Review   Les Nouvelles - December 1, 2007
Reviewed in this foreign language publication.

Review   Quiltemagasinet - June 1, 2007
Reviewed in this foreign-language publication.

Review   CraftersChoice.com - January 1, 2008
"These ten free-form curvy quilt projects may look daunting, but they’re actually quite simple to make—and they can all be completed in a weekend! Using traditional patterns like the Nine Patch or Log Cabin block as a jumping-off point, you can create visually striking, totally unique quilts. Starting with regular blocks of varying colors (and you use large ones, so quilts work up quickly), you cut a curve that is both concave and convex through all of them. Next, you sew them back together so that the colors are mismatched to create eye-catching swirls. Each project includes step-by-step instructions, quilting suggestions, and a pretty example of a finished quilt. And there are no seams or points to match!"

Review   Thequiltingweb.com - April 1, 2008
"If you love to have a quick result and don't want to worry about seams or points meeting - this book is for you - but you must be brave because sometimes you construct blocks and then cut them!! There are 10 quilt projects with complete instructions and clear diagrams."



Review   Quiltnieuws - April 1, 2008
Reviewed in this foreign language publication.

Review   UK Fabrications - March 1, 2008
"Peggy uses traditional blocks with free-form curves to create simple art quilts with a modern and slightly abstract feel. The Blendable Curve technique is explained fully and new elements of the technique are introduced gradually throughout the book. There are 10 quilt projects and no seams or points ot match, simply use Peggy's 'stack, slice, shuffle, and sew' methods and achieve a quilt with originality. A very user-friendly book and the use of the traditional blocks but with a modern slant to create extremely do-able quilts is just wonderful. After all, many of us are so short of time these days, making one of these projects is gloriously satisfying!"

Review   quiltchannel.com/ - August 11, 2008
"I’m always a sucker for a clever new technique, and a set of designs that plays variations on the traditional. Blendable Curves is just that, a book that tries to break away from the traditional, but not too far, and with often stunning results. Barkle takes such old favorites as log cabins, nine patches, and stars, and by introducing curved piecing techniques brings them back to life as new quilts. The key to all of this is the “blendable curve” of the title. Most curved blocks contain a convex curve and a concave one, which fit into one another. This type of sewing is exacting, requiring careful pinning and precise sewing. The blendable curve contains both convex and concave elements in both pieces, which sounds more difficult, but according to the author is quite easy to deal with. I won’t give away the technique, but through a stacking, shuffling, and sewing process, you get quite unique results."

Review By: Penny Haren,   Checker Distributors - October 8, 2007
"...I know why I love her book - Blendable Curves.  She takes basic blocks that are simple for any quilter - like nine-patches - and cuts them in half with a free form curve.  THEN, she has you sew the curved sides back together to complete the block. I know what you're thinking - I don't sew curves.  Well I didn't either, until now - because once you've sewn the curve, the block is re-sized!  Nothing has to match - shoot, it's not SUPPOSED to match - so this is the perfect beginner project.  You can just have fun with color and design.  And while you're at it, you can take all of those blocks that WEREN'T perfect - and transform them into works of art! Our local guild just hosted a nine-patch exchange.  As you know, not all seam allowances are created equal, so the blocks are not all exactly the same size.  Peggy has the perfect solution.  In "A Leap of Faith" she used the "blended nines" to create a breathtaking backdrop for an applique quilt. ...Pleasantville was my favorite quilt because it was very graphic - reds, whites and blacks - or if you are in Buckeye country, we swear it reads as Scarlet and Gray!  But, for those of you who cheer for the wrong team, this quilt would work just as well in other school colors. In this particular quilt, Peggy inserted red piping between the curved sides of the black and white log cabins.  It gives the whole quilt an "art deco" look with a very masculine feel - and as a mother of four boys, I love finding a quilt that the men in my life appreciate! For those of you who loved Piping Hot Curves by Susan Cleveland, this is a natural progression...And, PLEASE take the time to read her instructions!!! I know it is more fun to skip to the projects, but this woman knows what she is doing.  I especially like her explanation about how to press seams.  AND, she actually gives instructions - with graphics - on how to bind a quilt the right way!  Keep this book by your machine so you can pull it out every time you finish a project - you'll be glad you did! Once you have explored her techniques, you will want to play with all of those loose blocks in your stash left over from other projects.  Remember, the blocks are resized after the sewing is complete so you are free to mix and match to your heart's content! The skies the limit!"

Review By: Morna McEver Golletz,   Professional Quilter - April 14, 2010
"If you or your students are looking to take a step beyond the traditional quilt block, this is a fun technique. Peggy Barkle takes two identical traditional blocks done in two colorways. She then stacks the blocks, cuts a free-form curve from diagonal to diagonal, shuffles the blocks so the blocks no longer match, and pieces them into a new block. Voila! You have a cool curvy nine-patch or a curvy log cabin or any other block pattern. Peggy starts with a simple nine patch, so you can learn the technique and then build from there. The book includes 10 quilt projects and a gallery of quilts by others. I really liked the idea of using this to create a background for appliqué and her designs can lead to endless possibilities."