Quilting

Patterns, patchworks and projects

Book review-All Points Patchwork

by

All Points Patchwork Diane GillelandIn one sentence, this book is a keeper, as a valuable reference, source of inspiration and guide to expanding your piecing repertoire.

I love improvisation as much as the next hip quilter, but leading craft author and popular blogger (CraftyPod.com) Diane Gilleland shows us in her latest book, All Points Patchwork, that achieving precision is cool too.

But getting all those corners and intersections lined up properly can be daunting. Her secret weapon? She employs traditional English paper piecing (EPP). Now the EPP lovers’ go-to shape is the hexagon, yet Diane, in this book, takes you Beyond the Hexagon for Quilts and Small Projects.

From the publisher’s promotional statement:

This complete course in English paper piecing takes you far beyond traditional hexagons with step-by-step photos showing you how to connect triangles, octagons, diamonds, jewels, triangles, tumblers, pentagons, and curved shapes. It even provides dozens of ideas for incorporating the pattern designs into clothing, pillows, quilts, and home decor items!

All Points Patchwork is well written and includes meaningful how-to photos and instructions for hand stitching. Diane offers a variety of projects, and some I want to make, particularly the giant hexagon quilt and the baby quilt. So many craft books are meh, but this one sings. I’ve barely had my review copy out of sight since I snagged it out of my mailbox. Thank you Storey Publishing for providing it to me, and for also offering a free copy of the book to a Craft Gossip reader. More on that later.

In addition to all else, Diane’s teaching style evokes a feeling of camaraderie; it’s like sitting down with a friend to sew, only this friend has mad skills.

If you want to buy this book, you can find it here.
$19.95 paper ISBN-13: 978-1612124209

If you want to get a chance to win a free copy, look for my contest announcement post, coming shortly.

Image credit: {Storey Publishing}

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Comments

  1. I like it I never done patch work so need to up my sewing skills up for trying

  3. I’ve gotten back to my sewing machine and love of quilting after being ill. Is it wrong to say I think my fabric stash missed me? Haha learning new methods is exciting.

Have you read?

In the Garden Layer Cake – A Bloom-Filled Fabric Collection for Spring Sewing

Some fabric collections feel pretty, some feel useful, and then there are those rare ones that instantly spark a dozen ideas the moment you see them. The In the Garden Layer Cake from Fat Quarter Shop falls firmly into that last category. From the moment I opened the pack, it felt like stepping into a watercolor garden—soft, romantic, full of movement, and brimming with detail that invites you to slow down and really look.

This collection brings together an elegant mix of florals, garden motifs, and soothing color palettes that feel like they were created for spring quilting. Instead of loud novelty prints, the designer chose a gentle balance of botanical sketches, scattered blossoms, tiny seed patterns, and larger feature florals that work beautifully in both traditional and modern layouts.

What struck me most is how thoughtfully the color stories are arranged. Each print blends seamlessly into the next, giving you a spectrum that includes soft rose pinks, leafy greens, lavender tones, fresh sky blues, rich corals, and delicate neutrals. It’s the kind of palette that instantly feels “quilty” in the best way—inviting, calm, and incredibly easy to mix and match. You can tell the designer planned this for maximum versatility.

Layer cakes are one of the most beginner-friendly precuts, but this collection elevates them with a sense of sophistication. The prints are strong enough to shine in simple patterns, but subtle enough to support more complex designs. Whether you prefer classic half-square triangles, framed squares, modern grid quilts, or something scrappier, this fabric adapts beautifully. It’s also a wonderful choice for table runners, spring wall hangings, and even quilted bags or home décor projects.

One of the nicest surprises with this layer cake is how it manages to feel seasonal without becoming locked into one particular holiday or theme. While the palette is undeniably perfect for spring, the prints themselves are timeless enough to work year-round. A floral quilt made from this collection would look just as lovely on a summer sunroom sofa as it would draped over a guest bed in winter.

The fabric quality is exactly what you’d expect from Fat Quarter Shop—crisp, clean cuts, vibrant printing, and a smooth hand that makes piecing feel effortless. Nothing is too thin or too stiff, and the colors are even more beautiful in person than they appear online.

If you enjoy sewing projects that feel light, fresh, and inspired by nature, In the Garden is a collection worth adding to your stash. It has all the qualities quilters look for: balance, versatility, gentle movement, and that spark of creativity that makes you want to start a project immediately. Whether you’re planning a gift quilt, treating yourself to a new spring project, or simply building your fabric library with a set of prints that will play nicely with others, this layer cake is a thoughtful and inspiring choice.