There are blocks in which solid color appliqués are sewn onto printed backgrounds and there are also blocks that feature print appliqués sewn onto to a solid fabric. In Hawaii, the use of print fabric for traditional  Hawaiian quilting is very innovative. For the most part, two contrasting solid colors have always been used to achieve the finished design. The first piece of cloth is kept whole, and the second one is cut so that the whole applied fabric remains as an intact piece of cloth. The appliqué is then basted on and the motif is added by doing needleturned edges.

The author gives us some background information about each block, as in Menehune Quilts. She also shows a photo of each quilt block done up in no less than five different color combinations. The level of difficulty is noted for each block. The book includes beginner, intermediate and advanced designs for 18” appliqué blocks, plus 32 companion mini designs for 9”-12” blocks.

If you like Hawaiian quilting, this book is a must-have for your collection .

Book Review #2

Menehune Quilts....the Hawaiian Way

20 Original Designs by Elizabeth Root

Menehune Quilts is a colorful book with great graphics and finished examples of 20 original Hawaiian designs. The charming illustrations found throughout the book were done by childrens’ book illustrator Tammy Yee. Elizabeth Root is a veteran writer and designer of Hawaiian quilt patterns for the past twenty years. One of her first books on the subject of Hawaiian appliqué and techniques is Hawaiian Quilting, published by Dover Publications in 1989, which is still in print. While that book was excellent and was one of the first to introduce mainlanders to Hawaiian quilting, Menehune Quilts is far more sophisticated in content and design.

What is the meaning of the word Menehune? The author explains on the first page that Menehunes are a “tiny race of Polynesians known for their sweet, but at times, mischievous spirit and their unending work ethic”…who perhaps made quilts to stave off the cold and damp of the caves where they lived. The author's theory is that maybe these people were the original creators of Hawaiian quilts.

Every part of this book is a treat for the eye. The clear instructions for doing Hawaiian quilting would give confidence to any quilter, even a beginner. The projects themselves are all 24” square, a size that would not take a lifetime to make, unlike some other Hawaiian quilts.

Many of the pattern names are familiar to those of us who know about Hawaiian appliqué designs. Yet, the author’s innovative use of color and her own variations of traditional patterns are simply enthralling. All of the patterns capture the essence of the islands and what we have come to know as a unique genre of quilting. The designs are beautiful and intricate. In the hands of this author, the act of doing Hawaiian quilting does not seem to be outside the reach of us mere mortals.

This book is a must-have for any serious appliqué artist’s library, if only to see the wonderful photos contained therein. However, my guess is that you couldn’t stop at viewing the designs. After having read the introductory explanation about Hawaiian quilt history, you will surely want to go to your nearest fabric store to stock in supplies to try it. Whichever project you choose, you will enjoy Elizabeth’s Roots easy way of explaining how to make your own special quilted project. This book gets a thumbs-up!

As if these two latest books were not enough, an invitation is extended at the end of each book to visit the author, and the illustrator at their websites: www.quiltshawaii.com and www.TammyYee.com respectively.  Elizabeth Root and Tammy Yee both have a way of capturing the spirit of the islands. Aloha!

See other files on our Blog and our Website about Hawaiian quilts by consulting our Sitemap.

Contact Pat at pat@quiltersmuse.com