Whimsical Wool Applique by Kim Schaefer

Many of my friends LOVE wool applique. When I saw the cover for Kim Schaefer's Whimsical Wool Applique I loved the cheerful and bright flowers and knew my friends would, too.

Whimsical Wool Applique cover

Kim offers seven quilt projects and 50 blocks, all with complete instructions and color photos of each block. Along with her whimsical flowers there are blocks for birds and butterflies, bugs and bees, a snail and caterpillar.

Whimsical flower by Kim Schaefer

On the lower left side of the cover photo is pictured Garden Whimsey, a 32 1/2" x 40 1/2" quilt made with 6" x 6" flower blocks.

Her second project is Sweet Tweets, a wall quilt 36 1/2" x 12 1/2" with a line of six birds, including the one pictured below.

Bird from Sweet Tweets by Kim Schaefer

Snug as a Bug, a 22 1/2" x 32 1/2" wall hanging, features garden denizens with a caterpillar and butterfly, dragonfly, bee, ladybug, and snail, all too cute to resist. Schaefer captures a 70s Mid-Century vibe in her designs.

Bloomin' Beauties, 28 1/2" x 22 1/2", has six floral blocks and a vine leaf border.

Enchanted Garden, below, is 33 1/2" square and includes nine floral blocks with a traditional vibe.

Enchanted Garden by Kim Schaefer

A small one-block project that measures 12 1/2" square is Ring Around the Bluebell, a nice size for beginners. Another good beginner project is the Flower Power Pillow, 14 1/2" square, with nine daisies.

Every one of the fifty blocks has its own page with the pattern and close-up details of the embroidery used to finish the block. The blocks are fusible applique and the embroidery makes them really pop. My wool applique friends enjoy the embroidery part of their projects.

Visit Schaefer at Little Quilt Company and see her other books and patterns at
http://www.littlequiltcompany.com/index.htm

I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

WHIMSICAL WOOL APPLIQUÉ: 50 Blocks, 7 Quilt Projects
Kim Schaefer
C&T Publishing
Book ($24.95) eBook ($19.9
ISBN: 978-1-61745-655-8
UPC: 734817-113010
(eISBN: 978-1-61745-656-5)

About Kim from the publisher's website: 

Kim Schaefer began sewing at an early age and was quilting seriously by the late 1980s. Her early quilting career included designing and producing small quilts for craft shows and shops across the country.

In 1986, Kim founded Little Quilt Company, a pattern company focused on designing a variety of small, fun-to-make projects.

In addition to designing quilt patterns, Kim is a best-selling author for C&T Publishing. Kim also designs fabric for Andover/Makower and works with Leo Licensing, which licenses her designs for nonfabric products.

Scrappy & Happy Quilts

Kate Henderson, author of Strip Quilts and Strip Savvy, now offers quilters thirteen quilts in a limited palette--but what a palette! Each quilt bursts with color, so full of joy they will brighten the gloomiest day. Take a look at the quilts in Scrappy & Happy.

Wouldn't you want to drink your morning brew to this sunny view?

Sunrise consists of 7" square blocks to make a 28 1/2" x 35 1/2" wall hanging. Paper-foundation piecing allows perfect points. Henderson used fat quarters and fat eighths cut into strips. Illustrations show each step of piecing; I think even I could be successful following the instructions!

A Friendship Star block variation, Happy Stars finishes at 68" x 68." I love the yellow palette, but for those who want something more subdued, imagine it in calm blues. This is an easy block to piece.

Petunia Patch flowers have green stems that form an interesting grid pattern. This is another easy piecing project and finishes to a 68" x 68" quilt. Henderson chose a complementary color palette of pinks on the purple side with a yellow green.

These super sized Poppies remind me of Marimekko's famous Poppy print. It is very Modern in  its use of negative space, simple super sized shapes, and limited palette. Solid color fabrics would bring it into Contemporary Modern style.

Henderson uses a Drunkard's Path block to make the flowers in two sizes: 24" square blocks and 12" square blocks. This is one of the harder blocks to piece because of the curved seams. (Frankly, I would likely use hand applique because I am a lousy piecer and expert appliquer!) The quilt finishes at 72 1/2" square. 

Triangle shapes also make an appearance in the book. In Mountain Hiking, 72 1/2" x 80 1/2", Henderson used low-volume prints for the backgrounds and a vivid print for three sizes of  'purple mountains majesties." Triangle rulers would make cutting a snap.

While hiking in the mountains you will likely see a lot of Triangle Trees! Finishing at 66" x 74 1/2", each tree is made of triangles and squares, so simple! You can use up your green scraps making this forest grove.

Perhaps you don't care for hiking in the woods and A Day at the Beach is more your idea of relaxation. Use cool, watery colors--pale blues, greens, and aqua. The quilt finishes at 60 1/2"x  60 1/2".

Yellow and gray really Shimmer in this half-square triangle quilt that finishes to 52 1/2" square. You can use 5" charm pack squares or draw from you scrap stash. The blocks are easy to make using Henderson's 'perfect point' hint; the lay out gives the quilt its punch.

Between the Lines uses complementary blue and orange--just three fabrics. Talk about simplicity! This 38 1/2" x 44" quilt pattern would be a great baby gift. By choosing you fabrics carefully, you could elevate the pattern to a very stark, modern statement.

Sherbet colors of orange and pink contrast with aqua to give Mellow it's demure look in this 56 1/2" x 70 1/2" quilt. Sewing strips for the blocks is easy. Thoughtful fabric choices in a variety of sizes and motifs draws the eye across the quilt.

The opposite of warm colors like orange, pink, and yellow are greens and blues. Fields of Green, 60 1/2" x 69 1/2", uses both cool and warm greens with an overall effect that is inviting and calming. Henderson draws from improvisational quilts, using a combination of  large squares and rectangles with Flying Geese strips. This is a great quilt for those who don't trust their instincts to just wing-it. The result feels free wheeling but the pattern design is planned and fool-proof.

I wish I had a full quilt photo of Pink Daisy for you! This charming, easy to piece pattern in one color was inspired by Henderson's love of Daisies. The 67" square quilt seen in full looks like a Daisy chain with interlacing blocks surrounding the central motif. Henderson notes that by using a smaller block size you can turn this into a baby quilt size, She suggests using a design wall to ensure this scrappy quilt flows well.

Last of all we have Add It Up, which Henderson made in red, white, and blue. The quilt consists three blocks: a nine-patch variation like a "plus sign," a Churn Dash variation, and a Spool variation. Together they create an interlocking chain surrounding red motifs which look like Plus Signs and dots.

General instructions, loads of illustrations, and step-by step instructions are included.

I had to smile when I saw these quilts. I hope you did too!

I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Scrappy and Happy Quilts: Limited Palette, Tons of Fun! 
by Kate Henderson
Martingale/That Patchwork Place
On Sale Date: January 16, 2018
ISBN: 9781604688627, 1604688629
Paperback $25.99

Strip Quilting Gets Sophisticated with Susan Ache

Quilters love precuts and Jelly Rolls of 2 1/2" strips have become very popular. Several of my friends have made scrappy quilts with strips sewn by sewing the strips together. Susan Ache's new book Start with Strips offers 13 sophisticated quilt patterns utilizing Jelly Rolls that go way beyond just sewing them together!

Susan shares her method of sorting and preparing jelly rolls, so all you have to do is grab and sew! The patterns shared are gorgeous. My favorite is Pumpkin Maze, seen below, an Irish Chain variation with a pieced pumpkin. It consists of two blocks. The Irish Chain block is made with 2 1/2" strip sets. The pumpkin also uses strip sets for the body of the pumpkin and stitch-and-flip units for the stem and leaf.

Four Square is a nine-patch block with a Church Dash variation block. Susan used a soft green ground. The pattern includes half-square triangles made from the strips as well as strip sets, with blocks laid out in diagonal rows.

The Guest Room pattern is a Dresden Plate variation. You make 20 blocks with Dresden corners set with the pink sashing and borders.

Airboats needs a good contrast in values to work. It is constructed by making wedge units and adding a triangle at the point, then setting the wedge units with sashing in a kind of nine-patch unit. The block is then cut to 10 1/2" squares. This is one of the more complicated patterns in the book.

Citrus Grove was inspired by Susan's native Florida orange and grapefruit groves. The luscious oranges and pinks glow against the lime green. Strips are made into half-square triangles.

Sea Glass is so easy with strip sets to make the pieced blocks and border. Susan used romantic pastels, but the pattern could be made with brights. Or imagine the quilt with white switched out for black or navy with solid pastels in the piecing!

The instructions and illustrations are top-notch, as can always be expected from Martingale!

I received a free ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Starting with Strips
by Susan Ache
That Patchwork Place
On Sale Date: December 19, 2017
ISBN 9781604688719, 1604688718
Paperback $25.99 
80 pages

The BIG Book of One-Block Quilts

That Patchwork Place has gathered together some of their quilt designer's best patterns based on a single block. With 57 designs to choose from you will never run out of ideas!

Star designers include fan favorites Kim Diehl, Country Threads' Mary Etherington and Connie Tesene, Pat Sloan, Carrie Nelson, and Jo Morton. I love how patterns from various sources are brought together under a theme.

I recognize the middle star pattern, Magnitized, from Sue Pfau's One Bundle of Fun, one of my favorite quilts from her book on using precuts.

 With a change up of fabrics the quilts can become Modern or Traditional, colorful or elegant.

I love the very Modern take in the lower center quilt in the photo above. Would you believe that the block is Flowering Snowball and was sold through the Ladies Art Company a hundred years ago! Designer Amy Ellis makes it look very 2017!

Scrappy or with a controlled palette, one block quilts can become anything you want. Pat Sloan's pattern Fresh Air, on the lower left above, is sweet in peaches and greens. But imagine it in all one color story, or solid brights against a medium gray.

Above, lower left is and Hourglass block version called Welcome Wagon by Kim Diehl. It is a great pattern for small scraps. Below, upper left, is Argyle by Cindy Lammon. I love quilts patterns that look like plaids! This is a pattern that with the right color scheme could look very masculine.

Above, lower center row, is Log Cabin Chevron by Penny Barnes. What an amazing quilt with loads of action and such a modern look. The Log Cabin block is a very traditional pattern but this version has the squares in the corner of the block. The pattern uses easy strip piecing, using only three colors--navy, white and green. The 42 blocks create a quilt that is 66 1/2" by 77 1/2".

As always, the instructions are top-notch, with great hints and easy techniques to ensure success. What a great book to add to your library! Or your quilt guild library!

I received a free ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

The Big Book of One-Block Quilts: 57 Single-Block Sensations
That Patchwork Place
On Sale Date: November 21, 2017
Paperback $28.99

All in a Row Again

All in a Row Again. Note Pat Sloan's retro camper row!!!

MODA All-Stars have returned in All In A Row Again with 23 more row-by-row quilt patterns! Motifs include flowers and trees, critters and creatures, buildings and houses, and classic patchwork.

Your favorite designers offer patterns in their signature styles to inspire you to create your own quilts, combining rows and "blender rows." Just look at the samples below to see the possibilities!

Evening Stars by Jo Morton, an embroidered bird from Kathy Schmitz, and Tricolor Stars by Lisa Bongean

of Primitive Gatherings. Note the 'blender rows' used in the border and as a spacer.

Whooo doesn't love those owls from Deb Strain! Other rows include Flitter Flutter by Stacy Iest Hsu,  Picket Fences by Sandy Gervais, Springtime by Corey Yoder, and Stars in Bloom by Sherri McConnell.

The quilt above demonstrates the use of blender rows, the narrow rows of repeated motifs.

Kathy Schmitz contributed this embroidered bird pattern. Her new book is Stitches from the Harvest, which you can read about here.

The rows can be used to make wall hangings or table toppers. This beach hut row from Sandy Klop of American Jane Patterns is so colorful and fun!

And so are these Barn Quilts from Kate Spain!

There are traditional patterns as well.

Stars and Geese from Betsy Chutchain 

I love Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill, and she contributes a pattern with her signature Hedgehog.
Other contributors include Jo Morton, Janet Clare, Laurie Simpson of Minick and Simpson, Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles Quilters, Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs, Brenda Riddle of Acorn Quilt & Gift Company, Barbara Groves and Mary Jacobson of Me and My Sister Designs, Karla Eisenach of Sweetwater, and Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms.

Pollen by Jen Kingwell has a modern vibe

Each All-Star answers questions so we get to know them better. Most address concerns to quilters, like thread color used for piecing and favorite marking tools.

The instructions are top-notch, and there are links to print-ready patterns found online.

In case you need any more motivation to get this book, the royalties from the book are being donated to Give Kids the World Village which helps children with life-threatening illness to enjoy week long, cost-free family vacations.

See the first All in a Row book here.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Moda All-Stars - All in a Row Again
By Lissa Alexander
softcover $26.99
ISBN: 9781604688979
Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017

Distinctive Dresdens by Katja Marek

When I saw the cover to Distinctive Dresdens it knocked my socks off and I had to find out more. I learned that Katja Marek is an amazing designer of English Paper Piecing Hexagon quilts and that one of my weekly quilt group friends is in a group making her Millefleur Quilt Along, using patterns from her book The New Hexagon.

Marek has now created twenty-six amazing Dresden Plate variations.

Marek's Dresden Plate variations

The blocks include the traditional wedge shaped pieces and center applique of the Dresden Plate block. But Marek includes a folded insert piece and changes the shape of the center applique. The blocks are of increasing complexity ranging from two to six facets with mixed sized blades.

The book offers six projects including the Paper Lanterns Wall Quilt, seen below. The quilt includes 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-faceted Distinctive Dresden blocks.

Clamoring for More, seen below, uses 5- and 6-faceted Distinctive Dresden blocks.

Other patterns include placemats, a Christmas tree skirt, a table runner, and cushions.

The blocks are complicated with lots of pieces and loads of personality. But don't be intimidated. Marek has provided everything you need for success.

Tools and equipment, from pattern paper and marking tools to needles and thread, are thoroughly discussed. The techniques used in construction are covered in step-by-step instructions with lots of photos and illustrations. For those new to paper piecing, don't despair, because Marek has that covered, too, with photographs to show how to sew the wedges and inserts together by hand and machine. Once the Plates are completed, she shows you how to remove the pattern papers.

Each block has its own full page, color photograph with templates needed and illustrations showing its construction and completion.

The blocks can be used in many ways, including in the projects she offers, each as carefully presented with instructions, illustrations, and photographs.

A note on the e-book version: If you are worried about buying an e-book of quilt patterns, be assured that they are quite wonderful. Links are inserted into the instructions that take you to proper pages for basic instructions and specific patterns, and you can access pattern pages for printing through a link to the Martingale website. Need resources? Links to the websites make finding the right supplies a click away.

I tried my hand at several blocks. This first one has three wedges (the piano keys). It went together very smoothly.

Distinctive Dresden block by me

This second one has four wedges (the music fabric) and the piano key fabric is the piece added for the 3-d effect. I was not as successful with this one.

But not too shabby for a newbie at English paper piecing.

Learn more about Katka Marek at http://www.katjasquiltshoppe.com/

I received a free ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Distinctive Dresdens
Katja Marek
Martingale
Publication Date: September 6th, 2017
$26.99 paperback
ISBN: 9781604688528