Playful Petals - Book Review

Periodically (like, at least twice a week), Amazon.com sends me an email with some books they think I'd like.  When Playful Petals by Corey Yoder appeared in one of the emails, I was intrigued by the cover enough to check it out further.  Fortunately, it is one of Amazon's "Look Inside" books where you can see a sample of inside pages.  I saw a project that I wanted to put on my "make soon" list so I ordered it and am glad I did.

Corey Yoder has taken the petal shape, often called "orange peel," and freshened it up in creative ways.  There are nine quilt projects but each includes a companion pillow project, a good way to try out a new technique.  Fusible applique is the author's construction technique for the petals and the book includes extensive instructions, including several alternative ways to stitch down the applique pieces.  I am thinking of modifying my selected project for hand applique or machine applique with the raw fabric edge turned under.

Most of the designs also involve piecing.  For example, Tossed Petals puts the petal appliques on top of a pieced foundation.

And Flower Garden uses the petal appliques in the sashing.  I like this quilt a lot though not sure I'd  use black.  The pieced blocks use 8.5" squares so this quilt could be made using a layer cake.

 

Scattered Blossoms is the reason I bought the book.  I've been wanting to make an orange peel quilt, procrastinating only because of the amount of hand work involved.  But as soon as I saw this design, I knew it was the one. My planned fabric choices will give it slightly different look though.

It was worth going off my book-buying diet to get Playful Petals!