Customer Reviews

Grandma's Best Full-Size Quilt Blocks

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Better Homes and Garden books have sure improved since I became disenchanted with them in the 80's. And this is an excellent book no matter if you are a beginner or more accomplished at quilting. It is in an easy to use large spiral book form which makes laying it open as you work on one of the quilts or refer to a procedure for making quilting easier much easier.

It is laid out in a decades genre, where 1830-1860, 0n into 1920-1950 and borders are discussed in excellent detail with clear photos and exact size templates you can copy and use. Since I am fond of the Sunbonnet Sue (page 168) quilt my Grandma Katie made for my bed and dolls cradle I wanted to learn how to make one myself.

I make quilts but they are self designed appliqué types and I wanted to discover the old quilt arts. Although the crazy quilts shown (page 104) come close to what I do.

I personally don't know anyone who wouldn't find this excellent book helpful and being well used. Everytime I start to put the book away I realize that I need it out since I am always doing some type of quilt work....

I sometimes quilt. USually I quilt and then try to make a hooked rug to accompany it. THe good thing about this book is it allows you pick and poke at the full-size templates to create your own era or modern day quilt. I find that inspirational rather than just being a drone and copying.
Another thing I liked, was understanding how fabrics and fabric colours changed over the years. WHile there isn't much descriptive info on it in the book, it's really highlighted and then brought to life on the pages themselves.
All in all, quilters, and hookers who either want to be very traditional or not, should benefit with this book.
And personally, I have found the whole B&H series on quilting
superb.

I am not a wealthy person...most of the quilt patters and quilt blocks I have downloaded from the interset....but......This book I checked out many times from our Library....then I decided that I would try and buy this book from our library...I found amazon...and OMG!!!! I was surprized at the price....so I ordered it......the quality of book...was amazing...and to me....this book is a must for any quilter,,,its imformatitve, easy to follow....and inspirational....

I had wanted this book for a while and found it at a great bargain on Amazon, to my delight. The seller had a great description of the book, which I had seen in some very old book order ads. I wasn't even sure if it was still in print or available. I know that when I'm looking for absolutely anything, if it's available anywhere, it will be on Amazon, and there it was! There were two versions, and several reviews of both. I knew that I wanted the original version, because the great reviews of this book had described lots and lots of great pictures in the original. I ordered the book immediately, and got a delivery date about a week or two away. I got the book way ahead of the delivery time. The seller was so quick to send it to me, that I got it in 3 or 4 days. It was a such a good surprise for me. The book was in perfect condition, which is what the seller had said. It not only has big beautiful vintage blocks, it also is divided into sections with dates and descriptions of the fabrics and quilts made in each era. It has lots of history of the quilts made between 1830 and 1950. It shows present day quilts that were inspired by certain parts of the vintage quilts. This book is so full of interesting facts, history, pictures on every page, and wonderful patterns with instructions for piecing each block. I recommend it very highly to all quilters. It is a real treat. I have bought several quilt books on Amazon, and have been pleased every time! The best treat was the book and the price of it. Thank you seller and Amazon!

Love, love, love this book. I was not expecting such combinations and colors but was so pleased when I opened this book. This is a must have book for the quilter's library.

This is a large book that has many big quilt blocks in it. I ordered it thinking it was another book and was surprised by the big blocks. I gave it as a gift to a quilter who was looking for it.

What I love about this book is the pages and pages of photos of antique quilts and the history that goes along with them. If I want quilt patterns this is not my "go to" book. There are five chapters in GRANDMA'S BEST FULL-SIZE QUILT BLOCKS and the first four chapters each cover 30 years of quilts, spanning 1830 through 1950. The last chapter is about quilt borders. While each chapter offers full page line drawings of the 14-20 block patterns it features (these are what the cover refers to as the "70 FULL-SIZE BLOCK PATTERNS") and a paragraph of instructions for assembly, they are not true patterns. A beginner with no quilt background could become frustrated trying to make a quilt from these bits of info. It does not explain anywhere that these line drawings would need to be copied, cut apart and seam allowances added to each piece. Could you make a block with set-in seams using only a five-line paragraph for instructions, or a block with curved seams using only a six-line paragraph? That is what you will find here. An experienced quilter who is used to drafting patterns and knows techniques for set-in seams and curves would be okay. My concern is for those who need more assistance. I have taught beginning quilters using very detailed, step-by-step instructions and it can still be challenging for them.

At the end of each chapter there are two of the patterns from that chapter that are featured with actual pattern piece drawings (including seam allowances)--for a total of 10 actual patterns, a list of materials needed, cutting instructions (no rotary cutting directions here), a list of what pieces are needed to make each block, and a reference to the earlier page in the chapter for block assembly instructions (which is usually a short paragraph), and an overview of how to assemble the top and complete the quilt. There are no detailed instructions on quilting basics, such as how to layer, baste, quilt or bind. Whether or not this book meets your need will depend upon what you are looking for and how accomplished you are as a quilter.

As a student of quilt history, I just love to browse the pages of vintage quilt photos--for that alone this could make a great coffee table book (it is big enough--11 1/2" x 11 1/4"). It is visually pleasing and full of ideas, but for patterns there are dozens of other books I would recommend.

I love this quilt book. Nice patterns and variations. A great variety. This is a great addition to any quilters library.

This is a wonderful book chock full of gorgeous photos,interesting text and enticing patterns. An excellent buy with a lot of variety.

I love to look through this book, but the patterns are tedious. I would rather use my rotary cutting books to make similar blocks. I am not fond of having to add 1/4 around each of the templetes.