Tula Pink's City Sampler: 100 Modern Quilt Blocks

Sometimes it's nice to be able to sit down and use up a few, or even a bunch of scraps in a creative way without investing too much time or thought to the process. To just relax and have fun, but still have something interesting to show for it. Likewise, sometimes it's nice to take a break from the tedium of making traditional quilt blocks and experiment with something just a bit different. For me, that's what this book offers. Tula's taken simple shapes, like crosses and triangles, and said,"O.K....what if we make it this way next? And now this way. And what about this way?"; The blocks are super simple, but they can get you out of the scrap rut and get the creative juices flowing. Each block ends up 6.5 inches (6" finished), so you don't have the fear of investing a lot of fabric only to end up with user's remorse. The blocks can be left as is or can be embellished to your heart's content. The book offers some really nice ways to set the blocks to make interesting quilts, and, as a free- motion quilter, I love the fact that the pictures of each block also details the way it's been quilted. The blocks would be perfect for placemats or other projects if you don't want to make a quilt. Unlike a few of the other reviewers, I am not familiar with any of Tula Pink's other books, nor would I know one of her fabrics from anyone else's. I simply have a daunting amount of scraps but don't want to commit to a Dear Jane or other time consuming or repetitive project, technique, or method to use some of them up. This book offered the perfect solution!UPDATE: I've decided to work through this book in the order that the blocks are presented. Instructions for each block tell you how many different fabrics you need and what to cut from each one, which made it easy to work from my scrap stash. Assembly instructions are well diagrammed so that the blocks are easy enough for beginners, and I've loved the fact that Tula designed the blocks so that there are very few seams to match up. The only problem I've encountered with the book is that making the blocks is addictive...they are so quick to make it is hard to stop after making just one, and it's very satisfying to be using up my scraps by turning them into awesome blocks. A GREAT BOOK!!!!! If I could give it ten stars I would! (UPDATE: As of June 2018 I AM NOW ON THE 65th BLOCK. Still having FUN...would make more progress if I had fewer other quilting obligations and also if my husband hadn't taken up a hobby that now has him constantly using my sewing room's cutting table.) (UPDATE: In June 2019 I finally got back to these and working from the 65th, I finished all of the blocks and plan to work my way through the book a second time, but this time change each block a little. I still love this book and plan to make whole quilts using just one or two of the block designs at a time. FUN!!!!)

This is not a book for cautious beginners - though the blocks are simple enough, and all pieces are listed with sizes, it assumes some construction understanding on the part of the reader, as there are no assembly instructions, just pictures. It may be daunting to someone who is new to sewing. If you're an adventurous beginner, who will just jump in and go for it, this might just set off your imagination - but just know that it's not meant to be a step-by-step pattern book.I love Tula Pink and her fabrics, and this book is her way of showing ideas to showcase her prints. With 100 blocks, you can pick and choose which you want to use for your specific fabric collection and make your own unique quilt. I like paging through it and contemplating how the blocks go together, the fabrics used, etc. The hand-drawn illustrations are beautiful, and it's fun to just sit and page through when you want some inspiration. I keep this and my Kaffe Fassett books at hand when I just want to dream a little!

I love that they are all individual non descript blocks. You can design your own quilt without being influenced by someone else’s colors or patterns. It will be used many times by me.

Easy to follow directions, looking forward to making the 100-block quilt.

All the fabulous fabric lines, the bold color combinations and whimsical animals … must-have for SOMETHING, SOMETIME!

Love the great details Cant.wait to sew some of the blocks

This is a very simple quilting book anyone has to do is just look at the pictures. The measurements are there and that’s it, this is the norm for showcasing Tula Pinks fabric! her designs and whimsical fabrics are amazing you hate to cut up her Tiny creatures, you want to show them off. I love this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

The book is very well written with easy to follow block directions. A must for anyone who quilts. Blocks can be assembled in many colorways not just modern.

O livro é muito interessante com projectos muito fáceis e ideias bem originais.

Beautifully designed, written and photographed! This book takes you page by page, step by step into making 100 different 6.5x6.5 quilt squares! Plus a variety of options at the end of the book on how to sew these squares together into a finished quilt! I love the author's creativity and straight forward approach to producing beauty and variety in quilting!

This is a amazing book about making blocks

L'avevo comprato per regalarlo, ma penso di tenerlo per poter avere spunti di blocchi per arredare casa. Il libro presenta 100 blocchi di quilting moderno con le misure in pollici ed in centimetri, e la spiegazione visiva di cosa cucire. A mio avviso non mi è parso difficile comprendere, come montare e cucire i vari blocchi. Nella parte finale ci sono degli schemi di possibili coperte in cui si possono inserire i vari blocchi del libro.

Voilà quelques blocs faciles à réaliser. Les dimensions sont exactes et tombent parfaitement bien, à condition de bien prendre la marge de couture conseillée (1/4 " = 0.65 cm). Seuls inconvénients : 1/ les explications sont en anglais, mais ça ne posent pas de problème car les modèles sont bien schématisés, 2/ les dimensions sont en "inches", avec les conversions en cm. Mais pour ma part, j'ai préféré acheter une règle en "inche", plus facile pour les découpes du tissu.Bon Travail pour celles qui optent pour l'achat de ce livre.