Best Applique Books of 2026

The My First Easter! High Contrast Baby Book is a delightful addition to any newborn's library. With 32+ black and white high contrast images, this board book is perfect for developing babies' eyesight. The book features beautiful illustrations of Easter bunnies, chicks, and eggs, and its durable design ensures that it will be a treasured item as your little one grows. This book is an ideal gift for new moms and a unique way to start creating special memories with your baby. Overall, this book is a must-have for parents looking for a fun and educational Easter-themed book for their little ones.

The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook: Patterns, Projects and Inspirations is a comprehensive guide to the traditional Japanese needlework quilting technique, sashiko. The book covers everything from the origins of the technique to selecting suitable fabrics and threads, marking out patterns, and the stitching technique itself. With ten project chapters and a pattern library, readers can easily use sashiko patterns to make beautiful items for the home. The book also features a gallery of work by contemporary Japanese textile artists for extra inspiration. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning sashiko or looking for new project ideas.

Stitched Photo Mosaic Quilting by Timna Tarr is an exceptional guide for intermediate to advanced quilters who want to create personalized quilts. The book provides an easy-to-follow project guide for turning cherished photos into stunning portrait quilts. With six step-by-step quilt projects, readers can learn an approachable, super simple grid patchwork and appliqué technique. The book also offers design tips, troubleshooting, and finishing techniques. Tarr's unique and accessible approach to prepared-edge appliqué makes this book stand out from other quilting guides. Overall, Stitched Photo Mosaic Quilting is a must-have for quilters who want to create unique and beautiful quilts.

The Floral Garden Embroidery Patterns book by De-ann Black is a must-have for embroidery enthusiasts who love floral and garden themes. With over 100 patterns, including seasonal designs, lettering patterns, and a variety of flowers, butterflies, and insects, this book offers endless possibilities for hand stitching and hoop embroidery. The crewel wool patterns included can also be stitched with cotton embroidery thread if preferred. The book features full-size patterns on single-sided pages, making it easy to trace and transfer onto fabric. Overall, this book is a valuable addition to any cross-stitch book collection.

Mending Life: A Handbook for Mending Clothes and Hearts is an exceptional guide to the art of visible mending. It provides a step-by-step tutorial on how to mend and reinforce clothes and household items using basic stitching, sashiko, darning, and patching techniques. The book also includes heartfelt stories that encourage readers to adopt sustainable and intentional lifestyles. Beginners and experienced sewers will find this guide practical, timeless, and inspiring. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in extending the life of their clothes and reducing waste in the fast fashion industry.

Embroidered Country Gardens by Lorna Bateman is an excellent guide for both beginners and experienced embroiderers. The book consists of step-by-step instructions, detailed photographs, and outline template drawings to help readers create six exciting projects inspired by nature. Lorna Bateman's passion for teaching and nature shines through her work, making it an enjoyable read. The book includes an A-Z of English garden flowers, a section on stitching common garden insects, and iconic garden imagery. The author's invaluable hints and tips and fully illustrated stitch directory make this book a valuable addition to any embroidery enthusiast's collection.

Big Blocks, Big Quilts: 11 Easy Quilts with Layer Cake 10" x 10" Squares by Design Originals is a beginner-friendly book that offers 11 beautiful quilt patterns designed with Layer Cakes. The book includes variations, clear instructions with diagrams, and step-by-step directions to make the quilting process easier. Suzanne McNeill, the author, provides tips and techniques to help readers create handmade scrappy looks that are popular today. The book is perfect for those who want to try quilting with Layer Cakes, and the patterns can be made up quickly with these big blocks. Overall, the book is an excellent resource for those who want to learn how to quilt with Layer Cakes and create beautiful quilts with ease.

This book, titled "CRICUT: 10 books in 1," is the ultimate guide for anyone looking to master the world of Cricut. With 500 pages of information, this guide offers everything from beginner guides to advanced tips and tricks on designing and creating with Cricut machines. The book also includes bonus guides on the Cricut Maker 3 and Explore 3. What makes this book unique is its comprehensive coverage of all the materials, tools, and accessories needed to create stunning projects using Cricut machines. Overall, this guidebook is a must-have for anyone looking to take their Cricut skills to the next level.

Crumb Quilts is a comprehensive guide to creating beautiful quilts and quilted projects using tiny scraps of fabric that would otherwise be thrown away. The author, Emily Bailey, provides step-by-step instructions and techniques for making 'crumb fabric' and using it as a quilt block, background fabric, or as applique. The book includes 15 stunning quilted projects, from full-size bed quilts to smaller projects like pillows and pin cushions. With clear photography and helpful tips for grouping fabric colors and prints, this book is perfect for anyone interested in zero waste patchwork. Overall, Crumb Quilts is a unique and informative resource for scrap quilters of all levels.

The Rulerwork Quilting Idea Book by Amanda Murphy is a fantastic guide for both longarm and domestic quilters who want to create uniform shapes using quilting rulers. With six basic shapes to start with, Amanda guides readers through 59 different designs, providing tips for filling in background spaces with free-motion quilting. Amanda's style blends modern and traditional quilting, making this book an excellent resource for quilters of all levels. The book is published by C&T Publishing/Stash Books and falls under the Quilts & Quilting Books category.