Thimbleberries Big Book of Quilt Blocks [Hardcover]

Lynette Jensen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Thimbleberries | Publication Date: September 1, 2005

Presenting 60 quilt block designs that combine to make five distinctive quilts, this collection features techniques for various skill levels, a progressive approach that moves from easy to more complicated blocks, quiltmaking basics, a broad range of quilt designs that varies from casual to formal, and different quilt-making styles. 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lynette Jensen is a teacher, fabric designer, and the owner of Thimbleberries, Inc., one of the premier quilt design studios in the world. There are nearly 900 Thimbleberries Quilt Clubs in North America, with up to 200 members per club.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Publishing Solutions (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932533052
• ISBN-13: 978-1932533057
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,238 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Its value depends on what you're looking for, November 17, 2005

By 

Esther Schindler (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thimbleberries Big Book of Quilt Blocks (Hardcover)

This book is a hard one to evaluate. If you're interested in a certain kind of quilting, it's a 5-star book without question. If you're looking for something different, it's somewhat disappointing.

Thimbleberries Big Book of Quilt Blocks shows you, step-by-step, how to make five quilts. They're all full size quilts: 62x78 inches, 88x96, 81x98, 92x112. However, they are all also *sampler* quilts; that is, you make 12 (or whatever) different blocks, using the same fabrics for each block, and then you sew them together into a larger quilt top. For example, the first quilt encourages you to make one quilt block for each month (which implies "make one each month," even though you could make 'em in one busy week I suppose).

The book does an excellent job of explaining the fabrics to use, and how much you'll need for the entire quilt. The "Pansy Park" quilt, for example, uses 1 1/8 yard of a small green leaf print for the whole quilt; that green is an accent in each of the blocks. (The quilt uses 18 other fabrics as well; plan to spend some time at the fabric store!) If you like to make a quilt that matches the picture, you'll appreciate how he book doesn't just say "small green leaf print;" it shows you a thumbnail image of the fabric. You can acquire a matching one (you can buy the Thimbleberries fabric, which is designed for RJR Fabrics) or pick something similar from your nearby quilting store.

Another thing I appreciate about the book is the thoroughness of the instructions. The construction of each block -- and there are LOTS of pretty blocks! -- is explained in detail. Each block is approached as a standalone project (including "at this point, the block should measure 14.5 inches square"), making it a good choice for those with limited time to work on a quilt. You _could_ get lost, but you'd have to work pretty hard to do so.

There are two downsides that keep me from loving this book. First is that it's all sampler quilts. I'm just not that fond of them, because it means a new setup for each block, and I don't personally care for the style. Of course, there's nothing to keep me from making an entire quilt using just one or two of the blocks they suggest (some of them are really gorgeous and the instructions are not intimidating, even for this "practicing beginner"), but I'd have to guess at the amount of fabric needed. I don't trust my math that much yet!

My second objection is to the fabric choices. All of the examples are in a very "country" style: little flowers on fabrics that, though not exactly calico, make me think of calico. They're mostly small-scale prints, too, with few designs suited for the big focus fabrics I prefer. ("Where can I fit that great purple bird fabric in THIS quilt?" I wonder.) And while there's a range of values, they aren't particularly bright. Obviously, I can pick my own colors... but the designs have lots of small squares and triangles. Few of them would work with my stash.

However, the last few paragraphs are entirely personal to my needs. Your idea of a great quilt is likely to be far different from mine. (Heck, I'm still proud of myself if my points line up right.) I don't expect you to agree with my taste. All I can do is give you my own look inside the book, and hope that its description is helpful.

If you like country sampler quilts, this book will be exactly what you'd hoped for -- it's a very well designed book, and probably a great one for someone who wants to try lots of different things.

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Thimbleberries Big Book of Quilt Blocks, September 11, 2005

By 

N. M. Rodriguez (Europe) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thimbleberries Big Book of Quilt Blocks (Hardcover)

Since it is not possible to browse inside the book before ordering it, the buyer should be warned that the book is in fact a compilation of patterns already published.
Otherwise the book is good, user friendly, with appropriate pictures and explanations.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of great quilt blocks presented very well., January 20, 2007

By 

[e-mail] "www.allcrafts.net" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Thimbleberries Big Book of Quilt Blocks (Hardcover)

If you are a fan of antique quilts, country quilts, or Thimbleberries quilts, this book is for you, unless you already own the first five Thimbleberries block of the month series. For everyone else, this beautiful book is a superb collection of five quilts, containing 60 different blocks.
And it is a beautiful book. I have many quilt books - I wish they were all designed so well. The quilts, blocks, and instructions are laid out with clarity and simplicity. Images, both photos and diagrams, are large and uncluttered.
Each quilt is shown in a lovely country setting with an interesting description of the quilt and the blocks. Many quilt books stop there, but this book also includes a photograph of the entire quilt and a large photo of each quilt block. The fabric list also shows a photo of each suggested fabric. I love the photos.
The directions for each block are illustrated with handy diagrams that show block construction.
The quilts were designed to be non-intimidating, completed a block per month. And the quilt blocks get more complex further into the book. They serve as a fine quilting course, with a little help from a how to quilt book. There are quilt directions included, but a complete beginner may need more help.
The first quilt is called "Month by Month." Each block represents a different month of the year. I think a pillow made from the block for their birth month would be a thoughtful gift for just about anyone. The blocks would also be nice as slipcovers for living room throw pillows to change out each month or season.
Me, I like villages. I collect them, and fill my knick-knack shelves with little houses. The second quilt, "Thimbleberries Village," is perfect for me. With blocks like "Main Street Manor," and "Log Cabin Lane," that I can cap off with "Sunlight" and "Apple Orchard," how can I resist?
I have several friends and relatives who feed the birds (and squirrels) year-round. The third quilt, "Safe Haven," is full of birdhouses in a vertical style.
Next, you can stitch pieced blocks of tulips, bleeding heart, lilies, and daisies in the fourth quilt, "A Quilter's Garden." It's remarkable how these five quilts are so alike in style but differ in execution and design. The garden quilt is set on point, the birdhouse quilt blocks are vertical blocks, while the village quilt has an asymmetrical layout.
"Pansy Park," the fifth quilt, has blocks on point in a dramatic setting. The description calls it an important quilt and an heirloom quilt. The formal layout and lavish borders suit it very well.
For traditional-style quilters, this book deserves a place in your library. I enjoyed it thoroughly - great quilts presented very well.