The Quilt Block Cookbook: 50 Block Recipes, 7 Sample Quilts, Endless Possibilities

In this mock cookbook, Gibson (For Keeps) instructs readers on seven sampler quilt designs, a pu pu platter of piecing. The metaphor of a cookbook extends throughout her sample blocks, which are organized by size; the introduction includes sections on “ingredients” and “stocking your kitchen,” and the accompanying artwork includes cookbook-inspired flair such as dustings of flour or pats of butter laid out next to block designs. The book includes directions for 50 sample blocks, which vary in appeal and difficulty. It takes on energy when Gibson lays out her seven sampler quilts and the blocks brighten in the context of their neighbors. For example, giant spools acquire depth when pieced together, and pairing certain blocks commands attention in a way that singles did not. Gibson’s folksy writing style encourages playfulness; her instructions, templates, and charts address skills from initial measuring to final pressing. Color photos. [em](Aug.) [/em]