I have been obsessed with patchwork for a long time – I think it reminds me of the clothes my mom sewed for me when I was little. I had the cutest patchwork vest. I still love it after all these years, and I’ve always wanted to know how to sew patchwork successfully. For those of you who don’t know, I have been sewing since I was ten. Yep, I’m not just a Mod Podger! It was delightful to review Playful Patchwork by Suzuko Koseki, and before I go on, I want to mention that the author is from Japan and I’m praying big time for her whole country. Thumbs down to natural disasters.
This book was a delight to review, and more than lived up to its title of “happy, colorful and irresitible.” Koseki studied with a master quilter starting in the 70s, so if there’s one thing I can say about her it’s that she’s the expert. You can definitely tell from this book. Here are my five favorite things about Playful Patchwork.
1. It’s a modern approach. I think sometimes patchwork and quilting get a bad rap because they have been around so long – but there are ways of making old crafts new again, even with simple geometrics. Koseki’s designs are fresh, simple and pleasing to the eye.
2. The book consists of smaller projects. I don’t have a lot of time to sew (the Mod Podge is always calling!) so I appreciate quick and easy projects that make a big splash. I see a lot of great home decor and gift ideas in this book. I also think it’s a great way to learn to patchwork if you are interested in quilting – this book can be the foundation before you try a bigger quilt.
3. Each chapter consists of a gallery and then projects. The galleries are awesome and inspirational, and then after the gallery section you actually get the projects. The projects are divided into lessons, so you learn one thing at a time. It’s less overwhelming and by the end you have a completed piece without having been stressed.
4. The how-to photos are some of the best I’ve seen. I really know nothing about patchwork and quilting, so the hand shots are HUGE for me. I read through several sets of instructions and I feel very confident that I could mimic the steps – I also feel that the author showed the most important steps so that I won’t get lost.
I’m so happy to be giving away a copy of Playful Patchwork. I guarantee you are going to love this book, even if you are a beginner sewer. You CAN learn from it. Here are the rules.
- Comment on THIS blog entry. Say anything you’d like to!
- Only one entry per person. One winner will be selected.
- Contest will close this coming Wednesday, March 16th at midnight (EST).
- PLEASE leave your e-mail address if it’s not attached in Blogger – I need some way to reach you.
Last week’s winner of the Sublime Stitching giveaway was Carlin.
Blogger who loves the color blue and sock monkeys. You can find me in public easily— I'm wearing glasses and lots of stripes.
I’d love to win this book! Prayers for Japan . . .
sweetiesuzy@aol.com
I do not sew much…but wouldn’t these quilt block patterns be great for Mod Podge designs?! It looks like a wonderful book!
Kim
knkmoran@hotmail.com
Oh, This book looks like so much fun. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Noemi ~ lareynanoemi@aol.com
OMG! This looks soo exciting!! I’m getting ready to take a sewing class at a Japanese store that does things similar to this so it’s a great supplement to what I’m going to be learning.
Sending prayers to those in Japan. Makes me feel so fortunate after seeing what those people are experiencing.
I would so love to have this book. Sounds like it is so packed full of crafting ideas.
Thanks Amy and have a great Sunday.
Bev
bev091754@bellsouth.net
Thanks for sharing your love of creativity. I enjoy your tips and techniques and hope my project for the glue arts challenge turns out as interesting as I am envivioning…smile
ava
cottagerca@yahoo.ca
Oh, I hope to soooo fortunate to have that wonderful book!!!
Thanks!!!
Juanita
ugerba@excite.it
I am definitely a beginner sewer! I’d love to try something in this book!
net.livelearnlove at gmail dot com
Keeping the author and her family in my prayers. I sew but have never quilted, this looks like a great place to get started. Thank you for sharing.
What a cool book! I’m so glad that folks can still put out books and that everything isn’t online. I’m such a “craft from print” person. Even when I want to craft something online I have to print it out.
Hope I win the book!
So many great projects to make! Love it! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Patchwork sure has come a long way. That it continues to evolve is a source of constant joy for me. This book looks very inspirational–for all levels.
I’m really sad with the quake in Japan, my prayers and thoughts are with them. Hope they find inner peace soon…
, ty
I’d love the chance to win the book, looks extra cute, and I don’t mind to make all the projects!!!, please throw my name in the hat, and pick me
I love the fresh look of the designs. I would love to learn!
katielovesnewyork@gmail.com
Ooh that book looks like a lot of fun. I did patchwork once in school but have always wanted to try it again!
This book looks great! Thank you for the giveaway.
thanks for the chance to win this delightful book x
The colorful designs in this book seem to call out ‘have fun’ and it sounds like the fun would be easy to make.
Oh wow, this looks like a great book. I’m a quilter and have never seen this one! Very fun!
Okay, so for obvious reasons (namely, your generosity earlier this year) we are not here for your giveaway.
We are in LOVE with the teacosy!!!!
Rose & Studio Friends
This book looks amazing
Wow what neat projects! I’ve been teaching myself to sew and would love to win this, and it sounds like it’s a great teaching tool!
Thanks as always for your giveaways!
hyoung717(at)gmail(dot)com
First, heart-felt prayers to everyone in Japan, and everyone with loved ones in Japan. Second, I like this fresh approach to an old craft. Fun ideas.
looks like an amazing book!
Patchwork is such fun and this book looks like a great blend of vintage and modern feels.
Love patchwork stuff…
stacyjohnston03@hotmail.com
Really darling ideas for the home!
I would love to win this book!
Oh how I want…no need that adorable pillow! I have no idea how to sew, but boy do I want to learn, and making patchwork items is so eclectic and wonderful it’s high on my list of “to learn and to do”.
pick me pick me!
This would be a great first patchwork book! Hope I win.
I’ve had this book in my amazon shopping cart waiting for it to go on sale!! It looks wonderful; I would love to win a copy!!
Would love to win!
rachel.flavin@gmail.com
This book looks fabulous Amy! Thanks for the through review and giveaway!
From what you have shared that book is amazing. I am a beginner quilter and just attended the Original Sewing and Quilt EXPO at the Gwinnett Center.
I would love to have this book…as it would really help me in this new crafting journey!
How cool!! Thanks for a chance to win!
What crafter couldn’t use the occasional inspiration?!! Fun giveaway!
love the blog. i just decoupaged a clipboard for school! love it.
and btw, i really love your blog! today i did a refashion that i think you’d like, a lace-cut out t-shirt that is no-sew! and easy to do with very little time.
come and visit me at:
thestyleprojects.blogspot.com
thanks! sharde
The book looks like so much fun!
Hani
http://craftionary.blogspot.com
Oh my word, love that tea cozy! The book looks fabulous and has so many cute ideas, I’ll keep my fingers crossed!!
Thanks for reviewing this great sounding book for us. The tote bags are adorable and would hold lots of crafty things.
This looks like a lovely book with such new and fresh ideas.
My heart goes out to those in Japan and I pray that this does not happen again. H in UK
it is nice to read about something from japan without wanting to cry.
my thoughts to everyone from japan and those who who have family and friends there.
this book looks beautiful, and such different ideas. the japanese have such a wonderful sense of style that is echoed in the pages of this book you have shown us.
reneed27@iinet.net.au
I’ve looking for something like for my work with Seniors!
What a fun and charming book – so many fresh ideas!! Thanks for the chance!!
Wow. That does look like a must have book judging by those pictures you’ve shown. I adore the pillow with the purple fabric which is on the white chair near the beginning of your post. Very cool. I’ve been learning quilting over the past year but have not done any applique yet although that’s actually where my focus has been recently. I won an awesome wall hanging quilted applique pattern recently and have been afraid to start working on it so far. I need to just jump into that but never doing the applique process before I am dragging my feet. I would love to win this book as I’m sure it has excellent information.
Thank you for the review and chance to win.
What a fun looking book! I love that pillow. I would love to win this!!
Love the fresh ideas! Thank you for sharing this book.
i had just gotten out my fabric and some other books on applique, must be kismet.
I have always loved patchwork, the book looks fantastic!
Cute book! Thanks for the giveaway!!
taffy.lovell@gmail.com
Your book reviews and give aways are so awesome! I love sewing and would love this book.
I love your blog, I read it everday, like you Modpodge is always calling so i love easy sewing projects. Yay! I hope I win!
So many beautiful projects…what a wonderful giveaway! Thank you!
This looks such a neat book. I have been praying for the people in Japan as well. Thank you!
I’d love to share this with my local Modern Quilt Guild!
This book looks fantastic. I too loved the patchwork vests my Granny would make for us.
What delightful projects!!! I just made a donation to help the Japanese.
jane1 at cp-tel dot net
You are so talented. I am so jealous.
OOH nice book – am going to put it on my amazon wishlist
Funny thing: I haven’t the least urge to sew, but my husband has always had an interest in quilting. Perhaps a few small pieces of patchwork would help him expand that interest?
This looks great! Would love to try out some of these projects!
elisegeorgoussis at gmail dot com
Reminds me of the stuff my grandma used to make but with a moder twist! If I can’t win it I’ll definitely try to find the extra money to buy it, thanks for sharing about it! Also praying and thinking about all the people in Japan.
Looks like a fun book
Oh! This book looks great! Thanks for sharing!!
pineapplemuffin813@gmail.com
This looks like a great book!!!
britfrintner@hotmail.com
This is just the book I would love to own. It looks wonderful and inspiring.