Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by Library Journal Review
Gibson (For Keeps: Meaningful Patchwork for Everyday Living) takes a modular approach to patchwork with a series of 50 block recipes that can be combined and remixed in a number of ways. Each 12-by-12-inch block is constructed on a grid using components that Gibson calls "ingredients," and it's the combination of ingredients that influences the design. The first 40 recipes are focal blocks of varying complexity, followed by ten recipes for simpler "staple blocks" that complement the other blocks in the collection. Quilters will appreciate Gibson's exciting layouts, which use negative space and interesting settings. VERDICT There's enough direction to satisfy quilters who just want to follow instructions, but Gibson's modular approach allows adventurous quilters to make the blocks their own by switching components as desired. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
