Passionate Patchwork: Over 20 Original Quilt Designs [Paperback]

Kaffe Fassett (Author), Debbie Patterson (Photographer), Liza Prior Lucy (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2003

Quilting patterns by renowned designer Kaffe Fassett--all innovative and artfully arranged, with a wealth of variations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The riot of color that defines Kaffe Fassett's renowned work in needlepoint and knitting also energizes his remarkable quilts. Passionate Patchwork features 20 projects of Fassett's designs, complete with materials lists, pattern templates, cutting directions, assembly instructions and diagrams, and gorgeous photos. Fassett draws on traditional quilt-block forms, lending his unique design and color sensibilities to squares and rectangles, triangles and diamonds, circles and ovals. An old favorite like Courthouse Steps takes on new vitality when pieced in countless shades of red. The chevrons of brilliant stripes comprising Fassett's Handkerchief Corners quilt hint at optical illusion, belying the quilt's simple assembly. Appliqué enlivens designs like Hat Boxes, wherein basic window blocks take on the appearance of cubbyholes, each sporting a multipatterned hat-box form. A solidly written section on basic quilt making appends the book, though these innovative designs are probably best attempted by quilters with a bit of previous experience. The resource page lists suppliers for purchasing Fassett's own fabric designs, but these beautiful quilts can of course be made with any appropriate fabrics. --Amy Handy --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Fassett--the only living textile artist to have had a one-man show at London's Victoria and Albert Museum--has unleashed his phenomenal gifts for color and design, and the book offers page after page of quilts one longs to own."

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (August 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561586501
• ISBN-13: 978-1561586509
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

139 of 140 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drunk with Color, August 27, 2001

By 

Penelope Ocha "readwrite" (NorCal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Passionate Patchwork: Over 20 Original Quilt Designs (Hardcover)

If you're a color junkie, if the sight of a newly-opened six-row box of Crayolas leaves you breathless, and if you walk through fabric stores just for the color hit, then "Passionate Patchwork" is a book for you. Without a doubt, the projects in this book are made up in the most sophisticated and exciting palettes ever seen in a quilt book. And the quilts--all of which look eminently doable, even by a rank beginner--are photographed in such lush, visually sumptuous settings that you can happily spend hours simply "reading" the photos. The other thing I like about this book is that these quilts are quite possible. We are not talking about quilts with 75 differently shaped chunks of fabric that must be pieced into each block. These quilts are not exercises in perfectionistic anality, but are made of simple geometric shapes that let the fabric do the talking, and leave the quiltmaker with sanity intact. Admittedly, one of the authors does have a signature line of fabric, and many quilts photographed make extensive use of that line. But any quilter's fabric stash already contains many comparable textiles that could be put to more sophisticated use, in exciting new combinations shown in this book. Several of the quilts in this book make use of "orphan" blocks that are showcased by being re-set with imaginative new uses of color and fabric pattern. This seems a respectful use and transformation of handwork from earlier times: the newly-made quilts look fresh and exciting, even when they used segements of old cliche patterns such as wedding ring and grandmother's flower garden. But you don't have to be a quilter to love this book. Although it has simple, easy-to-follow diagrams and directions for each product, the book could just as well appeal to knitters, painters, weavers, decorators or anyone else with a love of and appetite for color used creatively. I have already picked out my next few quilting projects inspired by this book. (The "rice bowl" and "hatbox" quilts are particularly compelling). That I would use quilts in this book as a model is certainly something I could not say for nine out of every ten other quilting books published. But ``Passionate Patchwork'' has sophistication and verve, appealing to both the traditional quilter and and the fans of the cutting-edge contemporary. Bottom line? I love this book.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Color Inspiration!, September 15, 2002

By 

"mcc84" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Passionate Patchwork: Over 20 Original Quilt Designs (Hardcover)

I agree with vikinges perfect description "drunk with color" as this book takes simple traditional patterns and explodes them through the creative use of color. I've always been pretty bold with color but I never knew chartreuse could look so wonderful in a quilt.
However my chief complaint, which keeps it from getting 5 stars, is that in a world made easy with strip piecing, all of the patterns are presented with templates. An experienced quilter will be able to adapt the patterns to rotary cutting, but why torture a beginning quilter? So I must disagree with the earlier reviewer who felt this was the only quilting book one would ever need. Instead, it should be looked at as a fabulous addition to a diverse quilting library.
That said, I am very inspired by the quilts in this book and have my sights set on making the Suzani quilt soon. I'm off to get that chartreuse fabric now...

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tons of inspirational designs, August 24, 2001

By 

Jim Griffin (Woodbridge, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Passionate Patchwork: Over 20 Original Quilt Designs (Hardcover)

The people at my local quilt were eagerly anticipating the latest book by Kaffe Fassett and Liza Prior Lucy, and now I understand why. After browsing through the store copy of the book, I had to buy a copy for myself. The quilts in this book are not the boring, traditional quilts that you see in most other books, but great new designs that any contemporary quilt artist will enjoy. As a new quilt artist, I will certainly use the elements from the quilts in this book in my future quilts. I especially liked the Indigo Courthouse Steps, the African Weave Throw, and the Shirt-Stripe Boxes. The stories behind the development of these designs also show that quilt artists should take inspiration from everyday happenings. The final chapter is also especially helpful, as it provides instructions for making all of the quilts in the book that quilt artists of all skill levels could follow.