100 Any-Size Star Blocks
Linda Causee
Leisure Arts; $17.95

Are you a fan of star blocks? While I know there are a lot of star blocks, I’m not sure I knew there were 100. What is nice about this collection is the included CD that features templates for all those 100 blocks. The blocks can be scaled to the size you want and then printed for either paper piecing or used to create templates. A general quilting directions section is included as are directions for 15 quilts, quilted wall hangings and smaller pieces.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

No Sewing Until You Quilt It
Ann R. Holmes
AQS Publishing; $24.95

Long-time stained glass artist Ann Holmes turned to quilting in 1999 when she wanted to recreate some of her original designs into fabric without incorporating the lead line. What resulted is her No Sewing Until You Quilt It technique that incorporates fusible interfacing and glue-basted turned down edges to her appliqué pieces prior to any quilting. What she ends up with is the nice smooth edge of a turned appliqué edge. The book includes complete instructions for learning the technique followed by seven projects of increasing complexity. The accompanying CD includes patterns, an additional gallery with one of Ann’s stained glass pieces, and a discussion on inspiration.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Quilt Blocks Go WIld
Eleanor Levie and Celebrity Quilters
Leisure Arts; $19.95

I always enjoy books with a variety of techniques that stretch your skills and this is no exception. Eleanor along with five celebrity quilters (Karla Anderson, Pam Dinndorf, Malka Dubrawsky, Tonya Ricucci and Elizabeth Rosenberg) challenged themselves to take the classic quilt block and twist, tweak, slice and skew them. In other words start traditional and go wild. You’ll find the classic Drunkard’s Path with inset, random strips; an unorderly Rail Fence; a Log Cabin block split into a boomerang shape; and a wonky, winking traditional Star block. In all you have nine projects, and each can set you off on an adventure to try something new with a different traditional block. Elly also includes playbooks – hand-on exercises – for each block designed to jump start your creativity.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Quilt Blocks From Around the World
Debra Gabel
C&T Publishing; $21.95

Following up on the success of her first book, Quilt Blocks Across America, Debra takes you on a world tour, well, at least to 50 international cities. The finished six-inch square blocks can be used in a variety of applications, from small wall hangings to a sampler quilt of your travels. The book includes a CD so you can enlarge all the patterns, and almost all the gallery pieces are made at a large size. In fact Debra recommends enlarging 200%. You’ll also learn Debra’s Translucent Patterning technique that allows you to trace each piece and see color, positioning and overlap in one block.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon  if you would like to learn more about the book.

Hexa-go-go
Tacha Bruecher
Stash Books; $23.95

Everything old is new again, and English paper piecing is seeing a resurgence. I love author, Tacha Bruecher’s take on it. She says, “Hexagons are so wonderfully portable – quilting’s answer to knitting! She starts you off with with detailed instructions on creating your paper templates, making the hexagons, and hand stitching them together. Once you’ve got the basics and a stack of hexagons, you’re ready to make any of the projects in the book. She offers you 18 projects ranging from a lovely rosette needle book to full-sized quilts. The projects are fun and I especially liked the “Stars and Stripes Quilt,” perfect for celebrating American holidays. If you decide to give hexagons a whirl, watch out. I hear they are addictive.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Appliqué & Embroidery Fundamentals
Janice Vaine
Landauer Publishing; $27.95

With 45 years of sewing and needlework experience, Jan Vaine starts you in the classroom where she teaches you her Perfect Placement Appliqué method followed by lessons on the appliqué stitch, reverse appliqué and a variety of stitches. The instructions are complete and the illustrations are very large, a plus. The bulk of the book includes the letters of the alphabet each encircled by a floral wreath. Jan’s goal is for you to learn new embroidery and embellishment techniques as you work your way through the alphabet. She then offers 18 additional stitches and six additional projects for using the skills you’ve learned. I appreciated the supplies shopping list at the beginning of the book, too.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Curves to Quilt
compiled by House of White Birches
Leisure Arts; $24.95

The cover of this book caught my eye with its brightly colored “Oh Lollypop” appliquéd circles on patchwork. The book includes a mix of 14 projects in brights and not-so-brights, contemporary and traditional quilts, wall hangings and table runners. In addition to the cover quilt, I really liked the “Green Leaves Runner” with its curved edges and subtle shading.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to  Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

We Love Color
Susanne Woods, compiler.
Stash Books; $23.95

When was the last time you made a quilt without any prints or textured fabrics? For most of us, it could be hard to remember. We have such an outstanding selection of prints on the market. For those who are fans of solids, Kona Cotton Solids from Robert Kaufman Co. make up the mainstay in this category with more than 200 colors. This book features 16 quilts created by 16 designers known for their original style and use of color. You’ll find both traditional and contemporary quilts, and you’ll also pick up a few new techniques for your tool box. A bonus is a color index to the Kona Cotton Solids featured in the book.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Liberated Medallion Quilts
Gwen Marston
AQS Publishing; $24.95

Don’t you just love the whole idea of “liberated quilts,” quilts that let you interpret basic concepts in your own personal fashion? This is Gwen Marston’s fourth “Liberated Quilting” book and her 26th book. The quilts in this book came from a retreat she holds each year in northern Michigan. After the 2010 retreat, she was struck with how many of the quilts created over the five sessions were medallion style and that begged for her to write another book. What is interesting is how these modern liberated medallions had much in common with early medallions, e.g., one made by Martha Washington. Gwen offers seven how-to projects to get you started, though you will definitely veer off the path. I love the construction tips she includes to help you solve problems. She even shows how Martha Washington solved her construction problem. If you are interested in keeping your traditional roots, yet becoming liberated, give this a try.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Lynn Ann Majidimehr
That Patchwork Place; $27.99

I just loved the look of almost every quilt in this book, with the appliqué on pieced backgrounds. The colors were bright and the designs were out of the ordinary and realistic; the end result is a contemporary look. The book includes 10 projects in sizes ranging from a small wall hanging to lap-sized quilts and a table runner. I’ve never been a fan of paper piecing – it’s the tearing out of the foundation I don’t like. Lynn offers a twist on that with a freezer-paper foundation method that doesn’t require picking out the paper. As for the appliqué she offers two methods: fusible and freezer-paper, glue-basted appliqué. Instructions are clear and include lots of color photos to guide you. I also appreciated the specifics on machine quilting and the close-up shots of the quilting.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.