Quilts – Quilt Patterns

Reviews

I am a quilter and always looking for some fabric that's different..I found your ad for FAT QUARTERS of Victorian Romance material and already cut into neat squares, and that was a PLUS..I rec'd the fabric within a wk. or so..it's high quality fabric from well known companies and I am very pleased with the colors & patterns in it..I even took a chance and ordered 2 pkgs. of the fat quarters and at a very reasonable price..Thank u so much for having this item..there were only 4 left and I bought 2 of them. I am pleased with it, and will probably watch for other sales and order again..MC from Covington, Va.

Reviews

Oh how I wish I had known about this book in 2001 when it was first published!!! I have struggled to make those pieces that come together in points (on the diagonal) and not been happy with my results. This book, BLOCK MAGIC, solves that problem for me. The book contains 70 patterns to make using only rectangles and squares. The patterns range from animals, to flowers to people to houses. There are themes such as Christmas, Easter and Back to School. In the introduction, there is a "how-to" so you can read the charts provided with each block and the blocks range in size from 6" to 15" depending on which one you choose to create. The colors chosen for each block shown and the tips that are also included provide a wealth of creativity for a quilter. Most quilters have a scrap bag that they just cannot part with. BLCOK MAGIC gives many squares that will use up those precious scraps. If this were not enough in one book, there are 20 quilt maps. These are suggestions on which squares would go together to make a quilt or wall hanging. As a quilting teacher, BLOCK MAGIC will be one book I incorporate in my classes. A beginner or a seasoned quilter will find that the instructions are easy to follow will inspire the students to come up with their own fabric and color ideas and combinations. Buy a copy of this book and you will be creating you own quilts/wall hangings for many days to come.

As already stated there are over 50 fun and easy blocks, 70 to be exact. There is an extra 28 pages with ideas of quilts to make combining the blocks. As for the blocks, 10 of them are animals, the remainder range from flowers, houses, Holloween, Christmas and more. I found the blocks to be very cute and can't wait to make some.

I was sorry to see some of the low ratings on this book. It came in handy for me when I needed ideas for blocks in a quilting swap on the internet. Several of us swapped 12" Halloween Blocks and Christmas blocks this year and both themes made wonderful quilts. I am a beginner quilter and the book shows clearly how to construct blocks. The larger size blocks are easy to work with and for more of a challenge you can try smaller sizes. I guess all quilt books cannot be all things for all quilters, but this book is a good addition to any quilting library. JMHO

The idea behind this book is superb. Ms Johnson-Srebro is a gifted technician but unfortunately some of the designs lose in the colour inspiration category & I think that detracts from her original and very inspired ideas.The premise of the book is simple. Use rectangles and squares to make a block which can then be used for pillows, oven mitts, tree ornaments, wall hangings or part of a large quilt. To this end Ms J-S gives different sizes for the finished quilt (6-15 inches are typical) so you don't have to worry about making the alterations.At the end are Quilt Maps where Ms J-S shows you how to use the blocks as part of a larger quilt. Here, outside of the teacup and pot quilt the book is rather plebian and typical. There really isn't much variation of using the different blocks into a full pictograph. That's the pity but for a willing worker it could be done.Also, some of the blocks, like the cat and teapot, have blocks too large & ungainly. They could easily broken up to get more colour shading and variation in though this too would be easy to modify because of her technique by simply using strips instead of a large block.All in all the execution does not live up to the idea but it could be a great springboard for further development. A superb intro to piecework for all ages and allot of easy fun.

Unfortunately, I purchased both "Block Magic" and "Block Magic, Too" over the internet. Had I seen the books ahead of time, I would not have purchased them at all.First off, most of these blocks are more suited to foundation (or paper) piecing, particulary for the small 6" blocks. Many of the blocks require very small pieces of fabric, and if you are like me, these are not easy to work with and get accurate.Secondly, there are duplicates between the books. For example, the "Pinwheel Flowers" (book I, page 21) and the Fancy Petunias (book II, page 34) are the same flower, with the stems/leaves adjusted so that in one version, the flowers are on the same level and in the 2nd version, they are on different levels.Third, there isn't enough variety. I grouped all the blocks by how I would most likely use them, and found, to my dismay, most of them were Christmas/Winter oriented:(note some elements are suitable for more than one category)Angels (2)Noah's Ark (1) and 5 animals/birds which might be used, though not the usual animals expectedBirds/houses (5)Birthday (2)Car/Truck (2)Christmas (20)City/Town (6)Easter (2)Fall/Autumn/Halloween (7)Farm (13)Flowers/Baskets/Watering Can (9)Aviation (3)Fruit (5)Hearts (3)Insects/Bugs (3)Kitchen (8)Ocean/Sea (9)Patriotic (6)Pets (6): Cats (4), Dogs (2)School (10)Stars (2)Toys (9)Train (1) engine onlyWoods (5)Fortunately for me, I find I'm able to convert them to foundation blocks using EQ5 -- but it's going to take me a long time.

Reviews

STARS by MAGIC is the definitive work on piecing quilts without using set-in seams! It's the second copy I've ordered because I lost my first copy and couldn't do without it. Nancy Johnson Srebro does the math for you for different sizes of quilt squares. If you are a quilter,you need this book! I love it.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1571202412/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_img

I purchased this book several years ago and have finally taken the HOUR to sit at the sewing machine and sew. What a pleasant, successful experience!! Follow Ms. Johnson's directions, particularly the pressing directions. I tried a 12" practice square - and am very happy with the results. I also recommend Ms. Johnson's Rotary Magic book, particularly for the cutting advice and pinning approach. These two books are among the most valuable in my rather extensive book collection. Thank you for such dedicated work.

I am a lover of star blocks and this book is great for making stars without having to deal with points. The instructions are easy to follow and the author gives you all the information you need to complete the blocks easily and timely. I would say the only drawback to the information in this book is that due to the technics used you will end up using more fabric than if you did the blocks in the tradional way. But again the technics used are much easier than tradional ways.

As I was reading "Stars by Magic", I wondered just how many more star ideas could be presented in this book than was given in "Block Magic". As I continued through the book, I found out that there are literally dozens of ways to put these squares and rectangles together to make wonderful new patterns. But I am ahead of myself. In the very beginning of the book, Nancy provides two "No-Fail" tips sections; one on sewing on the diagonal and one on pressing. Learn what she says and it will give your blocks a more professional look. Then, there is the "how-to" on reading the charts which tells you how to figure out the sizes of the squares and rectangles you need to make the blocks. 30 block ideas later - no make that 90 blocks later as each block shows three different color-ways - I was eager to get out my fabric and try a few. The blocks range in size from 4" to 18". Putting a few 18" blocks together and you have a quilt in a hurry. By now, you realize there are cut-offs from making the blocks. WAIT! Don't throw them out (and what quilter would anyway!?), put them together and you get "bonus blocks and borders". The final pages of this book provide ten quilt maps. Oh my, which one do I start with first? If I have such a difficult choice to make, think what my students will have! Since my students now realize that making star patterns are not that difficult, they are eager to try other ideas such as taking one-fourth of a block to make borders and by just turning that same quarter block, they get whole new look. But don't just use them for borders, use the quarters together to make a whole quilt! With this book, I will be teaching "Stars by Magic" for several more classes!

This is one of the easiest ways to make quilt stars that I have ever encountered. It is a must have in any quilters library.

Reviews

i just love this book-ir has been shared and used a lot in my quilt class--just love it.

I have used both of the Block Magic books on several row quilts. The directions are clear and you can choose the block size you want from 4" through 12". The quilt layouts she suggests make lovely gifts or a wall hanging for yourself. Enjoy

This book gives you so many options, good instructions, well worth the money.

directions are easy to follow. Makes interesting shapes and especially good for children's projects.

I decided to purchase this book since I liked the first Block Magic. I thought it may be too much of a duplication to the first, so I planned to give this book to my sister. Well, I just ordered another book to keep. The blocks are different and I am very pleased with color choices in the pictures. I have a hard time selecting colors for quilts and then putting the blocks into a pleasing quilt presentation. This book has more good ideas. Another wonderfull addition to my quilt book library. My sister and I are planning to trade finished blocks thru the mail, so much fun!