| Four-Block Quilts: Echoes of History, Pieced Boldly & Appliqued Freely | 
 enlarge | Publisher: Kansas City Star Books
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $22.50
You Save: $2.45 (10%)
Buy New/Used from $15.60
Avg. Customer Rating:   (3 reviews)
Sales Rank: 862188
Media: Paperback
Pages: 170
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 10.9 x 8.9 x 0.4
ISBN: 0974601268
EAN: 9780974601267
ASIN: 0974601268
Publication Date: April 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Seldom are we handed a gift like this. Meet women whose needles flew in years gone by. Learn their stories and the secrets of making the quilts designed in their honor by Terry Thompson, beloved quilt teacher and historian. Included are instructions to make 8 unique quilts and 8 unique projects, along with a good advice section that imparts Terry's secrets gleaned from a lifetime of stitching. Original designs are by Terry Thompson, adapted from her studies and collection of vintage quilts.
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| Customer Reviews:
 disappointing January 28, 2006
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
c.a. mcpherson, whose rating is, like mine, three stars, has made most of the points i would, though i would say that the apron, redwork, cushion, etc., patterns are not additional but wastes of space. this book is titled and billed as a resource of four-block quilts and, like c.a. mcpherson, i expected to see 19th century quilts and four block patterns, not pincushions and felted wool projects.
the stories of the pioneers are fascinating, and full marks to ms. thompson for including histories of black men and women and their contributions to the westward expansion. in fact, the only 19th century quilt pictured might have been made by a black woman (unless the tiny photograph on the top of page 87 is of an antique--and it and the modern version are certainly like none of the rocky road to wherever patterns i've seen).
for a historian, the author's writing is sloppy (only a few birth and death dates are given). the chapter illustrations frequently have no relation at all to the chapter subject--the old photos are fascinating, but not germane.
as for the actual quilt patterns, one is probably the ugliest thing i've seen for months, two are not four block, and one is only crib or lap sized. the cover quilt, the reason i bought the book, is buried in the back in the 'advice' section. i couldn't find it the first two times i looked through the book.
i judge pattern books as i judge cookbooks--i divide the book price by the number of things i'm likely to make, and if the result is a nice low number, i'm satisfied. there are only three out of the sixteen or so patterns i would likely make, so i'm not too happy about buying this book.
the advice section contains some good information--but you have to wade through general and skimpy instructions for making a quilt. i think a book like this should assume some degree of knowledge of quilting and applique rather than waste space on limited instructions for beginners. there are excellent instruction books available which might have been suggested to any beginner confident enough to tackle one of these quilts.
there are also some aspects of book formatting that i won't wasted time and space on--though the publisher really should have known better.
overall, i recommend this as a good book to get from the local library.
 A Fresh Look at History and Some Great Quilt Patterns! March 20, 2005
Terry Clothier Thompson has used her love of four-block quilts to produce a refreshing book filled with new looks at history and patterns inspired by antique quilts. The patterns are both pieced and applique, range from crib quilts to full-size quilts, and include full-size templates. This is not the first book on Four-Block Quilts - Linda Carlson has written three that contain more history of this genre and patterns for actual antique quilts. I like the fact that Terry - a popular teacher - has done something very original. The design and photography are stunning - this book is a keeper!
Not Quite What I Expected June 29, 2004
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Although this book has lovely glossies of quilts and projects, I expected a bit more. For an avid quilter, perhaps the additonal projects (such as the apron, bonnet, splasher, sewing case) are just that,....additional. My love is for bold 19th century quilts (patterns), and the next love is the history of the women who made them. I would have liked to have seen ACTUAL GLOSSIES OF PIONEER WOMENS' QUILTS, along with the author's interpretative quilts and patterns. Instead, there is some written history on pioneer women, with pictures and patterns of the author's quilts based on her interpretation of the lives and times of women of that period. Terry Clothier Thompson has provided some lovely four-block interpretations, however. I do not think I have seen a more charming "Sunflowers" quilt. My opinion is that for 170 pages, a buyer should be able to expect more. When a quilter hears "19th century four-block quilts", she/he does not think about COMMONLY KNOWN PIECED patterns such as "homespun, chips & whetstones, kansas city star" etc., which are pieced quilts, and are included as patterns in Ms. Thompson's book; but an avid quilter instead recalls the bold, splashy appliques of the 19th century. I thought that too many pages were taken up with the more commonly known PIECED patterns.
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