The Quilt Block Cookbook

There are so many great books out there and you will have heard me recommend a few of them over here, but I do think this one is a bit special.

For a start it is really gorgeous to look at, I just love the photography and styling. It’s published by Lucky Spool who always seem to produce really stylish books. Also the layout is so clear and concise, with it’s concept of ‘block recipes’.

Amy offers 50 different patchwork blocks all made from different units and elements (a very good construction section guides you through making these). There is unlimited potential here to change and resize blocks, making it a great entry point to designing your own quilts.

And then what I really love the most are the incredibly creative and original ways she puts the blocks together, making sampler quilts with a big twist. I absolutely love Celestial below – so modern yet so classic!

Here are just some of the sampler quilts, there are more amazing ideas in the book.

And with so many fun blocks to choose from I really wanted to try a couple out.

And then I made Spin the Bottle, number 9.

By now I was thinking, hmm… maybe four would make a nice mini quilt…

So I made two more of each, getting to try a good selection of of the fabric as I went.

I purposely kept the same fabric for the corners of each block. Amy specifically talks about corners and the impact they make when the blocks go together. I was hoping something interesting would happen here.

And I think it does! I haven’t sewn these together yet as I am really not sure. I may make more and try out some others. I would love to make a version of the Celestial with them, or one of the other sampler quilts in the book.

Or I may just make more of these and put them on point! I actually like them like this better.

There is just so much potential! So they are going to stay on the design wall for now while I (sadly) get back to my chores. But I can’t wait to resume playing with them very soon.

Meanwhile if you have any thoughts on what I should do with these blocks then please share them here!

You can get a copy of Amy’s excellent book here. I really think it would be a big asset to every quilter’s library from beginners upwards.