AllCrafts.net Free Crafts Update Blog

Thimbleberries Big Book of Quilt Blocks Book Review

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.

Thimbleberries Big Book of Quilt Blocks