One-Block Wonders of the World: New Ideas, Design Advice, A Stunning Collection of Quilts

Wow, this is one great book for anyone who has made or is thinking of making a hexagon One-Block Wonder (OBW) quilt.Using Maxine's previous three books, I used a large scale African animal print fabric to make a OBW (actually I made two from the same print) and they turned out great. (Okay, maybe I had a few hexagon blocks that poofed up in the middle a bit...but that was probably from letting the ruler slip when cutting or my sewing was off a bit but they pressed and quilted out okay. Regardless, the quilts still turned out gorgeous.) I initially decided to make a OBW because I wanted to try something that wasn't a pattern...something that would push me into being more creative and result in a quilt/wallhanging that was all my own design. It worked! That is why I'm back at looking at OBWs and planning a great wallhanging for my entry...something that is uniquely mine and that is a jaw dropper when visitors walk in the door.WARNING: This book doesn't discuss the basics like how to line up fabric repeats or how to cut strips or triangles. For the basics you will need to use one of the earlier OBW books.A discussion that I found very informative was about which fabric prints (including the use of panels) work and don't work so well for OBW. Then the authors show you how some of the 30 contributors to the book were able to successfully make those prints work in their OBWs.A very useful technical discussion in the book is about using rulers or a 60 degree template that has or doesn't have the point. It can affect how your blocks fit together. This is also the case if you plan to add cubes to your OBW composition.One of the great values of this book is in the variety of pictures of completed OBWs from so many contributors. In the earlier two OBW quilts I made, I struggled a bit about what borders I wanted to add. With this book in hand, it is easy to find border ideas that will inspire you.The nice thing about OBWs is that other than a sewing machine that does a straight stitch, they take very few supplies: one fabric, flower head pins, some kind of ruler that has a 60 degree line (or a 60 degree template), and a rotary cutter with a very sharp blade (otherwise it will push your fabric out of alignment when you're cutting...then your triangles won't match...remember my poofed up block centers?) If you have a design wall of any kind...even if it is just a piece of batting or flannel tacked to a wall, you are all set to go.Oh, and when you get that OBW quilt finished....the nice thing is that quilting can be very minimal (you don't want the quilting to detract from the OBW blocks) or as complex as you want (although the only place your stitching will show up much is more than likely in the borders). Some contributors did a simple all over design like a meander while some simply stitched around the triangles in the hexagons.If you are interested in One-Block Wonder quilts then this book is a winner! Just remember that if you are new to this type of quilt then you need to also buy one of Maxine's earlier OBW books. My preference is "One-Block Wonders encore!" because it includes not only full instructions on aligning the fabric repeats, cutting your hexagons, and piecing but it also details making cubes which can take your OBW quilt to a whole new dimension in design. (Cubes can also rescue a OBW quilt if you aren't happy with your original fabric choice...add cubes and viola! it's gorgeous.)Happy quilting, my friend.

Fast delivery, exactly as represented

There are some great designs in this book. When I received the book, I sat down and went through it page by page. The instructions look easy enough to follow, for my average skill level. I am inspired to try a project, soon.

Many great patterns to work on

I like this book, but not in love with it. It should have had more instructions how to make the quilt other than just pictures of them

This is the fourth book in the One-Block Wonders series. I wasn’t sure that I needed one more book on this subject but I bought it. It is very interesting. I appreciate the inclusion of the original fabric used along with the quilt. I bought a second copy for my friend.

Like Book intend to use it and make a Quilt

I have other books in the series and I have made several one block wonder quilts. But I found new inspiration in this book.

This is a wonderful book with lots of pictures. I love the 2 different possibilities and choices by the 2 authors. One is by-the-book, one is anything goes. It made me laugh. My sister wants to make one, I made samples, so far, to teach this. I also bought 2 others by this author to get lots of knowledge.

I do not recommend this book, it is just about using big fabric patterns, not about making blocks. Very disappointed.

Great book with wonderful explanations and photos

All the inspiration and information I needed to get started on my own one block wonder!

This book is excellent. The authors’ previous books lead to this one. This one takes the design process to the next level.