Quilting the World Over
by Willow Ann Soltow
This book is quite unusual and very delightful. Quilting basic techniques are discussed first, followed by five chapters on American quilting (piecing and appliqueing, New England crazy patchwork, Pennsylvania Amish, Seminole patchwork, and Hawaiian snowflake quilting). There are chapters on Pifaifai (Tahitian quilting), Hmong patchwork (Laotian), sashiko (Japanese), shisha applique (India: mirror applique), African applique, trapunto (Italy), English method piecing, broderie perse (France), arpilleras (Chile), and mola (Panama). The book is unique because it gives historical information about the various techniques, and a project is included for each technique. Full-size patterns are given. This addition to your library would be unique.
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  Circles of the East : Quilt Designs from Ancient Japanese Family Crests
by Kumiko Sudo
review by Jenny
This book details the history of ancient Japanese Family Crests. Each Crest's story begins with the original design and traces it through the ages. The author has designed a quilt from each Crest, interpreting it in contemporary fabrics. Clear, easy instructions enable you to duplicate her work, or use it as inspiration for your own designs.
There is no better way to understand a culture, or to experience history, than to craft its unique arts with your own hands. This book will inspire you as it teaches.
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  Fabled Flowers : Innovative Quilt Patterns Inspired by Japanese Sashiko and Origami Traditions
by Kumiko Sudo
review by Jenny
A treasury of Japanese folk tales, richly illstrated by beautiful 3-D quilted flowers in traditional Japanese fabrics. Inspired by elements of traditional Japanese arts, these designs create new, unique quilt effects. Simple instructions bring the stories alive in your own work. Older children may enjoy working projects based on these stories, encouraging an interest in fabric arts and in Japan.
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  Sashiko and Beyond : Techniques and Projects for Quilting in the Japanese Style
by Saikoh Takano
review by L.
Sashiko is a running stitch frequently done in traditional Japanese work with a white or beige thread on an indigo (blue) fabric. This book contains a wealth of full-size sashiko designs and an elaborate section of colored illustrations of quilts and other projects including clothing. The author's final section is an appendix of Japanese decorative knots, which can be used as closures on the clothing.
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  Quilted Legends of the West
by Judy Zehner and Kim Mosher
review by L.
This is a wonderful collection of Native American animals. The animal itself is pieced in a quilt design appropriate to that animal. It includes patterns for two similar quilts, "We Were Here" and "Big Buff", which feature a bison. There is a pattern for a black bear with a Bear's Paw quilt pattern on his back, and many more. This is truly a wonderful collection of quilts for men.
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  Quilting Patterns from Native American Designs
by Joyce Mori
review by L.
This is a book of wonderful designs based on Native American patterns. Most of these designs should be immediately familiar to most readers. This is predominantly a design book of line drawings for quilting itself, but many of these designs can be successfully adapted to applique. The frustrating thing about this book is that Dr. Mori, an anthropologist, does not identify the exact source of the design. For example, she will identify a design merely as "Northeast area" or "Northeast woodland pattern", etc. I feel this is a disservice to the reader. At least she sometimes identifies whether it came from jewelry or pottery or whatever.
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