I am in between customer quilts that I cannot show you for “raffle” reasons, so I thought I’d try to get caught up on some book reviews.  I’ve got 7 books to share with you; I think I will break them up into 2 posts.

Book #1…  Uncommonly Corduroy; Quilt Patterns, Bag Patterns, and More by Stephanie Dunphy

I was pleasantly surprised as I opened and perused this book. The pictures reminded me that my mother used to make utilitarian quilts with scraps of corduroy, denim, and broadcloth.  As I got further into the book, I felt it sucking me in as I noticed the texture and richness of the corduroy in the quilts and how the quilting popped against the corduroy. And, of course! Why didn’t I think of putting corduroy on my bags to make them stronger? There are several cute bag patterns that will suit almost any taste. She also has several quilt patterns, some of them mixing flannel and corduroy and some including embellishments for further texture.  I see corduroy in future quilting projects of mine.

The above picture makes me think of all the leftover corduroy clothing that could re recycled into a bag (like the one above or the one below) or something else; it makes me smile.

Cute purse and matching scarf!

For whatever reason, I love the black corduroy in this quilt and the colors that pop against it.  It would make a great quilt to drag around the house (for me!).

 

Book #2…  Sweet and Simple Sewing by Jessi Jung, Carrie Jung, and Lauren Jung

This book is full of cute projects with a more modern touch.  It has luggage tags, a hand-bound journal, pleated clutch, makeup bag among other patterns in it.  A lot of these can be made with less than one yard of fabric in a short amount of time and as gifts.   Take a look at the table of contents.

Isn’t this a cute quilt?  I haven’t seen this design before.

Here is the curling iron “cozy” – great for taking on trips!

I love the quilt pattern below.  Who would have through to make a fan block into something so cute?

Another great bag for traveling…

And a cute purse for those special occasions…

 

Book #3… Sew Practical by various authors of Martingale

I especially liked this book because of the variety of projects, but I guess that is what you get when you have so many designer authors; Pippa Eccles Armbrester, Cassie Barden, Linda Lum DeBono, Barbara Groves and Mary Jacobson, Adrienne Smitke, and Janis Stob and Margaret Linderman for Fig Tree & Co.   In the midst of the variety of designers, they will provide you with a variety of sewing techniques from which to learn.  I’ll let you take a look at the table of contents.

I can see the knitting case below being adapted for someone doing embroidery or hand sewing, and, of course, crocheting also.

I hadn’t really thought of making a cover for my sewing machine (I use it too much) until I saw this. 

E-readers seem to be everywhere now.  Wouldn’t this make a nice gift?

I love this work apron.  I wear a gardener’s apron when I quilt, but this apron tempts me to make a prettier one than what I currently have.

I thought these place mats were interesting, because of the “woven” design element.  I can see them as mug rugs also.

 

And finally…

Book #4…  Simple Appeal by Kim Diehl

Kim Diehl is one of my favorite designers, so of course I would love this book.  It is full of scrappy quilts.  Some of them are pieced and some are appliqued.  She will show you how to do invisible machine appliqué as well as wool appliqué on cotton backgrounds .  I don’t have a picture of the table of contents on this book, but you can get an idea of the 14 projects inside this book with the following pictures.

The 9-patch inside the log-cabin block is interesting to me.  Couple it with the appliqued border and you have a win-win quilt.

Kim must have used scraps for the background on this one (creative!).  I like how this one looks so natural in its setting, yet it is scrappy.

Something small to make for yourself or as a gift.  The thought of mug rug came into my mind, but I think I would be afraid to get it dirty.  Maybe bright colors on a black background for a mug rug?

Wait!  Is that embroidery I see?  🙂

Who would have thought to make a primitive pincushi0n using an old jar lid?  Only Kim…

And, finally, I thought these quilts hanging like this, if nothing else, make a great statement and a nice decoration for homey homes.  Brent Kane really knows how to set up the quilts for photography!

Many thanks to Martingale for providing the books and their photographer, Brent Kane, for these wonderful pictures!  You can buy these books from Amazon or go to Martingale’s website here.