This is the type of book I would normally check out at the library. Receiving a complimentary copy from the publisher is even better, the lucky winner will get to keep it! Beautifully photographed and designed, American Folk Art Quilts by Maggi McCormick Gordon is chock full of folk art history seen through a quilted lens. I’m a true lover of traditional quilt patterns. The raw folk art edge of the quilts presented in her book inspired and reminded me once again the universal connection quilt art carries across generations.
How many times have I seen a Chinese Coins quilt only to be awed by yet another? This one was made between 1875 to 1900. It made me want to drop everything and play with my scrap basket.
One section of the book is dedicated to doll quilts. This Brick Wall quilt dates between 1870 and 1880 and measures 29″ x 26″.
The Workbook section features blocks reproduced from six of the quilts with step-by-step instructions on how to create them. Inspiration can be turned into action.
As I leaf through this type of book I’m always appreciative that the author has taken on the task of documenting in print another slice of quilting history. Works we would never have the opportunity to view otherwise.
A second prize winner will receive 52 Projects: Random Acts of Everyday Creativity by Jeffrey Yamaguchi. I realize this book is now 3 years old (yikes! doesn’t it seem like it just came out yesterday?). I won a second copy of the book on Whip Up and I’m just now getting around to passing it along. I was looking through the book again with fresh eyes and found the projects as compelling today as they were then. And if you thought I had a long sidebar, check out Jeffrey’s.
To be eligible for this book drawing leave a comment on this post with the name of your favorite traditional block. I’d also love to hear why you like it. My favorite block is Grandmother’s Fan. I like the scrappy versions where each piece of the fan is a different fabric. I also think it’s fun to stitch that curved edge at the bottom.
Winners for each drawing this week will be chosen on Monday, Jaunary 26. I’m going to wrap up giveaway week tomorrow with some really fun prizes. Think cool vendor booty!
My favorite is the Ohio Star (grew up in Ohio and I like stars in quilts). Log cabin blocks (and all their variations) are a very close second….would love to make a pineapple block quilt this year!
I love the log cabin blog. I think you can do so much with such a simple design!
I love the Log Cabin- in any form. Usually the scrappiness and the traditional red center get me. I am always drawn to this block, maybe I lived in a log cabin in a previous life…
I love log cabin blocks – all variations – and nine patch. I just like square shapes especially when they end up being a checkerboard.
My favorite would be log cabin, easy to piece, endless possibilties, great results. I’m surprised at how many others have mentioned it also. Love your blog!
I’m an attic windows girl….it’s so fascinating to see how different color values in the “window frames” create different looks to the scene. Are you inside or out? Is the light stronger outside the window or in? What colors become dominant?
I also have a kaleidoscope that is cut out…and put into a box. Someday I’ll get back to it.
It’s in colors that remind me of a trip to France in winter – blacks, greys, white, with a little cobalt blue to represent the stained glass windows at Chartres. Just thinking about it makes me want to get back to it!
Thanks for asking!
I have to go with the log cabin, though I also find it the most intimidating because there are so many different ways you can take it. My new favorite from this wonderful post and chain of comments is the card trick block — I’d never seen that (or many of these other traditional blocks) before, but it looks like there should be fun ways of playing with the colors.
Thank you for the generous give-away!
My favourite block is Garden Patch Variation http://www.quilterscache.com/G/GardenPatchVarBlock.html I love how the different angles of the star centre and points create an illusion of curves, especially combined with Snowball blocks.
I think my favorite traditional block is the 9 patch. It is so versatile and yet very simple. One of my favorite quilts was a trip around the world quilt I made with 9 patch blocks. I never took a picture of it, but remember how stunning it was.
I have so many favorite blocks that it’s really hard to choose just one, but I’d say it would be robbing peter to pay paul – once I saw a red and white robbing peter to pay paul quilt and it was beautiful. Simple yet visually stunning.
I’m not an expert on quilting (although I’m sooo trying to make a few of them) I love the pinwheel pattern.
My favorite block is the bear paw….I just like how the triangles look so spikey next to the larger paw part.
These books sound lovely.
Lately, I have been loving the traditional 9 block. I just like the simplicity of it. And, I like it even more when they work together to make larger pattern quilts!
Traditional quilts and blocks are my favorite because I can stay in my traditional comfort zone even when putting a modern twist on blocks. For this reason, I love the log cabin block. However, my favorite traditional block is the friendship block because of its meaning. It also brings on a special meaning when you put that twist on it by using a photo printed on fabric for the center. I just like the warm feelings and meaning of this block.
I’ve always liked the star quilt pattern. It’s easy enough for a beginner to do it!
I love the Brick Wall quilt in the book. Very traditional and familiar. Right now I haven’t been quilting much though I did try my hand at a log cabin block and I love the construction.
I just finished an Ohio Star quilt that I loved doing. It has just enough triangles to look impressive.
Schoolhouse pattern is my favorite because it reminds me of a simpler time.
I love log cabin quilt blocks. The straight vertical lines look great, and can be quite striking with the right fabrics!
Picking one quilt block that would be my favorite, hmmm… that would be like picking just one day in my life that I liked the best! I love applique blocks, and just plain scrappy basket blocks…. something that you can tell that the maker has used every last little scrap that she/he had. Court House Steps and Log Cabins are also some of my favorites too.
So sweet of you to do this… hmmm seems that maybe I ought to do the same and sort through what I have. Only problem is I don’t really have many people that actually read my blog. LoL… so I guess I will just see if any people I know would like to have a few of my extra’s.
For me it’s a tie between flying geese and log cabin.
I love the honeybees block. It’s a combination of machine piecing a 9 patch with a touch of applique.
I love star blocks and my favorite is the Sawtooth Star. Simple block but can be made to look so different depending on fabric placement.
I love Folk Art quilts! Thanks for the opportunity to win the book.
I love the shoo fly block. It is so versatile and can look so different mixed with other simple blocks like a 9 patch or even a solid block.
There are so many traditional patterns I love… I love the traditional piecework best of all. Lately I’ve been really taken with the Churn Dash, but the log cabin is always pulling at me. Still when I look at antique quilts, I am in awe at what these women were able to accomplish with out our modern technology, especially the sawtooth star and other triangle patterns! Wow, I love them all!
Cheers,
Dionne
My favorite is the pineapple block. It has such a delicate look to it, and I like that it looks complicated to do but it’s not….just really time-consuming. I love your blog!
Kathy, my favorite block is usually the one I am working on at the time, but I’m partial to any star block and I love flying geese because the varieties are endless! Great giveaway – thanks!
Cheers!
I like the crazy quilt, is that a real block, like a log cabin but you cut diagonal and crazy. You have to be okay with yourself to try it and one glass of wine helps!
I love pinwheels, pinwheels, pinwheels! THanks for the give away.
I’m hardpressed to decide between Double Wedding ring and good ol’ Log Cabin. I also like the twist on Double Wedding ring- single girl I think it’s called. I can’t remember where I saw it–the rings stand alone with dignity.
wow – that brick wall quilt is so nice. i tend to like simpler/less busy blocks. perhaps my favorite is the basic nine-patch? or hexagonpattern? it is pretty hard to chose.
I’m a log cabin fan. This book looks great!
What a lovely giveaway! I totally love the versatility of the split 9 patch. It’s a great block to use up scraps and the patterns you can design with it are numerous.
Log Cabin. I made one for my brother, and it’s had a place in my heart since then. Maybe it’s because I’m from northern Minnesota, where there are lots of cabins?
I would say the log cabin is my favorite block because that’s all I have done. I hope to maybe add some more to my list of blocks though before the end of the year.
I love the “Monkey Wrench” pattern. I haven’t yet tried it, but it always makes me smile.
I love the log cabin. I always go back to it.
i love log cabin blocks because they are so easy and versatile!
I would really love to have that book as I’m a quilter and espcially love to make tradional quilts.
ohhh hard too choose one… whilst i love the wedding rings, my favourite has to be log cabin – i like it best because its so versatile, and by tweaking it, it can be modern or traditional… setting them with sashing totally changes the look than butting them together… its time consuming to put together, think i find this harder than others, but its worth it.
angela
I am a newbie to quilting but the next quilt I want to tackle is a “scrappy cartwheel” or I’ve heard it called a “whirlygig”. I don’t know if it is a traditional block but I love the way they look. Seems somewhat simple but all together they just look happy! If I had to pick a more “traditional” block I would say a pinwheel for the same reason!
I like to nine patch — there’s so many variations possible.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo.com
What a wonderful giveaway! I’m new to quilting, but want to try a quilt with “strips”, like the Gee’s Bend quilts.
Hi there! My fave is the Snowball…I love the way a simple circular design can be turned to make so many different designs. Or maybe it’s the sentiment behind the name. I’m a midwest girl recently relocated to the desert (NM) and I’m having winter withdrawals
I could really go for some snow!!! It’s too hot here to even need a quilt, but I love the warmth and beauty they bring even if it’s too warm to cuddle up under one. Thanks again for sharing your inspiration!
Irish Chain is my favorite!
My favourite traditional block is the Dresden plate, as recent blog posts will attest – never met a Dresden plate I didn’t like…
It has over the years given me the opportunity to play with colour, as well as make simple but attractive quilts as gifts.
As a traditional girl, I’m also a big fan of that old faithful, the 9 patch, as well as Churn Dashes and any star block. And love one patch quilts, postage stamps and 1000 triangles and hexagons.
[...] draw those names from everyone that has played along and commented this week. The responses to the quilt book giveaway really got to me. I’ve savored every last one. So many thoughtful and touching reasons for [...]
I love a variable star block. It’s cute, easy and has so many uses. I’d love to win!
I am a new quilter, so I don’t have a favorite block yet. I learned to sew in junior high and sewed a lot of clothes, but when I raised my family I stopped sewing. Now with the children grown and a granddaughter, I’m sewing bags, pillowcases, bibs and toddler clothes and loving every minute of it. I’m in love with fabric and keep adding to my stash along with quilt patterns. I have one large quilt I made, but it just needs to be quilted. So much to sew and so little time, so I take it one day at a time. The joy is endless.