.