My goodness, how time flies. I swear I reviewed Kay’s book Easy Applique Blocks five seconds ago. It’s been a full two years (almost to the date!)
I’m very excited that Kay’s written Inspired by Tradition. I’m a traditional block kind of gal. That may surprise you just a bit. Most of the fabric I use and designs I create tend toward the modern side of the scale. Aha, it’s all rooted in tradition! Everything old is new again, just made with different fabric.
Things about Kay’s approach to applique that I LOVE:
- Kay does not draw a line in the sand about hand applique vs. machine, she embraces both.
- The book covers several techniques in detail with step-by-step instructions, photographs and illustrations. This is a book that contains designs but also covers technique in depth.
- Tips and frequently asked questions are included.
- Kay has a point of view and she shares it! When first teaching myself to applique I was frustrated by the apparent mystery surrounding why you choose one approach over another. Kay discusses her preferences and the relative differences. So refreshing to have straight forward answers on this topic.
Things about the book that I LOVE:
- OK, the printing in 5 sizes from a CD is over-the-top genius. I put the CD in my computer, selected my design, and clicked on a 12″ block size from a choice of 6″, 8″, 9″, 10″ and 12″. I printed a reverse template for tracing onto the fusible web and a second template for placing the shapes. Man, oh, man. No going to the photocopy place. No trying to figure out the actual size of my scanner images and how to print them to my desired block size. Just select and print. Yahoo!!
- Full color images of each block.
- Detailed instructions for multiple techniques including Hand Applique, Back-Basting, Hand Stitching, and Raw Edge Machine Applique.
- Simple designs. It was extremely satisfying to create my block in a couple of hours, start to finish!
I selected the Orange Basket design (image from the book):
Here’s my finished version:
I’m still debating about how to use the block. I’m leaning toward a wall hanging with two more of the same block made up in different fabric combinations:
(solids Moda Crossweave Wovens, prints Kaffe Fassett Spring 2011)
Thank you Kay for another brilliant book packed with projects and techniques. It definitely got my creative juices flowing!
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To win a copy of Inspired by Tradition (provided by the publisher That Patchwork Place) please leave a comment sharing why you enjoy applique. A winner will be selected Monday evening. Winner to be announced soon!
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Handy links:
Kay’s blog All About Applique
A list of all the blogs on the Book Tour (more chances to win, yipppeee!)
Amazon listing containing a gallery of all quilt blocks in the book
Listen to Kay’s interview on Pat Sloan’s Creative Talk Radio
I love applique because it is something I can sit in a comfortable chair and do at my leisure or take with me on a trip. I love the idea of the cd and hope I get to win this lovely book. Sandra
I love the slow, methodical peacefulness of handwork. That CD sounds just brilliant.
A piece of history and culture of US. I would love to win a copy of this book.
Still not sure if I like appliqué, as I am new to it, but this book looks like it would help me with the things I am finding a little frustrating at the moment so that I would enjoy it more
Slow and steady, low stress (relatively speaking)… beautiful outcomes from very simple shapes are possible.
I love the look of applique but I’ve never learned how to do it properly yet so I would love to get my hands on this book!
I love applique because of its ability to personalize a quilt. I admire the Baltimore style, but it would be good to learn more basic shapes and good technique first. This would be a book to treasure!
I love both sitting and relaxing and doing hand applique and I love machine applique. I think you can personalize more with it and I just love the look.
Applique is relaxing, unlike machine sewing where I end up all tense in the shoulders. Plus you can do it anywhere. I love your version of the orange basket. Thanks for a chance to win.
I love all kinds of sewing, needlework, and knitting. What I really love about applique is that it is so easy to take along to work on in the car, at kids’ sports, etc. I love to have a project that I don’t have to get the sewing machine out to work on. Hand sewing is very relaxing for me.
Applique really helps me to be quirky with my designs. Also, it helps me to not be limited by my lack of piecing skills for projects. This looks like a fantastic book!
I enjoy applique because it is exciting. I tend to get bored easy when making full size quilts where the same block is used over and over again. With applique you can have so much freedom with colors and variety. It is very forgiving. With piecing you must always be accurate with that quarter inch. This is fine for awhile, then I get lazy. Needle turn applique is easy to carry with you and stitch when you can. Yes, I love applique!
I love applique because my mother & grandmother loved it. While I lack their skill & patience for it, I just love it!
Excellent review, Kathy! I love applique because it gives me some quiet time and a chance to hone my needle and thread skills and create something beautiful at the same time. One day I really want to do a Baltimore Album!
Cheers!
I love applique because I’m kind of lazy–I really like getting things done and sometimes, I let the details slide when I get in a hurry. This is not so great when piecing quilts! Applique looks great, let me be creative and it’s very forgiving.
Love applique because of the finish look. Love to win the book
I love the look of applique and love hand stitching–your block looks fantastic! Really beautiful fabrics you chose.
Thank you for hosting this giveaway stop. I wish to learn applique and this sounds like a good book to help me with this. Plus, Kay has instructions for an applique bird that is very pretty.
I have done quite a bit of machine applique, but never any hand applique. I would be excited to learn this technique. Thanks.
The Kaffe fabrics are so pretty. I love the applique blocks.
This would be a great craft for our group, Crafternoon Delight, to do next month at our gathering!!!
I love applique cause you can layer things, create a fun pattern that would have been nearly impossible with piecing!
I LOVE applique because I can do it anywhere..take it with me on trips, sitting on the couch watching the boob tube, stitching with friends! I hate dragging my machine out of the house so applique is PERFECT for those on-the-go times. Thanks for the giveaway, the book looks FANTASTIC!
I love applique because it gives me a way to express my every stitch, even the crooked one, the way I want and sometimes don’t. It is just putting me in the quilt. Every single stitch done by me. There is something special about it.
Thanks for the chance to win.
I’d love to win this book. I’ve een thinking about doing some more applique, by machine or by hand, just for fun. I love how it looks, and I enjoy designing the whole thing. Thanks!
New to applique – would love to learn how to applique on quilts.
It looks great Kathy! I’ve done some appliqué with the blanket stitch on my machine. Don’t ask me why, but I think it’s fun to go around the curves. Probably just a nice break from all the straight sewing!
Love what you did with the orange basket block. You seem to have the perfect fabric to make flowers instead of oranges. How cleaver! I would love to win a copy of Kay’s book. It looks like a terrific book for us applique inhibited folks!
Those blocks look fantastic. I love applique! I love the hand sewing of anything, but with applique you can paint with fabric and make your own pictures and use the prints of fabrics to help tell your story.
I don’t enjoy appliqué- yet but I am trying, I guess I haven’t found the technique that works best for me yet. I would love to hear what Kay has to say.
What I love about applique is the way it allows me to create blocks that tell the story of our family or our life. I know that I could do that metaphorically (choosing Churn Dash to represent my mom’s farm roots, for example), but there is something so sweet about finding the “just right” block that will remind anyone who sees it of our sweet old dog, for example. Kay’s patterns are always so charming, I can’t wait to see this book.
Why I like to Applique? To be honest I haven’t really did much and I have the Accut Go, love, love the new flowers I so want to do them in some wall hangings. I have Granddaughter how fun to put little goodies on the dress! So yup I’am going to do this. I think this book will be great idea for me! Thanks for the give a way!
I also love tradition and love learning traditional techniques.
I love hand applique because you can pick it up and do a bit when you have the chance. My machine applique is getting a better, but needs to be done more often by me to really be more presentable. Love your block and thanks for a chance to win her book.
I love to applique everything. I do a lot of whimsical appliques on the girls clothes to make them a little whimsical.
I love the block you made! Shows that a traditional type block still works with modern type prints. Would love this book – Sue
Hi Kathy wow you have a wonderful blog filled with tons of info and I am now a follower. What can I say about applique’ that hasn’t already been said. To me it is the most relaxing way for me to unwind and take a look and feel of what color appliqued to a piece of fabric really does for my soul..calming, relaxing. When I applique’ I fee at peace, that’s it, peaceful. Thanks for all the inspiration. I would love to win a copy of the book…
I applique because I love how I can control the ‘life’ of a scene with my hands, a needle, bits of fabric, and thread. I can let the fabric shine by just putting the shapes together or I can make it just about jump off the background by applying more detail. Ten people can make the same block, using the same instrucitons and patterns, and they will all reflect the person that stitched them together. Thank you for the opportunity to win!! midnightsewin at yahoo dot com
I am a machine and a hand applique person. I love the speed of machine and the simple idea of two pieces of material and a needle and thread to make beautiful things. I’d love to own this book to work on hand applique this as a lovely summer past time.
Kathy Mack your block color combination and materials are so beautiful–refreshing and vibrant.
I enjoy applique cause it is so portable and you can take it with you anywhere yet you can produce some of the most breathtaking designes! Your hands never have to be idle! Thank you for your particpation in the this book hop! Love your site!
Applique is like therapy with a needle. Calm and relaxing time spent destressing and creating…
The book looks lovely and really like the modern take on your applique. I like to do applique because it gives me an opportunity to make new fabric and something that no one else has. It’s very relaxing to do that sewing by hand as well.
I love to do applique because it opens so many doors. You can make such a wonderfull things with it, it goes over borders.
Love to win the book, thanks for holding this giveaway.
I’m very much a traditional kind of gal, but absolutely love your “wild to me” versions! I’d love to win the book to see what I can do with it myself.
I love applique because of the variety. You can depict anything your little heart desires. Besides, it’s relaxing to sit and sew (I do needle turn applique) the pieces to make your work come alive in the colours you have chosen.
great review, thanks!
Applique is so relaxing for me– that’s why I love it. I also love that it can be portable– it’s nice to not feel tied to my machine.
I love applique because it allows me to be creative with fabric while being traditional in scope. My favorites are traditional quilts, hand appliqued and hand quilted – and since I could never afford to buy one, I can be very happy with the ones I create!
Oh fun! I love to applique because it makes for great, personalized baby gifts and room decor. I just need help picking and then cutting the fabric!
I have never done needle turn applique before. After reading the comments, I can see how peaceful it would be while sitting anywhere away from the machine. I love the modern fabric on the traditional pattern. The idea of having the CD makes this a must have book!