The Anniversary Sampler Quilt: 40 Traditional Blocks, 7 Keepsake Settings

As informative as it is intimate, the latest book from quilting teacher Thomas (Quilting Essentials) focuses on the quilt she made her husband for their 40th wedding anniversary. “We quilters have our favorite [blocks]... that are tied to important events and special memories,” writes Thomas, who selected 40 of her favorite block patterns for the project and incorporated the color red (traditionally associated with 40th wedding anniversaries) into each. She introduces each block with a headnote, explaining its personal significance. There’s a block dedicated to her friend Ann, a fellow quilter, who passed away several years ago; another represents her family’s military service. Especially warming is the block inspired by her uncle Reed’s “old blanket” (a perfectly preserved album block quilt with 42 signatures dated from 1842). She explains how to make each block with shaded graphics and with arrows denoting pressing directions at seams. Her best teaching comes in a section titled “Specialty Quiltmaking Skills,” which includes tips on such topics as mastering an accurate seam allowance and folding corners. In the final section Thomas lays out plans for alternate anniversary quilts. The book is best suited for intermediate quilters and does a great job of illustrating the commemorative component of the quilting tradition. (Jan.)