Quilting

Patterns, patchworks and projects

Review: Shots and Stripes book

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Kaffe Book cover Shots Stripes

Kaffe Fassett and coauthor Liza Prior Lucy have a new book out this month, Kaffe Fassett Shots and Stripes. Happily, I received a review copy from the publicist at STC Craft who allowed me to ask the authors a few questions. You can read the interview here. The cover quilt gives a hint that this book is a departure for Kaffe. His trademark bright color palette is still with us, but the emphasis is solids, not the vibrant florals everyone associates with him. Incidentally, his florals do show up on the backs of the quilts in the book.

The 24 projects in this book include bed-size quilts, throws, wall hangings, table runners and cushions/pillows. While I was writing this review, HGTV’s Property Brothers came on my TV. In case you are not familiar with the series, two brothers visit homeowners who need help selling their property. The brothers do some renovating and redecorating so the owners can get top dollar for their present home, all to get them into their next one. All through this episode they dogged the homemade quilt on the couple’s bed saying it was an outdated choice. They replaced it with a comforter. After their house sold, the wife hands the quilt to the brothers and they pitch it back and forth like a hot potato. My thought at that very moment was, “they’ve never seen a Kaffe quilt”. The right quilt can give a space a fresh modern look as easily as a modern painting or a coat of gray paint. Why proclaim all quilts old-fashioned? Kaffe does not do old-fashioned or boring for that matter. Warned in art school to not be pulled in by the lure of the crafts like quilting and knitting, I’m so glad he went there. He’s undeniably a master of color and his fabric is always in my stash category of “too pretty to cut”.

Kaffe and Liza show us the inspiration for the projects they created for the book. We see some colorful crates in Istanbul then Overlapping Tiles, (pg 145-6). Pastel row houses become Korean Log Cabin, (pg 84-5). We also get a peek at Kaffe’s home as it’s used as a backdrop for a project or two. I would love to see Kaffe’s entire home, perhaps in a future book, hint, hint. As with all of Kaffe and Liza’s quilting books, this one has high production value (nice size  on quality paper, beautiful photos, lack of typos). Even if you have no intention of making any of the projects it would be an asset on any coffee table. For those who do embark on making some of the projects, they do include instructions, though be aware, they are not geared to a beginning sewer or quilter.

I’m giving away a copy of Shots and Stripes to a lucky Craft Gossip reader.

Stay tuned for giveaway details in a future post!

Comments

  2. I got to go to a lecture Kaffe gave at the NE Quilt Museum in Lowell. I didn’t know that he was warned away from “crafts”. The quilting and knitting world sure are lucky to his genius in our midst. I agree that his quilts are an art for, with their stunning and fresh approach to color and pattern Thanks for the chance to win this book. Cynthia

Have you read?

Simplicity Quilt Kit – Handmade Sweetness Review

A Soft, Vintage-Inspired Quilt Kit That Lives Up to Its Name

Some quilt kits are bold and modern. Others lean heavily into dramatic colour palettes. But every now and then you come across a quilt kit that feels calm, comforting, and quietly beautiful — the kind of quilt you imagine folded on a guest bed or draped across the back of a favourite armchair.

That’s exactly the feeling behind the Simplicity Quilt Kit – Handmade Sweetness from Fat Quarter Shop.

This kit is all about soft, coordinated fabrics and classic quilt construction that lets the fabric collection shine. It’s the sort of project that feels relaxing to sew and produces a quilt that looks timeless rather than trendy.

And sometimes that’s exactly what you want.

What’s Included in the Simplicity Quilt Kit

One of the best parts of working with a quilt kit is that the planning stage is already done for you. Fabric choices, yardage calculations, and colour coordination are handled by experienced designers so you can focus on the stitching.

The Simplicity Quilt Kit – Handmade Sweetness includes everything needed to create the quilt top and binding using fabrics from the Handmade Sweetness collection.

Inside the kit you’ll find:

  • Coordinated quilting cotton for the quilt top
    • Binding fabric to finish the quilt edges
    • Fabrics from the Handmade Sweetness collection
    • The official quilt pattern that guides the layout and piecing

Like most quilt kits, batting and backing fabric are purchased separately so quilters can choose their own finishing style.

The Look and Style of the Quilt

The design of the Simplicity Quilt lives up to its name. The layout is clean, balanced, and very easy on the eyes, making it perfect for quilters who prefer classic patchwork over complicated layouts.

The Handmade Sweetness fabric collection adds a gentle vintage feel to the quilt. The prints lean toward soft florals, small-scale patterns, and comforting colours that work together beautifully without feeling overwhelming.

The finished quilt has that handmade heirloom look — the kind of quilt that feels like it belongs in a cozy home filled with handmade touches.

If your quilting taste leans toward:

  • Vintage-inspired quilts
    • Soft cottage style fabrics
    • Classic patchwork layouts
    • Calm, coordinated colour palettes

…then this quilt kit will likely be right up your alley.

Skill Level – Perfect for Beginners and Relaxed Sewing

One of the nicest things about the Simplicity Quilt Kit is that it truly is approachable.

The construction focuses on traditional patchwork techniques most quilters already know:

  • Straightforward cutting and piecing
    • Repeating quilt blocks
    • Block arrangement into rows
    • Simple borders that frame the quilt

There are no tricky angles or complex piecing methods, which makes it a very comfortable project for beginners or anyone wanting a stress-free sewing experience.

This is the kind of quilt you can work on slowly over a few evenings while enjoying the rhythm of sewing.

Why Quilt Kits Like This Are So Popular

Many quilters love designing quilts, but not everyone enjoys the fabric selection stage. Choosing prints that coordinate, calculating yardage, and ensuring colour balance can take hours.

That’s where quilt kits shine.

With a kit like Simplicity – Handmade Sweetness, you get:

  • Professionally coordinated fabrics
    • The correct fabric amounts already measured
    • A pattern designed specifically for those fabrics
    • A clear path from first cut to finished quilt

Instead of planning a quilt, you get to jump straight into the creative part — sewing.

And let’s be honest… finishing quilts is always more satisfying than collecting half-finished projects.

Who This Quilt Kit Is Best For

The Simplicity Quilt Kit – Handmade Sweetness is ideal for quilters who:

  • Prefer gentle, vintage-style fabric collections
    • Want a calm and relaxing sewing project
    • Enjoy traditional quilt layouts
    • Are newer to quilting and want an approachable kit

It would also make a lovely handmade gift or a cozy everyday quilt for a bedroom or living room.

Where to Find the Simplicity Quilt Kit

If this soft, vintage aesthetic speaks to you, you can explore the kit here:

It’s a quilt that feels comforting from the very first block — a project built around the quiet joy of sewing something beautiful with your own two hands.