Craft: make Kaffe Fassett’s stunning patchwork quilt
Renowned designer Kaffe Fassett has created this stunning quilt using snowball blocks, one of the oldest forms of patchworking.
Fabrics are calculated at minimum width of 40 ins and are cut across the width, unless otherwise stated. Fabrics have been given a number which corresponds with the diagrams on the next page. Before you start, wash and press all fabrics to prevent future shrinkage and colour bleeding.
You Will Need
Quilt Top
Promenade Stripe ¾ yd each Contrast (Fabric 1), Sunny (Fabric 3) and Hot (Fabric 4) Promenade Stripe ½ yd
Cold (Fabric 2)
Spot 5/8 yd Silver (Fabric 5) Aboriginal Dot 5/8 yd Orchid (Fabric 6)
Bang 3½ yd Yellow (Fabric 7) Spot ½ yd Noir (Fabric 8) Batting, 61 ins x 61 ins
Toning sewing thread Contrasting quilting thread
Tools
Iron
Fabric scissors
Rotary cutter and cutting mat Sewing machine
Pins/quilting pins
Quilting needles
Stockist: The fabrics used are all from the Kaffe Collective fabric range and can be found in many fabric and craft stores. If you have difficulty sourcing them, they can be ordered from Lady Sew And Sew, telephone: 01491 572 528 (Mon - Fri office hours), website: www.ladysewandsew.co.uk.
Size: Approx. 53 ins x 53 ins
Important Note
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PATCH SHAPES
The quilt is made up with traditional octagonal snowball blocks. They are made the easy way using 1 large square (with the stripe running horizontally) and 4 small squares for each block; two fabrics are used for the small squares, placed diagonally in the same position for each block. They are sewn diagonally across the corner, trimmed and flipped back to replace the corners of the large square.
CUTTING OUT
All the patch shapes are cut from strips cut across the width of the fabric and cross cut into squares. Don’t try to match sections of stripes to the original pieces.
Cutting Guide
Block centres:
Cut 8 ins strips across the width of the fabric and cross cut 8 ins squares. Each strip will give 5 squares. Cut a total of 49 squares from the following fabrics:
Fabric 1: (3 strips ) 11 squares;
Fabric 2: (2 strips) 10 squares;
Fabric 3: (3 strips ) 13 squares;
Fabric 4: (3 strips ) 15 squares.
Block corners:
Cut 2¾ ins strips across the width of the fabric and cross cut 2¾ ins squares. Each strip will give 14 squares. Cut strips and squares as follows:
Fabric 5: (7 strips) 98 squares.
Fabric 6: (7 strips) 98 squares.
Backing:
Fabric 7: Cut 1 piece 40 ins x 61 ins and 1 piece 21½ in x 61 ins.
Binding:
Fabric 8: Cut 6 strips 2½ ins wide across the width of the fabric. Sew together end to end.
TO MAKE
Use ¼ in seams throughout. Take 1 large square with the stripes running horizontally, 2 small squares in Fabric 5 and 2 small squares in Fabric 6. Following the sequence in the Block Assembly Diagrams (right), place the 4 small squares right sides together on to the large square making sure the 2 fabrics are in diagonal pairs and in the same position on each large square.
Matching the edges carefully, stitch diagonally across the small squares as shown ( a) and trim the corners to a ¼ in seam allowance ( b). Press the corners outwards ( c).
Make 49 blocks in total.
Lay out the blocks as shown in the Quilt Assembly Diagram (above right). Sew into rows of 7 blocks and press seams in opposite directions for alternating rows.
Sew the 7 rows together, carefully matching seam joins.
TO COMPLETE
Press the quilt top. Sew the backing pieces together using a ¼ in seam allowance to form a backing piece measuring 61 ins x 61 ins.
Layer the quilt top, batting and backing, and baste together. Quilt as desired. Trim the quilt edges and attach the binding.
BINDING
Remove all basting stitches, then baste around the outer edge of the quilt ¼ in from the edge of the patchwork layer. Trim the back and wadding to the edge of the patchwork and straighten the edges if necessary.
Cut the starting end of binding strip at a 45 degree angle, fold ¼ in turning to wrong side along cut edge and press in place.
With wrong sides together, fold strip in half lengthways, keeping raw edges level, and press. Starting at the centre of one of the long edges, place the doubled binding on to the right side of the quilt keeping raw edges level. Stitch in place ¼ in in from the diagonal folded edge. Reverse stitch to
secure, and work ¼ in in from edge of quilt towards first corner. Stop ¼ in in from corner and work a few reverse stitches.
Fold the loose end of the binding up, making a 45 degree angle. Keeping the diagonal fold in place, fold the binding back down, aligning the raw edges with the next side of the quilt. Starting at the e point where the last stitch ended, stitch down the next side.
Continue to stitch the binding in place around all the quilt edges in this way, tucking the finishing end of the binding inside the diagonal starting section.
Turn the folded edge of the binding on to the back of the quilt. Hand stitch in place just covering binding machine stitches, and folding a mitre at each corner.