Individual patterns cost $9-$12 per pattern so if there are 3 quilts you'd like to make in a book that cost $16, I would say it's a good deal and buy it. How many patterns in a book for me usually depends on how much I like a particular pattern. I have been know to buy a book just because I REALLY liked one thing but this isn't often. Most of the time I like 3 in a book before I consider it worthy of purchase.