Artful Album Quilts: Applique Inspirations from Traditional Blocks

This book is very exciting for beginners as well as seasoned quilters. The author is concientious to give instructions on choosing fabric, purchasing the proper supplies, and methods of applique. She gives step-by-step direction on drafting your pattern and making your own applique templates. Her cutwork instructions make cutwork look easy. The book is packed with information on how one can take an antique quilt block and update it. The author continues to advise on quilting and binding methods; and if that is not all, she adds information about attaching a "hanging sleeve" (for those who love to display their quilts on the wall), and a label.The quilts are luscious and the patterns are simple to complex (cutwork). I highly recommend this book.

The Baltimore album appliqué style is among the most rigidly traditional of all. What makes a Baltimore album - the elaborate fruit and flower appliqué patterns - doesn't allow for much creativity of design for the quilter. Or does it? Jane Townswick undertakes in her new book to show how quilters can put new wine in old bottles by ringing changes on traditional album blocks. Starting with a significant example of the style, an 1857 quilt from New York state belonging to the State Historical Association, Townswick shows the reader how to update and vary the traditional blocks in the quilt for a fresh and contemporary look that still is clearly in the Baltimore tradition. Townswick also uses fabric selection to update her look, and the effects of including Skydyes and other contemporary fabrics are refreshing and new. The book is full of tricks and techniques for easier appliqué. If you think Baltimore albums tend to be a bit stuffy, this book is a good antidote!