Cue the Opening theme from 2001 A Space Odyssey
I have long desired to own a bit of Kaffe Fassett fabric and never bought any “…because it is too expensive” I told myself. So, about two weeks back I finally broke down and bought a packet of 30 fat quarters. Yes, 30 of them.
And there they sat on my cutting table for the past week, because like the apes in 2001 A Space Odyssey I am afraid to touch it, or to even open it.
It is intimidating when you spend like this on little bits of brilliant jewel toned fabric. What if I open it and cut it up and make a mistake? What if I open it and nothing speaks to me?
What if, what if, what if?
What if I bought it and never used it? That would be a waste now wouldn’t it?
OK, I opened it.
Any other quilter’s out there who understand this?
Life on the Farmlet 
Beautiful fabric. I don’t do quilting but I have friends and had grandmother who did. Have her quilt from 1890s and the last one she pieced that I got as a 5 year old. Your talent is such a joy to all of us who are too scared to try.
Margaret, what wonderful gifts from your grandmother! Not sure how talented I am, but I do enjoy it. Tomorrow I am posting a small “Modern” quilt that I have started. This will be a different challenge for me as I am stretching it onto a frame instead of binding it.
Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
I see four pieces that I really like — that’s better than 10%. Of course, I can’t see all of them as well as I’d like.
But here’s my big question: what’s a fat quarter? It sounds like something that would be purchased at a fat stock show. Of course, you are adding to your stock, so there’s that — but it still sounds like it should have something to do with cows.
Linda, you can click on the photo to get a better look. 😉
A conventional quarter yard is 9 ” X 42″ +-, a fat quarter is one yard of 42-44 inch wide fabric divided into 4ths that are approximately 18″ X 24″. This way of cutting gives you better real estate for cutting out your blocks. There is a chart here that show you the dimensions and how many blocks of any dimension you can cut from one: https://www.thespruce.com/whats-a-fat-quarter-of-fabric-2821957
HA-ha-ha, I like your definition of the the fat quarter!
Well done, you’ve cut the string. Now, where’s that rotary cutter and ruler… Fabric like that is why I’m making the Hatbox Quilt. “Too pretty to use” is just plain silly, I want that pretty in my life, not in my cupboard 🙂
Kate, I love your Hatbox Quilt! I have to agree that like you this batch is going to be used. There have been a few quilts of Kaffe’s that I would like to try. One uses his shot cotton in it too.
I have visions of the large tree fungus types to be used as colorful rock formations. I think I might enjoy using some of the smaller florals as gardens or wild meadow. But that depends on the ATLA block design and if they are solids or prints. Then there is the Kaffe Kats quilt from Jordan Fabrics. I love it, but didn’t want to spend $99.oo for the privilege of letting the proprietor do ALL the cutting for me. I want to make my cats a tad smaller and use the finished quilt as a wall hanging or a table topper. 🙂 Look here: https://jordanfabrics.com/products/jordan-fabrics-video-bundle-kaffe-fassett-cat-applique-quilt-kit-kaffe-kats
I just need to make up my mind and then get started.
To my mind, most of his designs are of the scale that means the impact is lost if you use too small a piece of the fabric. I love the idea of using some of the more graphic ones for rock formations, though, perfect! I think whether the fabric is solid or has a design is ultimately up to the person making the quilt and how they interpret the image. All solids would be dull, a bit too much like paint by numbers. All patterns could be visually confusing…
I think the Kats quilt is a great use of your lovely stash!
Mrs T bought so many fat quarters because they were lovely that she couldn’t use them all and had to give lots away.
That would never be my problem, Tom. I still have a few pieces of fabric that are soon to be vintage… I take them out once in a while to look at them and pet them. 😉
Mrs T knows that feeling.
😉
Just enjoy your beautiful fabric until you find the perfect pattern. That’s part of the quilting process , even it it take you a year to decide.
LOL, Deb! Read my comment to Tootlepedal. I have been known to enjoy a piece of fabric for years! 😉
Yes, exactly! Fabric is patient; it’ll ‘keep’; )
Lol, doesn’t everyone stroke their fabric? How else do you know how fine a hand it has? And I’m just now guessing that’s where that expression comes from; but I pet material all the time (it’s like a compulsion; )
Me too!!!
This a funny story but I have done that with other things. It is probably natural to fear making a mistake on a new project. Good luck with the new -quilt?
Yvonne, we shall see where they all end up in time. Some of them are already speaking to me. 🙂
I understand perfectly and have a few jelly rolls and fat quarter bundles that I don’t want to ‘unwrap’ but I know the perfect projects will come along for them eventually, even if it’s not a quilting project. Meanwhile, they look pretty on the shelves in my workroom 😉
The cats project is one I’m sure would be possible to work out on your own with a template and a bit of mathematical trickery.
Lynn, I agree. Every quilting room needs a few well placed decorations for inspiration. I am looking forward to that cat project. When getting started it will be the machine applique that holds me back. I am a hand applique girl. Some practice using my machine on inner and outer curves will be in order. 😉
I had a good laugh at Linda’s question about “fat quarters” because quite frankly, I had a picture in my mind about a fat quarter of meat at the butcher shop! Ha ha! I might not be a quilter but I do understand making a purchase like that and sitting on it, until I decide how to use it. It’s just fine to admire and wait for the right moment to begin work. Enjoy your splurge! 😀
Lori, I have gotten so used the the FQ concept that I never even thought of what you and Linda had come up with. That said, having read your comments on the topic I can easily see how it happened LOL! Did you see my reply to Linda and the link to the explanation on FQs? Did you know that they now make packages of Fat eighths? Not sure what you are supposed to do with an eighth bit of fabric… Maybe it would be useful in an applique project? 😉
I did read your reply to Linda! Always learning!
Are you kidding me? You do beautiful work and your eye for colour is aMAzing; so get over this self-deprecation crud and show us whatcha got! LOL
Sprinkled a bunch of comments thither and yon today: ) This post truly speaks to me in SO many ways… (Me and the boxes of material all tucked away; )
You are a quilter, Deb?
Haven’t done any quilting for years… But “back in the day”; )
You should try it again maybe?
Sadly, there’s not enough hours in the day for what I’d like to do and what I need to do; ). Quilting was done with a group of us who all worked together and we have all gone our separate ways over the years…
Sad. 😦
Used to sew. A LOT! These days, not so much ): Still doesn’t stop me from running my hand over clothes in a store to judge what I’m looking at (or the occasional trip into the fabric store for this or that; )
😀
Hee hee.
Yvonne, I agree! Looking at all those pretty colors can make you feel quite giddy! 😀
Gorgeous fabric, each are so vibrant and unique!
That’s Kaffe Fasset for you! Vibrant and unique. I look forward to finally making something with his pretty fabric. 🙂
So I am not the only one up past her bedtime! ( I saw your like 😉 )
Lol, the life of a college football fan/blog post procrastinator. One eye on football and one somewhat focused on cleaning out my draft folder. It is kinda late here!
All of those lovely colors, fabrics, etc! They would keep me inspired, even if I did not have time to work with them – they’re happy colors!
catching up again, i’ll add that long ago i remember buying a sheet of expensive arches watercolor paper – ten dollars, and staring at it for months before having the courage to paint something on it… now i don’t remember what i painted, but it can be intimidating!
Lisa, I hear you on the catching up, although, my lack of connectedness is not for lack of access. No, it is purely a lack of time! Funny thing about it is I used to spend way too much time on the computer and now hardly any. I miss my friends here! When things slow down to a dull roar and I am caught up on all my chores and projects I will be able to reconnect. And, you are the first to know that I have a star pattern and a Kitty quilt lined up for the Kaffe fabric… but I have to finish my new studio to be able to work on them. (newest post show and tell explains everything) 😀