Here it is, the second of two newly released titles by Tumpeter Books for their Make Good: Crafts + Life series: Patchwork Style! The Make Good: Crafts + Life series will be comprised of popular Japanese craft books translated into English for the first time.  Like its counterpart, Linen, Wool, Cotton, Patchwork Style by Suzuko Koseki, was first released in Japan in 2004, but also became beloved by crafters here in the states and around the world.    This new, translated version of Patchwork Style allows Koseki’s English speaking fans to create her colorful projects more in keeping with the pattern, without having to guess at measurements and techniques, which makes us quite happy!

A Bright, Cheerful Book

In Patchwork Style, Koseki has set out to share with readers the joy of creating patchwork projects in a quick and satisfying manner by using a sewing machine rather than hand quilting.  The result of her work is a collection of 35 patterns for projects that are colorful, bright, and imbibed with the cozy feeling that patchwork quilting is known for.

The photography in Patchwork Style is simple and fresh, with backgrounds that are minimalist in nature in order to better showcase the cheerful color combination and interesting textures of the quilting.  Koseki’s fabric choices appear to be a range of vintage and modern, with many featuring bold designs including text, polka dots, stripes, and florals.  The resulting quilted projects have a modern, somewhat urban feel to them, while still adhering to classic lines and ideas.

I love turning the pages of this book!  Each time I flip through it I notice some new detail, a different layering of patterns that makes me turn to my own fabric stash in search of similar color combinations or textural values.  Each page turned reveals a cheerful image and I have no doubt that the author thoroughly enjoyed creating this book.

Interesting Layout

While many sewing books are organized into projects used in similar areas or for similar purposes, such as kitchen, clothing accessories, bedroom, bathroom, organization, etc., Patchwork Style‘s layout has been created much differently.  Koseki takes us through five different quilting techniques:

• log cabin
• applique
• patchwork squares
• free stitching
• square applique

The five techniques serve as category headings in the book and several projects fall under each category, allowing the crafter to build upon their skill set as they work through the book.  One interesting aspect of the layout is that all of the full-color photographs for the projects are housed in the front of the book, and all of the sewing and pattern directions are housed together at the back of the book.  While I find this very appealing when I am flipping through the pages for inspiration, I am not sure how I will like it once I am actually sewing a project.  Because I am a very visual person I often look at the photograph of a finished project while I am working on it, and having to flip back and forth through the book might become a distraction.

Projects and Patterns

What a great range of projects!  From purses to kitchen gear to bedding, there is something for everyone here.  I especially love the floor mat, a square applique project that allows you to sew more squares over the mat when it becomes soiled – what a brilliant and useful idea!  The potholders look like artwork that you can proudly hang on a kitchen hook, rather than those unsightly ones we hide away in a drawer.  The lap quilt, bed quilt, and pillow covers each look like something I would enjoy snuggling up with on a chilly winter day, especially because their vivid colors would help keep life cheerful in even the most bleak of weather forecasts.  The array of handbags and purses Koseki has assembled here have appeal across the lines of age and generation.

Overall, the variety of patterns offered in Patchwork Style will inspire sewers of all ages and backgrounds.  Knowing that you can bring your own fabric choices and color palettes to the designs means each project can be tailored to your individual tastes and fashion.  The projects will look vastly different depending on whether you like bold colors or subtle layers of monochromatic yet textural fabrics.  Building the set of skills laid out in this book will allow the sewer to create projects of their own design once they master each technique. 

The patterns themselves are quite detailed and clear.  They are illustrated with drawings that show you exactly where to pin, cut, and sew, making this a great book for both beginners and those who are expert sewers.

Final Thoughts

I find Patchwork Style to be a delightful book to look at and I am anxious to get started on a few of its projects.  “Enjoyment is what I had in mind when I created each of these projects,” Suzuko Koseki says in her book, and I think she has definitely hit her target.  The book is cheerful and really helps readers stretch their imaginations to discover new and interesting ways to combine and layer fabrics into useful, aesthetically pleasing projects.  Happy sewing!

Patchwork Style is available at both Amazon.com
and at Make Good Books.  Would you like to try before you buy?  A selection of free patterns from Patchwork Style is available in downloadable pdf format at Make Good Books (follow link above).