Wednesday 6 February 2019

Millefiori Quilts 2 - Ballet with Kaffe Fassett

I've been working on my Ballet with Kaffe quilt recently.  This quilt didn't see a lot of action in 2018, but I'm certainly giving it all my attention now.  I'd really like to finish it this year. 



The pattern is called "Ballet with Kaffe Fassett" from Millefiori Quilts 2 by Willyne Hammerstein.  It's the quilt shown on the cover of the book above.  My inspiration fabric is the one on the left by Cotton + Steel.  I'm trying to keep the the colours used in that fabric because I love how they look together. 


I'm English Paper Piecing my quilt, but it can also be hand stitched with a running stitch. I glue baste my pieces with a glue stick from SewLine or Sue Daley.


Last year I made four of the largest rosettes, so this year I've been working on the filler pieces and trying to join the rosettes up. This represents two thirds of the quilt.


I spend a lot of time planning my rosettes and trying to get the colour balance correct.  As I've said before, I hate unpicking English Paper Piecing, so I only sew a rosette in once I'm really sure of it's placement.  I leave the fabrics on the floor for a few days before I even cut the pieces out.


I think about the colour placement while I watch TV at night. 


This pattern really is very complex.  It's even harder than la passacaglia! and I'm not the only one to say that.  It's hard to get the points of the 10 pointed stars meeting nicely in the centre.  And the rosettes merge into each other more than they did in la passacaglia.  Anyway, I've come this far, so I am going to finish this quilt, and hopefully that will happen in 2019 because Willyne has a new book coming out in 2020 and I want to be ready for that!

You can find all of my other posts about this quilt on the tab just under the header photo, or by clicking here. 

6 comments:

Sarah said...

This is such a beauty. I admire your commitment and I love your signature inspiration fabric too!

Denice Barker said...

Wow. I hope when you finish it you name it "Patience."

Gretchen Weaver said...

Lovely! She'll be a real beauty when she's completed. Happy stitching!

Nancy said...

Oh my goodness, these blocks are gorgeous! They make me think of kaleidoscopes.

Rochelle aka Bella Quilts said...

You have such an eye for color placement and the patience to let things rest while you contemplate the right place for the next rosette. I think this is lovely. Can't wait to see it finished.

Cathy said...

It looks like a jigsaw puzzle. I know I'd never be able to figure out how to put that gorgeous puzzle together.