Glorious Patchwork: More Than 25 Glorious Quilt Designs

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Since some of my stash is aging, perhaps this classic books serves up ideas on how to use them in patterns of their same era. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. With this lavish book Kaffe Fassett delves into an exciting new textile arena, injecting elegance and richness into the contemporary quilting world. During those years, Kaffe’s design world also expanded to encompass needlepoint patterns, mosaics, fabric designs and quilt patterns. Known for his exuberant use of color, Kaffee has built a design empire that extends to fabric, knitting, needlepoint, mosaics and patchwork.

He is a fabric designer for Rowan Patchwork and Quilting and the primary knitwear designer for Rowan Yarns. He has published many books, including over 20 beautifully photographed quilt pattern volumes which make it easy to produce one of his trademark designs. I remember the first time I saw those patterns in his classic book Glorious Knits – I was mesmerized. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions.The quilt show week-long program included classes by big name quilters and that year, Kaffe Fassett was the keynote speaker as well as one of the quilting instructors.

He is internationally known for his dazzling needlepoint and knitted works, lines of upholstery fabrics and wallpapers and most recently his quilt and fabric designs. In addition to the main quilts, there are ideas for smaller, accompanying items, such as curtains, cushions and even tablecloths, so that you can develop the patchwork theme within an interior - as well as enjoying smaller projects which can be treated in no time at all. It's like old fashioned patchwork with modern ideas all put together in a way that makes you think 'I could do that! Divided into five color themes--ranging from soft pastels and leafy gardens to bold circus hues--these stunning designs bear Kaffe's unmistakable stamp.When I first skimmed the book I was thrilled because I realized that I DO have a way to work through my huge fabric collection-- especially fabrics I was worried I would never use because they didn't quite "fit" the kinds of patterns I had in mind. Bonus for some of the gorgeous photos showing quilts in combination with crochet throws, needlepoint pillows and other lovely textiles that mimic patch working. Whether it’s a sweater, a needlepoint pillow or quilting fabric, his uniquely colorful style is instantly recognizable. It's his choice of colors and fabrics that makes them sparkle and with this book as inspiration anyone can learn to see color as freely as Kaffe Fassett does. His "Red Diamonds Quilt" is vibrant with patches of sunflowers, grapes and a multitude of floral designs.

For me, his knitting designs were not exactly easy or quick and I was busy starting a career and a family. Fasset shows what you can do by NOT contrasting fabrics, but instead by playing with the possibilities of putting three, four, or seventeen different reds, greens or pinks next to each other. It was interesting to watch Kaffe’s single minded concentration as he focused on each person’s developing design, deciding if the fabric choices worked together and recommending options if he thought they did not. If you are into, art quilts or just letting the fabrics and colors do the work, you will love this book.

Here once again, Kaffe’s colorful vocabulary came out as he described with sincerity and passion what attracted him about each quilt.

The book is divided into five chapters by colour themes: gentle Soft Pastels, bold and brassy Circus hues, fresh Leafy Gardens, alluring Antique Stone Colours and rich Renaissance tones. In "Glorious Patchwork"--one of his most spectacular and original books--Kaffe presents more than 25 designs that draw on the essence of his colorwork. The designs and his unrestrained use of color were so unique and different – he wasn’t knitting – he was painting with wool. I also love the challenge of taking beautiful photos that capture the essence of the location I am visiting. This final discourse was as much a critique as it was another lesson in the language and the concepts of Kaffe’s color world.I'm not a quilter or a sewer (except when I have to sew on a button or something) and I've never made any of these. Just as he did in his previous, wonderful design books on Needlepoint, Knitting and Home Decor, Kaffe Fassett has brought his exuberant sense of color and pattern to the design of quilts. Mark's in Venice, one that uses all flowered fabrics that seem to come from old-fasioned tea cups (without ever looking frumpy or frilly) and my favorite, one that uses all variety of greens to create a glowing emerald garden quilt. But making a Kaffe Fassett quilt in a class taught by the master of “Glorious Color” brings you up close and personal to his creative genius.