From Karen Platt, book reviewer, karenplatt.co.uk

I love quilters that have a sense of color and Ilene has oodles of it. Twelve quilts from simple shapes include Log Cabin and stacked Chinese Coins, simple rectangles all in beautiful colors. The book includes quiltmaking basics, templates, easy to follow instructions, and good line drawings and photography. I love Autumn Paths and Treasure Boxes. Recommended.

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From Connie Krochmal, quilting.suite101.com

These pieced projects include bed quilts in a range of sizes, lap quilts, and large wall hangings. This presents dazzling quilts made from rectangles, strips, and easy triangles. It offers fresh, vibrant interpretations of old pieced favorites, such as the Log Cabin, Basketweave, and stacked Chinese Coins. One design features appliqued flowers. Very suitable for beginners, these quilts are too beautiful to hide away in bedrooms. They deserve the place of honor in an entryway or living area.

For each quilt this has a list of fabrics, a cutting chart, and layouts. There are easy to follow, color-illustrated instructions for strip piecing the blocks along with directions on completing the quilt top and finishing the quilt. This also has suggested quilting designs and full size templates. It covers all of the quilting basics from applique and embroidery to binding the edges.

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From Karin Renaud, Quilt Designer

Ilene Bartos' book Spectacular Rectangles is truly amazing! I opened the book and when I looked at the photos of the quilts I couldn't decide which one was more beautiful. There are the braided golds in "Autumn Paths," the bright colors in "Chains of Hope" or the intricate woven work which appears so complex in "Basket Weave." Bartos uses an extensive variety of batiks to create quilts which are stunning, but also utilizes whimsical fabrics in quilts like "Safari" to create a totally different mood.

The quilts are made from simple shapes, arranged to make spectacular quilts. Following the clear directions even a relatively inexperienced quilter can create visually complex and beautiful quilts. This is a book is a keeper.

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Review from BellaOnline.com

At last, a quilt book that takes the beginner onto the next level. This book is great for those quilters who are looking for a challenge and the chance to create something unique and unpredictable. There are heaps of quilt books available for the learning, just starting out quilter and a few that are available for the consummate quilter who has the skills for advanced quiltmaking. There are not a lot of books that take the beginner and guide them through the intricate up-skilling that is required to be comfortable in the next level.

The basic design challenge of each of the twelve quilts is the humble rectangle. Ilene has explored various ways of setting these shapes together, but with a really unique twist. Ilene has incorporated regular patchwork shapes such as Drunkards Path, Log Cabin and French Braid into the unusual rectangular setting. The results are some of the most stunning quilts I have ever seen.

The fact that Ilene uses mostly Batiks probably influences my delight of these quilts. I just love Batik fabrics and the possibilities of what you can do with them. The photographs in this publication are fantastic, as well as the simple and clear instructions. Ilene has taken the time to break each skill component into simple steps that can be easily understood. I particularly like the way she describes the fabrics and the easy cutting tables.

I like that Ilene has featured some of the special skills required, for instance a great set of instructions and diagrams for sewing curved seams. One doesn't need to refer to other quilt books for techniques. Ilene has got them all covered in this great publication. I thoroughly recommend this wonderful quilt book to the quilter who is looking to step up their skills and make a truly unique quilt.