Customer Reviews

Classic Four-Block Applique Quilts: A Back-To-Basics Approach

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if you like making 19th-century style applique, this is the book for you. even if you aren't interested in the 19th century style, there is a lot of good information on creating applique.

the author has analyzed the elements that give 19th century applique its charm and character. she offers many designs, her own and those of others, all of which are inspirational. there are almost(!) enough pictures of antique quilts.

her writing is enjoyable, and her suggestions and advice are based on a great deal of study and experience.

the photographs are excellent, and best of all, there are no 'decorator' views of the quilts--the kind that drape and arrange a quilt until you can't tell what the design is. the gallery is wonderful.

there are templates for the applique designs, but not for quilting patterns. the author offers a short paragraph on quilting and leaves the rest to the quilter. i think this is a plus, since it leaves more of the book for applique, which is what i wanted. i only wish space had not been wasted on a superficial quide to quilting. those pages could have been given to another wonderful pattern or more photos of quilts, and more complete instruction is available in the many fine books on the market for beginners.

definitely belongs in any quilter's library.

The author emphasizes that applique uniformity doesn't have to be perfect from block-to-block. I liked the section with directions on how to design your own applique patterns from foldling and cutting paper. The author often uses just her eye to place pattern pieces with beautiful results.

If your taste in quilting leans toward applique, particularly toward historically accurate or primitive applique, I highly recommend this book. The author has learned at the knee of many traditional quilters. She carefully studied old quilts in order to discover the techniques that were used. Without our modern tools, quilters of old often had to make do. They folded the fabric and cut it with scissors to make flowers, leaves and stars. They positioned the appliques using their hands and fingers to measure, not washout marking pens and fancy grid rulers. Their quilts are less than perfect.

This book contains patterns, with yardages and applique templates, but the shining gem is the extensive instruction on how to work the applique in the old style. The author does all her applique and quilting by hand, and all instruction is geared toward that, but there is no reason a person could not use these same concepts with invisible machine applique. There are other books that go into more detail about needle turn applique, hand quilting, etc. This book is about getting that "less than perfect" look. This informal, improvisational way of working has caused me to loosen up and be more creative with my applique and even my hand quilting.

Gwen Marston has written a wonderful book for anyone wanted to dive into this idea. She frees you from "have to's" that so many authors seem to place on we quilters - instead she really does show you how and inspire you to go for it! LOVE THIS BOOK!