Inspiration is a fine thing, but sometimes it can fail you…..for a while. Some time ago I embarked on making a pair of Kaffe Fassett curtains; that is, curtains made to a design by Kaffe Fassett (called ‘Pavement’), using fabric remnants. This might be something to try if you want a frugal way of making curtains in quality fabrics. Most fabric shops sell remnants, so rummage and use some creativity. This can be relatively low cost compared to buying at full-price as a single fabric. It takes some time, but if you enjoy making, creating and mindful activity, why worry?
Before adopting the design by Kaffe Fassett, I was merrily stitching squares to squares, but something was bothering me. There is one fabric which is quite bold and stands out. Does that matter? Well, we already have some quite bold wallpaper, and somehow more boldness was not what was needed.
And, there was the feeling that either larger squares were needed, or it was too ‘regular’. I’d got this far, so now what? No answer sprang from the ether. So, what do when the next step, or inspiration, fails you. Throw the physical source of the problem in a cupboard until inspiration materialises. This is the original curtain:
A second, more successful option came to me, but first, the unsuccessful project came out of the cupboard again after browsing some Kaffe Fassett books on patchwork. King of colour and pattern. Why, who else? You could say he is many a crafter’s hallowed ground. I was in a local library, browsing crafting books, so this book was plucked off the library shelves. Lo and behold what I needed was there.
The work to date has not been wasted. All it needs, is a border made of smaller scraps and it would make a fine quilt.
What I have ended up with is a second creation for the curtains – an adaptation of a Kaffe Fassett design (shown as curtains in the book). It took a while to find the arrangement and some extra fabrics to make a diffused and muted colour combination, rather like the natural colour gradations of a stone pavement, on which lichens grow in dips and hollows. For more ideas, see Five Thrifty Ways to Make Curtains.
More on colour and pattern inspiration soon.
So you've now got a patchwork quilt…and no curtains? Are you going to have to wait 'til inspiration strikes again? I love the patchwork idea – I've promised Tom that I'll make him a rather unconventional T-shirt quilt for his bed, made out of all the T-shirts he's grown out of which have logos/pictures he wants to keep. Not sure we have enough for anything more than a small throw at the moment…but at the rate he's growing, we'll soon have plenty!
Ah, I should perhaps update – I have a patchwork quilt (needs a border), and curtains – the second photo. Like the idea of the T-shirt quilt……