Customer Reviews

301 Country Christmas Quilt Blocks

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2 star:		(4)
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Altho there are instuctions for several projects in which to use a number of the blocks in this book, most of the blocks are of many different sizes and would require re-sizing or adding borders, etc. to combine in a quilt project. This is true of the 12 days of christmas blocks. There are also several blocks labeled: "create" which I took to mean you drafted the design yourself from the small picture. Most applique patterns were not full sized, & have to be enlarged. I have used & enjoyed this author's patterns before, but was disappointed in this book.

I guess I was looking for something different when I purchased 301 Country Christmas Quilt Blocks. What I was looking for was a quilt block book with Christmas themes. What was included in this book, was a large majority of reworked patterns, that could've suited any time of year except for the coloring. This book relied almost exclusively on appliqué to make the blocks look 'Christmasy.' As someone who likes to machine quilt and not appliqué, this was disappointing.

There were plenty of photos in this book, but the colors of the quilt blocks looked quite drab to me. To achieve the 'country' look they are sewn crookedly. Ughh.. Not my cup of tea. Also, I wanted to see more full-sized items, such as a bedspread or a throw. Most of the quilt examples were of single blocks, with no visual of how they would look in a larger-sized piece. Personally, I don't think they'd look all that great, as anything except a throw pillow. One crooked block is charming... Many crooked blocks = eyestrain.

While you might find some fun ideas in this book, I felt a tad let down by the contents. I've wanted to quilt a full-sized christmas quilt for a while, and nothing in this book caught my eye.

When I purchased this book, I thought I would get a book full of different, fascinating CHRISTMAS quilt blocks. The many so called traditional blocks are simply basic quilt blocks done in Christmas colors....gee, I really needed a book to show me how to do that! AND the other blocks are either too simple or to boring to bother with.

I love the simplicity and primitive themes of the blocks in this book. The variety of methods used- applique, piecing and stichery and the varying size of the blocks allow for max creativity. The color photo illustrations of each block are great and a plus not often shown- especially for the price!!!

I disagree with other reviewers who took issue with the quality of the "country" ideas in this book. I think the charming irregularities and imperfections in the quilt blocks are wonderful! I think it frees me up as a quilter!

This book is for impatient quilters who want to create something pretty without the tediousness of perfect piecing. True, the tea-dye brown gets redundant, but I think this book's strong point is that it allows for individual variation in the spirit of the home made "country" look.

A lot of the patterns could easily be transformed into paper piecing or could be done using traditional pieced quilt blocks in similar "country" fabrics. The applique is rough and free-formed and so could be customized to suit one's own taste. I recommend this book!

As the title states, the designs are way too primitive for me. I know that country designs are in, but this is way beyond that. I think you could adapt some of the blocks and make them less crude but personally, I just kept flipping the pages and shaking my head. I wouldn't waste your money on this one.

I love this book! Also, I have the companion book: "Two Hour Quilted Christmas Projects". Can't wait to start making Christmas gifts and ornaments for 2009.

Because I'm a Country- and Christnmas-Lover too, I was very pleased, when I got the book.
There ist a wide range of Blocks in different styles (Paper Piecing, Applique, Embroidery) and sizes. The book features only a few complete projects, but it should not be too difficult to create personal projects and use the blocks in little projects and gifts.
As special "goodie" there are many drawings, named "Create it", in order to give examples and ideas for further Christmas Blocks. But there are no further instructions.
You also get an instruction for "Tea Dying" to give the projects that ancient look.
If you are a quilter who loves to get inspirations and not only complete instructions, then it's right book for you.

301 Country Christmas Quilt Blocks is a book I borrowed from the library many times, but never had enough time to complete a project. Now that I've bought the book, I can work on any project at anytime. Many of the the quilt patterns are easy enough for a novice like me and some of them will make lovely pillows. The directions seem straightforward as well. I'm all for quick and easy projects and this book offers both.