For gardeners who quilt appliqué is an ideal method. This easy technique can be used to create all sorts of flowers and garden scenes. Here are reviews of some books on appliquéd garden quilts.


Fast, Fusible Flower Quilts

By Nancy Mahoney this wonderful must have title was released by Martingale/That Patchwork Place. It features 11 quick and easy, no-fail, garden quilts that will gladden the hearts of gardeners. This title is especially suitable for beginners. There are designs here to suit every taste and decor. The projects include several twin bed quilts along with assorted, exquisite wall hangings and lap quilts.

Among the flowers are some classics like the much loved amaryllis along with the all-time favorite—the daisy, dogwoods, and peonies. Some quilts depict beautiful baskets of flowers. Gardeners can choose from assorted design options from stylized daisies to funky peonies and realistic, true to life blossoms.

These projects combine easy pieced borders and the like with the gorgeous garden appliqués. All of the projects are so appealing that I find it hard to choose a favorite.

For each project this has a complete list of all the materials and supplies you’ll need, cutting instructions, color layouts, easy to follow, fool-proof, step by step directions from start to finish from doing the quilt blocks to completing the quilt. There are also ready to use templates for the appliqués. This also covers all of the basic appliqué, sewing, and quilting techniques.


Lady Bug and Friends Quilts

From Quilted Frog, this is by Carla Scott and Leanne Smith. Released by the American Quilter’s Society, this features a CD with all the patterns and templates. All in all, this features 23 projects that will have special appeal to gardeners. This title features an easy, no-fail method known as the Easy Outline Appliqué technique, created by the authors and easy nine patch quilt block.

For each project this has a complete list of all the supplies and fabrics and easy to follow, step by step, color illustrated instructions from beginning to end. In addition to the projects this also features simple and easy instructions for all of the basic techniques and types of projects, such as pillowcases. The projects include pillowcases, throw pillows, quilts and wall hangings in various sizes, a board game, tote bag, apron, placemat, chair back cover, and growth chart.

The cover depicts the irresistible Ladybug quilt for which the title is named. Among the other motifs used in these projects are various nature scenes and different kinds of wildlife. This has all the basic instructions for an easy nine patch quilt.


Beautiful Wild Flower Appliqué

By Zena Thorpe this was released by the American Quilter’s Society. It takes botanically correct flower appliqué to the masterpiece level with details on 32 different types of English wildlflowers. In addition to the individual flower appliqués, this also features a pattern for a wonderful flower wall hanging. These blossoms are embellished with embroidery and other details. Gardeners will find many familiar garden flowers here from foxgloves, lily of the valley, and bluebells to the daffodil. There are even appliqués for rather surprising ones that are thought of as weedy, such as the dandelion.

For each flower appliqué there is a lush color photo of the completed block, a full size template and appliqué pattern pieces with complete step by step instructions from start to finish. This also covers all of the basics on the sewing, appliqué, and embroidery techniques used in the flowers.

In the back there is an index to all the flower patterns. In addition to flowers, a number of these blocks depict different types of wild fruits, such as strawberries, bilberries, and blackberries.