By Carol Field Dahlstrom (Editor)

This is a large hardcover book with the pages spiral bound inside the cover so that the pages lay completely flat when the book is open. The big appeal of this book is played up in the title - the patterns are full size and can easily be traced onto plastic suitable for making templates. On the left side is a description of the block, sample images made up in two different color schemes, and the piecing instructions. The right hand page is the line drawing of the block with all of the pieces illustrated. In the beginning of each chapter, there are illustrations of sample projects that are very creative and attractive. My favorite section is the one on pieced borders. They seem like they would be a lot of work, but there are some beautiful patterns.

The book is beautifully illustrated and wonderful to look at, but it is only really usable for more experienced quilters. I would definitely steer a beginner away from this one. The piecing is very complicated on some of these patterns and there are no guidelines to help determine what the complexity level is on individual patterns. The piecing instructions are sparse and somewhat confusing. There is no discussion of fabric needs or advice on color arrangement, the only help being the visual illustrations. For a quilter with experience making templates and doing complicated piecing, this book has some wonderful blocks to play around with. I was looking at some of the blocks and thinking that they would be much easier to put together with the foundation piecing method and this would cut out some of the work having to make templates.

Next time you are at your local bookstore, pick up this book and browse through the patterns for ideas and if you have been quilting awhile and enjoy a challenge, head to the register with it. To purchase the book from Amazon, click on the image above.