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June 1, 2011

The Ultimate Appliqué Guidebook

Filed Under Books, Freezer paper on top, Glue stick, Hand appliqué, Machine appliqué, Prepared edge, Prizes, Raw edge 

Remember this photo, of me and Annie Smith holding each other’s books?

annie-n-kay-april-2011

The Ultimate Appliqué Guidebook from C&T Publishing is our featured book this month.

applique-guidebook

Full disclosure: Annie is a buddy of mine. For years we’ve followed one another’s progression as we strove for and attained career goals. A goal that we each held dear was the publication of an appliqué book. I’m so thrilled for Annie that her wish came true last fall when this gorgeous book came to life.

I’ll start by telling you that this is not the ultimate guide to every method of appliqué that’s out there. It’ something very important, a sourcebook of appliqué design elements and a gentle guide through the process of finding inspiration, encouraging it, recording it when it strikes, and translating it into your own unique appliqué quilts.

Starting with the basics, Annie goes through choosing fabrics, playing with fabrics, employing a focus fabric, and determining value. There’s a comprehensive section on tools and supplies for appliqué.

Wow.

Wow.

Then she moves on to detailed instructions for her own favored appliqué methods: raw-edge fusible machine appliqué and Holly Mabutas‘s prepared-edge method for hand appliqué, where freezer-paper templates are ironed to the front and the turning allowance is glued to the back. All through the book there are specific, detailed photographs to help you see exactly what Annie’s talking about.

Then comes a section on the basics of design for blocks and quilts. These are important concepts that in my experience are not covered all the time. A beautiful gallery of quilts follows, to give you even more inspiration. Check out an earlier blog post of mine that shows Annie’s gorgeous coat and accompanying quilt, both of which are pictured in the book.

Following that are several lovely quilt projects to get you started, with pull-out patterns in the back Then comes a whole long catalog of appliqué design elements! A 50 page appliqué shape-a-palooza! Mix and match these as you like!

elements

Many of the elements are given in a variety of sizes, and you can always enlarge or reduce on a photocopy machine. And, you can use any method of appliqué that you like. Another great thing about this book is that it has a lay-flat binding, so you can smooth it out flat for tracing without worrying about breaking the spine. Very cool!

Annie gave me an autographed copy of her book to give away to one of my readers in a drawing. Thank you Annie! If you’d like a chance to win, leave a comment by 7:00 p.m. California time on Saturday, June 4. Contest open to U.S. and Canada addresses only. Good luck!

Until then,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie

P.S. In case you might not know, Annie does a podcast for quilters. Check it out at Simple Arts.

Comments

44 Responses to “The Ultimate Appliqué Guidebook”

  1. Kim Q on June 1st, 2011 10:00 am

    Oooh…this looks like a book that I *need* to have! Thanks for the giveaway!

  2. Jen on June 1st, 2011 10:32 am

    Wow, this book looks fabulous! I really love the look of applique but haven’t found my favorite technique yet. I love listening to Annie’s podcasts. Thanks for the giveaway!

  3. Susan Lorenz on June 1st, 2011 10:54 am

    Thank you for such a detailed description of the book. After reading it I realized I would love to have this book! thank you for the chance – Sue in Florida

  4. R Buckley on June 1st, 2011 11:11 am

    I wouldn’t know which pattern to start with. They all look tempting! Thanks for the chance to win.

    Gina

  5. Deb L on June 1st, 2011 11:43 am

    Love to win the book. I love listening to Annie’s podcast. She is a joy to listen to.

  6. DebrafromMD on June 1st, 2011 11:54 am

    Wow! That looks like another applique book I need to add to my collection. Love the pages you showed in the book. Thanks for a great review.

  7. Sallie on June 1st, 2011 12:04 pm

    Looks like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway!

  8. Donna~ on June 1st, 2011 12:23 pm

    Sounds like a wonderful book! The coat & quilt are incredible. Lucky you to have such a friend!

  9. Robin Gold on June 1st, 2011 12:47 pm

    Thank you, Kay! This book is on my wish list, so I’d love to win it!!

  10. Kate on June 1st, 2011 1:43 pm

    I’d love to win this book! I’ve had it on my list of books to buy for a while now! Thanks for the chance to win.

  11. Sandy A from St. Louis on June 1st, 2011 3:36 pm

    Please count me in! I just learned of Annie and her podcasts in April and would love to won her book.

    Thanks so much!

  12. Viv on June 1st, 2011 4:26 pm

    What a great giveaway….Love applique! Hope to win :)

  13. Erin in MI on June 1st, 2011 4:34 pm

    This book looks awesome! I’d love to win an autographed copy! Thanks for the giveaway!!

  14. kathleen c on June 1st, 2011 4:54 pm

    I’d be very excited to win Annie’s book and it would be a great complement to your book. It’s hard to find applique books that talk about inspiration and design, along with patterns and motifs. Great! Thanks very much.

  15. Lynn D in NC on June 1st, 2011 5:52 pm

    I’ve listened to Annie for a long time and am a big fan. And I love, love applique – sure hoping I’m the winner.

  16. Debbie St.Germain on June 1st, 2011 7:24 pm

    I would love to win Annie’s book, I need to learn more about machine applique, have been practicing on my own.

    I won your book from Annie, can’t wait to get it.

    Debbie

  17. Barb Colvin on June 1st, 2011 9:24 pm

    Thanks for the great review! Fifty pages of design elements to play with? Want it :)

  18. Donna A on June 2nd, 2011 4:31 am

    I’m a beginner to applique so I need all the info I can lay my hands on. I said for a long time that I didn’t want to learn how to applique. Then a fine teacher taught me to needle turn applique and now that seems to be all I can see. I want to make everything…..I can only see applique!!!! And I still go to my teacher for the Applique Group session. I think the book would be a big help to me — and great inspiration. Thanks for the chance to win a wonderful book.

  19. Kim Jamieson-Hirst on June 2nd, 2011 4:38 am

    Thanks for hosting this giveaway, Kay! I would love to win this book by Annie – I think she’s great too. It’s always good to have a reference book on techniques.

  20. Jeanne on June 2nd, 2011 4:50 am

    Holy Cow I NEED THAT BOOK!!! What a fantastic idea to put all those applique elements into a book. It looks different from any I have ever seen. This book is going on the wish list!!!! Thanks Kay for giving me the chance to win it!!!

  21. Sue R on June 2nd, 2011 5:00 am

    Kay, Thanks for sharing about this book. How nice that you and Annie can cheer each other on, and appreciate each other’s work.

  22. Deborah on June 2nd, 2011 5:01 am

    This looks like a must have book. I would be thrilled to win a copy.

  23. Mommarock on June 2nd, 2011 5:19 am

    Oh my! this book looks like a dream! I would be so excited to win.

  24. Kathy O on June 2nd, 2011 5:30 am

    Kay, thank you so much for the opportunity to win Annie’s book. I would love to add it to my applique reading shelf! The details look wonderful – and I can’t wait to check out all those tools shown.

  25. Nolene on June 2nd, 2011 6:15 am

    I just received your book yesterday and spent last night reading it and letting my imagination run free. The information you gave on holding the fabric set off a duh moment. It made me realize what I am doing that is causing me problems. THANK YOU!!
    Also thanks for the opportunity of winning this book. It is another one on my wish list.

  26. BARBARA on June 2nd, 2011 6:26 am

    Annie’s book looks as if it has a wealth of information on applique, especially for a beginner like myself. Thank for the opportunity to win a copy.

  27. Lori Ginsberg on June 2nd, 2011 6:59 am

    This book is definitely on my wish list. Kay, I love how supportive you are of other quilters and applique artists. It is very refreshing and appreciated.

  28. Sandy Spence on June 2nd, 2011 7:23 am

    Wow…that coat is amazing…hmmm…I have a longarm machine…and with that book….please oh please…LOL

  29. Polly Hada on June 2nd, 2011 8:17 am

    This wonderful book sounds like the perfect companion to your book. Those of us who love applique need all the help and hints we can get. Thanks for this great opportunity.

  30. VickiT on June 2nd, 2011 9:19 am

    Ooh gosh what a great sounding book and that coat in your other post is just gorgeous. I’m just learning to do applique so this would be a huge help I’m sure. Thank you.

  31. Kathy Sabel on June 2nd, 2011 9:21 am

    This book could not get better!! It looks like everything I need for my quilting. I struggle so with Applique and this could be my answer.

    thanks
    Kathy

  32. Mishka on June 2nd, 2011 9:34 am

    I have been coveting Annie’s book since I first heard about it. I’ve been playing with using glue-basted applique with the freezer paper on the top, instead of inside. Appreciate the link to Holly’s site to learn more. My tiny curves need help. LOL

  33. Kat on June 2nd, 2011 9:55 am

    This book has been on my wish list for quite a while. I was hoping to get it for Mother’s Day but my daughter got me another book that she wanted to read!!! I am interested in trying the freezer paper on the top method with glue. I have not seen that one before. Thanks for the chance of win it!

  34. Mary Martin on June 2nd, 2011 10:25 am

    I’m not Irish, but I’m feeling lucky! Hope to win this wonderful book! Mary Martin

  35. Billie Kretzschmar on June 2nd, 2011 10:41 am

    Would love to win this book. Thanks for the opportunity.

    Billie in TX

  36. Kim Stevenson on June 2nd, 2011 1:04 pm

    I would love to do the quilt that matches the jacket. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    Kim in CA

  37. kathy in nc on June 2nd, 2011 9:26 pm

    Wow SUPER LOOKING BOOK. Thanks.

  38. Dee Johnson on June 3rd, 2011 5:06 am

    As I am wiping the drool off my chin – I have to say this looks like an amazing “have to have it” book – thank you for the wonderful review – what a good friend you are.

  39. Connie on June 3rd, 2011 1:28 pm

    Looks like a fantastic book! Great giveaway!

  40. Mary B on June 3rd, 2011 3:17 pm

    Sounds like a must have book. This what I love about quilters and appliquers we don’t see each other as competion but as inspiration. It’s so great that you are promoting a friend.

  41. Viv on June 3rd, 2011 6:23 pm

    Book looks great….Hope to win!!!

  42. Jennifer M. on June 3rd, 2011 8:28 pm

    I’m an applique junkie! I love looking at applique books, creating applique designs, and sewing applique by hand. It would be awesome to win this book.

  43. Eileen Keane on June 4th, 2011 5:33 pm

    Kay, I love Annie’s podcasts. I recently found your book at a shop in Cape Cod, it would be very cool to have Annie’s book as well.

  44. Caroline on July 10th, 2011 5:27 am

    Hi Kay
    I hope you get this message. I won your book from Annie and received it yesterday. Thank you so much for a great book. I love raw edge applique but sometimes felt that certain projects would look better using a finished edge, however I have tried so many techniques and just can’t get on with them somehow. that was before I tried your back basting method – I have just completed the practise heart and love it! I am pleased with the product and the process is enjoyable!!! I just wanted to thank you and tell you have another neddle turn convert. Best wishes
    Caroline