For those times when bad weather keeps you from enjoying your garden, bring the garden indoors with appliqué garden sewing and quilting projects. Decorate the home liberally with appliquéd projects. Here are some recommended craft books with suitable projects.


Garden Nouveau Quilts

By Vicky Lawrence this was released by the American Quilter’s Society. Quilt on the go and before you know it the project will be completed. The author designed these projects so they can fit into a tote and be completed one section at a time.

Done in the Art Nouveau style of the early 20th century, this has a nine block floral bed quilt as well as seven other floral projects. These include a tote, sachet cover, table runner, wall hanging, and bolster.

The book features full size appliqué templates and color illustrated, step by step directions. For each project, this has a list of fabrics, a cutting chart, and color layouts. The introduction covers all of the basics from appliqué to fabric selection and the supplies that are needed.


Another Season of Beautiful Blooms-Appliqued Quilts and Cushions

By Susan Taylor Propst, this must-have garden quilt title was released by Martingale/That Patchwork Place. Greet spring and summer with these nine exquisite appliquéd flower designs. All in all, there are 18 projects, including patterns for a pillow and wall hanging for each of the nine flower designs along with two color versions of each. The pillow designs fit standard pillow forms.

There is a design here to suit every season beginning with the tulips and cherry blossoms. The year ends with a beautiful poinsettia design for Christmas. Among the other appealing designs are clematis and the black-eyed susan.

The introduction explains how to choose fabrics and do the applique along with basic instructions on the sewing and quilting techniques. This also has suggested quilting designs as well.

For each project, this has a list of the fabrics, a cutting chart, full size appliqué templates, and color illustrated, step by step directions.


Artful Applique II-Introducing Scraplique and 12 New Floral Designs

By Jane Townswick, this wonderful title was also released by Martingale/That Patchwork Place. Among the flowers are unusual ones like the lady’s slippers, orchids, camellias, and crown imperial along with all time favorites like pansies and sweet peas. Along with seasonal blossoms are classics you can display throughout the year.

For each flower design this has a list of fabrics and supplies, and easy to follow, color illustrated, step by step directions with full size templates. The author’s innovative appliqué method, scraplique, is described in detail. This also has a gallery of quilts made with the different flower blocks. This book is a good choice for beginners as it carefully explains how to choose suitable fabrics. This is a sequel to Townswick’s very successful title called Artful Applique the Easy Way, which was also released by Martingale.

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