Decorate the home and outdoor living areas with beautiful garden appliqué projects. Here are some recommended sewing and quilting books with projects that will appeal to gardeners.


Applique in Reverse

Bt Teri Henderson Tope, this was released by the American Quilter’s Society. It features 13 gorgeous appliquéd flower and plant blocks along with two patterns for the borders. Among the flowers are spring favorites like the tulip and daffodil as well as summer classics like the iris and the geranium. One block features a lovely bumble bee. The ivy and the calla lily designs could be used throughout the year.

Along with the flower and plant blocks, this has projects featuring the different plant and floral motifs. These projects include four wall hangings along with a quilt made from the flower blocks. This title also features details on doing the borders and the quilting. For each design this has an appliqué template.

There are complete, color illustrated instructions for all of the blocks and projects. This has in-depth details on doing the dimensional appliqué as well as for doing the quilting. There is also a quilt gallery showing items made from the blocks. These items include a tote, flower clock, banner, and wall hangings.


Applique Your Way-35 Pretty Sewing Projects and Patterns

By Kayte Terry, this spiral bound title with an elastic closure was released by Chronicle. It features photos by Jennifer Causey. This book will have special appeal for gardeners.

Among the projects are items of clothing and fashion accessories along with ones that be used to decorate the home or given as gifts. Among the items are totes, scarves, headbands, shoes, aprons, bags, and journal covers. It offers many items for decorating the home, such as a tea cozy, coasters, clothes hanger covers, tea towels, banners, wall organizer, pillows, trivets, and curtains.

Many of these appliquéd projects feature garden-related motifs. The themes include all sorts of flowers and fruits, such as apples and watermelons along with mushrooms, foliage, wildlife, and birds.

For each project this has a list of fabrics and supplies, and complete easy to follow, illustrated instructions. The introduction covers all of the basic techniques and methods, including fabric selection. There is also a helpful glossary of appliqué terms. All of the patterns and templates are on handy sheets, stored in a special envelope inside the back cover.


The Garden Sunflower Quilt

This title released by Good Books features designs by Cheryl Benner and text by Rachel T. Pellman. This title includes instructions and lists of fabrics for double and queen size bed quilts. This exquisite design features both appliquéd and pieced blocks. In the corners are large size sunflower blossoms. The center medallion panel also features sunflowers as well as other floral and foliage appliqués.

On the ends and sides are log cabin pieced blocks. Sunflowers also appear along the edges of the quilt. This appealing design has a number of unique features, including an envelope-shaped pillow throw with an ivy leaf border.

This book has detailed, no-fail, easy to follow, illustrated directions from start to finish along with suggested quilting designs and a list of fabrics. There are full size appliqué and piecing templates and layouts for the different sizes. This also has complete instructions on all of the sewing and quilting basics.

For the purposes of disclosure, I received free review copies of these books from the publishers.