(Block Libraries That Turn One Idea Into Endless Quilts)
One of the easiest ways to become a more confident quilter is to start thinking in blocks instead of full quilt patterns
When you have a good quilt block reference book on your shelf, you’re not just following patterns — you’re designing. A single block can be rotated, recolored, enlarged, or combined with other blocks to create something completely new.
That’s why so many quilters keep a few block design books nearby while they sew. These books act like a quilting encyclopedia, helping you experiment with layouts, discover traditional designs, and build your own quilt patterns.
Below are some of our favorite quilt block design books — including several that we’ve already reviewed here on CraftGossip.
10-Inch Square Quilt Block Book
If you enjoy sampler quilts or precut-friendly patterns, this book is incredibly useful.
Every block in the book finishes at 10 inches, which means you can easily mix and match them without recalculating measurements.
That makes it perfect for:
- sampler quilts
• scrap quilts
• mixing different block styles
• quick quilt design experiments
We recently reviewed this book here:
New York Beauties & Flying Geese
If you love dramatic quilt blocks, this book is packed with them.
The New York Beauty block is one of the most recognizable designs in quilting, and when combined with Flying Geese units it creates quilts with incredible movement.
Inside the book you’ll find:
- curved piecing tutorials
• dramatic layout ideas
• traditional quilt inspiration
You can read our full review here:
Quilting by Hand – Modern Accessories
Not every quilting book focuses purely on blocks. Some explore how blocks can evolve into beautiful handmade projects.
In our review of Quilting by Hand, we explore how traditional quilt techniques can be applied to smaller accessories and decorative pieces.
Read the full review
Buy the book – Amazon
501 Rotary-Cut Quilt Blocks
This is one of the most popular quilt block libraries ever published.
With over 500 quilt block designs, it’s basically a quilting design reference that many quilters keep within arm’s reach.
What makes this book especially useful:
- rotary-cutting friendly instructions
• blocks organized by complexity
• endless design possibilities
Find it on Amazon
Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns
If you enjoy traditional quilting, this book is legendary.
It catalogs over 4,000 quilt blocks and documents their history and variations. Many experienced quilters consider this one of the most important reference books ever written about quilt block design.
Find it on Amazon
Why Quilt Block Books Are So Valuable
Online tutorials are great, but a good quilt block book gives you something different — a complete design library you can flip through anytime inspiration strikes.
Many quilters keep several block books in their sewing room because they provide endless ideas for future quilts.
Once you start browsing block layouts, you’ll quickly see how a single design can evolve into dozens of completely different quilts.
More Quilting Book Reviews
You can explore all of our quilting book reviews here:
