Book review: The Modern Quilting Bee Block Party

Here's PMQG Treasurer Lisa with a book review and giveaway! 


The Modern Quilting Bee Block Party (C&T, 2011) is subtitled as “The Journey of 12 Women, 1 blog and 12 Improvisational Projects.” The book details a modern, virtual quilting bee and goes into the group's process of supporting each other as they produce 12 quilts.

inside: patterns + process

Working from a pattern in this book, I made Kristen Lejnieks’ quilt from June, which was a great beginner modern quilt. Like the other months’ patterns, it’s relatively basic, but comes together in a striking finish. 

Lisa's "Wonky Roman Stripe"

The Modern Quilting Bee Block Party is a great book if you are looking for a better understanding of how bees work. Do note there are only 12 block patterns, so if you’re looking for a straightforward archive of patterns, this may not be the book for you. However, if you are looking for a book that tells a story about how the patterns were created and details the process of trying to recapture the community of the traditional bee using modern technology and a modern quilting aesthetic, then you’ll really enjoy it. 

A copy of The Modern Quilting Bee Block Party will be given away at the April PMQG meeting.