Red & Green: An Applique Tradition

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Awesome! A+
Review: After seeing and being totally impressed with the quilt on the front cover of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine's March 2004 issue I had to purchase this book! The quilt on the cover of QNM is designed based off of the patterns in this book, only it is not red and green--it is pink, magenta, teal, purple, and blue (beautiful!). One of the most important things that I look for in a pattern is versitality. This book has many patterns in it and though the book is about red and green quilts, these patterns are very versitale and could be made from any color pallett.

Traditional quilts are very beautiful and Ms. Kimball guides you thru the meanings and histories behind each symbol in each block. The book is very well written with a lot of color pictures for examples. Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was that Ms. Kimball, unlike many other authors, wants you, as a quilter, to use your own creativity and imagination. She even tells you to use her blocks as starting points and encourages you to expand on them. She also includes numerous small diagrams of quilt blocks with the same name but different layouts. Examples of this are the Rose of Sharron, Pineapple, and American Beauty Rose to name a few.

This book is an extremely worth while investment! A+ all the way!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Awesome! A+
Review: After seeing and being totally impressed with the quilt on the front cover of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine's March 2004 issue I had to purchase this book! The quilt on the cover of QNM is designed based off of the patterns in this book, only it is not red and green--it is pink, magenta, teal, purple, and blue (beautiful!). One of the most important things that I look for in a pattern is versitality. This book has many patterns in it and though the book is about red and green quilts, these patterns are very versitale and could be made from any color pallett.

Traditional quilts are very beautiful and Ms. Kimball guides you thru the meanings and histories behind each symbol in each block. The book is very well written with a lot of color pictures for examples. Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was that Ms. Kimball, unlike many other authors, wants you, as a quilter, to use your own creativity and imagination. She even tells you to use her blocks as starting points and encourages you to expand on them. She also includes numerous small diagrams of quilt blocks with the same name but different layouts. Examples of this are the Rose of Sharron, Pineapple, and American Beauty Rose to name a few.

This book is an extremely worth while investment! A+ all the way!

Rating:
Summary: And to think I almost didn't pick up this book
Review: Although I appreciate applique, I didn't used to be a huge fan of doing it myself. I had always appreciated the instant gratification of rotary-cut strip-pieced quilts. Kimball's "Red and Green: An Applique Tradition" has helped change that.

"R&G" focuses on red-and-green applique quilts from the mid-19th century, but also includes photographs of earlier whole-cloth and medallion, to show the progression of quilt-making styles, and several modern quilts that beautifully reproduce this traditional look. Most fascinating to me was Kimball's discussion about how red and green became popular colors for these applique quilts: Around 1850, aniline dye produced more colorfast cloth. Green was produced by overdying yellow with blue. The green fabrics almost always changed color, since the two dyes did not have the same degree of colorfastness, but quilt makers found the resulting colors pleasing. At about the same time, "Turkey red"--using a dye that was much more colorfast than other reds--became fashionable--and commanded three times the price of ordinary calico.

A red and green applique quilts usually was a woman's "best quilt," Kimball explains, and a woman generally made one of these labor-intensive quilts either just before her marriage as part of her trousseau or later in life, after her children were grown.

"R&G" contains many stories about the making and use of these applique quilts. My favorite is about a circuit-riding preacher whose young wife defied tradition by joining her husband on all his overnight trips, instead of only on special occasions. Her repeated presence presented problems in the southern communities he served since a visit from a preacher's wife dictated that the hostess must thoroughly clean the house, wear her second-best dress and a white apron, and use her best quilt on the guest bed. If the preacher were staying over, food and bed were sufficient. After a while, the frustrated women on the circuit decided to stop putting out their best appliqued quilts on the guest bed when the preacher's wife came to visit. "She was pretty headstrong, that girl, but even she couldn't ignore what the absence of the best quilt signified," Kimball quotes from an earlier work on quilts.

For quiltmakers interested in reproducing one of these traditional quilts, Kimball provides two dozen full-size patterns as well as ideas for other designs. Her instructions for how to assemble these blocks seem very easy to follow. What I liked best was that she doesn't just give instructions for one or two "cookie cutter" quilts, but instead emphasizes that quiltmakers should follow their own inspiration, using the design elements and ideas from the depicted quilts. "R&G" contains plenty of inspiration, from the historic quilts and biographies of their makers in the front section, to the numerous rose, tulip, fruits and berry patterns in the middle, to the gallery of historic and reproduction quilts at the end.

Even if you aren't a fan of making applique quilts, "R&G" is interesting reading, and it might entice you to try a project.

Rating:
Summary: red & green a delight
Review: As a beginner in the art of applique, I found this book clear and easy to follow. This have also sent my senses into overdrive thinking of the quilts I can do in the future.

Rating:
Summary: For Lovers of Tradition, This One Has it All!
Review: Once in a while I pick up a book and actually feel afterward that I got every penny's worth. This is one of those. Jeana has combined the best features of great books on traditional applique forms - history, numerous quality photos of antique quilts, modern tradition-based creations, and patterns. If you haven't caught the traditional, red and green bug - fasten your seat belt because this book will leave you hungry to learn more. Thanks to Jeana for a really USEFUL contribution.

Rating:
Summary: EXTRAORDINARY!
Review: Packed for the price, this book has easy to follow directions and fabulous applique designs typical of the red and green antique quilts from the 1800's. If you have a passion for antique quilts, applique, or red and green, this book is for you or any quilter - beginner or seasoned. ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY aspects about this book is that Ms. Kimball has taken the time to not only provide a large pattern for a particular block, but provides SCORES of drawings of particular blocks with changes to the designs so that one is not confined to the pattern offered. An example of this would be for instance, the popular Single Rose Wreath. Ms. Kimball provides the layout and applique patterns for a 16" x16" block; then offers 16 OTHER rose sketches (not enlarged, however) to give varitey. The smaller sketches are even documented designs (or spin-offs) from other quilts in books and musemums.

The book has poignant information about antique quilts and the quilters themselves, history of Red and Green Quilts and the patterns. Ms. Kimball includes a gallery of photos which includes antique and modern reproduction quilts, one of which is her own; a stunning Hexagon Rose Wreath quilt.

The book even goes so far as to give instructions for making an impromptu light box! This is a perfect book for the beginner who wants to learn how to applique because directions are in the book. It is fitting for a seasoned quilter who wants to expand her/his knowledge of American quilt heritage and reproduce an heirloom. A very valued publication in my libray. Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: EXTRAORDINARY!
Review: Packed for the price, this book has easy to follow directions and fabulous applique designs typical of the red and green antique quilts from the 1800's. If you have a passion for antique quilts, applique, or red and green, this book is for you or any quilter - beginner or seasoned. ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY aspects about this book is that Ms. Kimball has taken the time to not only provide a large pattern for a particular block, but provides SCORES of drawings of particular blocks with changes to the designs so that one is not confined to the pattern offered. An example of this would be for instance, the popular Single Rose Wreath. Ms. Kimball provides the layout and applique patterns for a 16" x16" block; then offers 16 OTHER rose sketches (not enlarged, however) to give varitey. The smaller sketches are even documented designs (or spin-offs) from other quilts in books and musemums.

The book has poignant information about antique quilts and the quilters themselves, history of Red and Green Quilts and the patterns. Ms. Kimball includes a gallery of photos which includes antique and modern reproduction quilts, one of which is her own; a stunning Hexagon Rose Wreath quilt.

The book even goes so far as to give instructions for making an impromptu light box! This is a perfect book for the beginner who wants to learn how to applique because directions are in the book. It is fitting for a seasoned quilter who wants to expand her/his knowledge of American quilt heritage and reproduce an heirloom. A very valued publication in my libray. Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: A "MUST HAVE" book for the applique enthusiast!
Review: Whether you are interested in the history of 19th century "Red & Green" applique quilts or love making your own quilted interpretations, this book will not disappoint. That Patchwork Place has brought this classic well-written book back into publication based on high popular demand. The patterns included in the book are based on actual historical quilts and are not "cutesy" interpretations (thank goodness!!). Plenty of "eye candy" for inspiration, and expert advice from a proven applique master. If you are into serious applique, this book has your name on it!