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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 All through this episode they dogged the homemade quilt on the couple’s bed saying it was an outdated choice.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!

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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?

In the Garden Layer Cake – A Bloom-Filled Fabric Collection for Spring Sewing

Some fabric collections feel pretty, some feel useful, and then there are those rare ones that instantly spark a dozen ideas the moment you see them. The In the Garden Layer Cake from Fat Quarter Shop falls firmly into that last category. From the moment I opened the pack, it felt like stepping into a watercolor garden—soft, romantic, full of movement, and brimming with detail that invites you to slow down and really look.

This collection brings together an elegant mix of florals, garden motifs, and soothing color palettes that feel like they were created for spring quilting. Instead of loud novelty prints, the designer chose a gentle balance of botanical sketches, scattered blossoms, tiny seed patterns, and larger feature florals that work beautifully in both traditional and modern layouts.

What struck me most is how thoughtfully the color stories are arranged. Each print blends seamlessly into the next, giving you a spectrum that includes soft rose pinks, leafy greens, lavender tones, fresh sky blues, rich corals, and delicate neutrals. It’s the kind of palette that instantly feels “quilty” in the best way—inviting, calm, and incredibly easy to mix and match. You can tell the designer planned this for maximum versatility.

Layer cakes are one of the most beginner-friendly precuts, but this collection elevates them with a sense of sophistication. The prints are strong enough to shine in simple patterns, but subtle enough to support more complex designs. Whether you prefer classic half-square triangles, framed squares, modern grid quilts, or something scrappier, this fabric adapts beautifully. It’s also a wonderful choice for table runners, spring wall hangings, and even quilted bags or home décor projects.

One of the nicest surprises with this layer cake is how it manages to feel seasonal without becoming locked into one particular holiday or theme. While the palette is undeniably perfect for spring, the prints themselves are timeless enough to work year-round. A floral quilt made from this collection would look just as lovely on a summer sunroom sofa as it would draped over a guest bed in winter.

The fabric quality is exactly what you’d expect from Fat Quarter Shop—crisp, clean cuts, vibrant printing, and a smooth hand that makes piecing feel effortless. Nothing is too thin or too stiff, and the colors are even more beautiful in person than they appear online.

If you enjoy sewing projects that feel light, fresh, and inspired by nature, In the Garden is a collection worth adding to your stash. It has all the qualities quilters look for: balance, versatility, gentle movement, and that spark of creativity that makes you want to start a project immediately. Whether you’re planning a gift quilt, treating yourself to a new spring project, or simply building your fabric library with a set of prints that will play nicely with others, this layer cake is a thoughtful and inspiring choice.