Customer Reviews

150 Blocks for Baby Quilts: Mix-and-match Designs for Cute and Cozy Quilted Treasures

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book because I needed inspiration. I'm the kind of person that does really well with pre-packaged kits. In other words, I lack the imagination and creativity necessary to create/design truly wonderful quilts on my own. This book allows me to pick and choose the blocks that appeal to me and put them together in my choice of color and placement. Because of this, I feel more in charge of the quilt and its creation process.

I recommend this book to those, like me, who need just a little bit of inspiration to get them going. You won't be disappointed.

This book gets high marks for great photos of each block and for having tons of appliqué forms available for copying. It also has a helpful "mix and match" feature under each block with suggestions for other blocks that would be a compliment in quilt composition. If you're looking for a little fresh inspiration, this might be for you.

Other facets of the book were quite disappointing. The fabrics used are not identified, making it difficult to recreate anything you particularly liked. Half the blocks are appliqué on a solid background, most being a letter, number or animal which is only helpful is you love appliqué. (I do not.) Additionally, all the appliqué shapes need to be enlarged before use. Finally, the instructions leave something to be desired. Fabric quantities are given in individual strips/blocks, requiring the reader to do the math on yardage if they want to buy fabric for the project. Basic demos on strip piecing, flying geese, etc. are given the in beginning, but instructions for each block contain only a list of the appropriate piecing methods which I found uninviting and unhelpful.

I recommend flipping through this book in person before buying to see if it will be appropriate for your needs. There are certainly some cute ideas, but in general I found it far less useful than its pretty cover suggests.

If you love babies and making quilts for babies, this is the book for you. I think it has a great variety of themes, good ideas for combining applique and piecing, and good ideas for combining different pieced squares. It does take a while to figure out how the book is set up and the square numbers are in white, making them a little difficult to notice. The book did come with a small list of errors in the book, along with their corrections , which I found helpful. My only complaint is that all of the applique patterns must be enlarged. It would have been great to have full size patterns. I am already planning several quilts from this book.

The 50 pieced blocks are simply traditional quilt blocks done in bright patterned fabrics. The remaining blocks are all appliqued; 36 are simply letters and numbers. If you're looking for appliques, you'll find several cute ones here. If you want baby themed pieced blocks, as I did, this is not the book for you.

Every single block in this book is great. It was an wonderful experience just flipping through the pages. Very colorful book with appliques templates at the back. And lot of ideas on decorating the basic quilt blocks with appliques. Can't wait to get started on one of the projects.

I have given only 4 starts because I wish the applique temples were original sizes. Now I have to enlarge them before making appliques. Otherwise, its just an awesome book.