Ellen Pahl

I recently bought a copy of Pinwheel Party by Ellen Pahl (2010, Martingale & Company). I was intrigued by the pinwheels on the quilt on the front cover as you don't see many patterns using these unless they are quilts for children. I like pinwheels as they are easy to construct but look much more complicated. So, I was interested to see what Ellen could do with these fun little blocks.

I was not disappointed. There are 12 projects in this book, combining piecing and appliqué, and I love how Ellen puts a fresh spin on a traditional block, giving it a modern "twist". The quilts in the book are mostly wall hanging and smaller size and are arranged in order from easiest to most difficult projects, allowing you to pick the project that is suited to your skill level.

While the quilts in the book are great, I was also impressed by the tips in Quilting Basics for making scrappy quilts. Ellen's instructions for cutting small pattern pieces by layering and cutting several fabrics at one time from fabric scraps was helpful and thrifty. I also liked the hand appliqué information provided in the book. I appreciate pattern books where I can envision the patterns in various fabric lines and I could definitely see these projects in both contemporary and more traditional fabrics.

I would have a hard time deciding on my favourite project from the book, but I really enjoyed Oklahoma Memories with the chickens and old-fashioned windmill. This wall hanging contrasts with Wind Farm, which reminds me of the giant wind turbines that we have in the southern part of our province, harnessing wind power. A great juxtaposition of the traditional and the modern.

I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick project with lots of punch.… (lisätietoja)