The V and A Sampler Quilt

Materials:
Kaffe Fassett's Museum Quilts book
fabrics
reducing glass
glue
insulation board

Kaffe Fassett's interpretation of the Sampler quilt is featured in his new book, Kaffe Fassett's Museum Quilts. In simplifying the antique pattern to make it doable, Fassett chose mostly pieced blocks along with traditional Dresden Plates. When presented with design intricacy like this, it is important to keep the palette quite restrained. The composition is confusing enough and it needs color simplicity to keep it uncomplicated.

Selecting Fabrics

Fabric in this quilt will be cut into small bits, so the details of the print are less important than the overall color.

1. Color is what you want to see primarily, audition fabrics from a distance.

2. Closer contrasts (not very light with very dark) make for more interesting compositions.

3. Fold the fabrics so that the ones that will be used sparingly are smaller than the dominant ones.

4. Some fabrics will be the primary focus and others will be used as accents.

5. Sort and re-sort until there is a nice harmony and some surprising accents.