Kaffee Fassett - A Life in Colour

I love sewing, knitting and needle point, but unfortunately my enthusiasm far outweighs my skills! If only I was as talented as the knitwear and textile designer Kaffe Fassett…!

He is currently exhibiting his mesmerising creations at the Fashion Textile museum,Bermondsey.

 

The rooms are an explosion of colour with installations displaying vibrant quilts, paintings, throws, sumptuous needlepoint cushions and chairs, bold knitwear and an eclectic collection of beautifully designed items. I've been inspired to start making a patchwork quilt…

 

The tale of a patchwork quilt bedspread!

Over 20 years ago, my mum hand-made a patchwork quilt for my old Victorian bed.

Herself and my grandma sourced scraps of fabric everywhere, some of which were vintage at the time, some of which have now become vintage! Each patch tells a tale and has a history.

I love these 2 patches - which look as though they have been cut from old souvenir tea towels!

The majority of fabric seemed to be pretty vinatge florals which may have come from old aprons.

These 1950's style patterns, probably using old curtains, remind me of Orla Kiely prints

Stars, stripes and dots pre-Cath Kidson!

Remenants of baby grows/blankets that myself and my brother had out-grown, a scrap of fabric from my mums summer dress and old shirts of my daddy's were all used to create the quilt!

I like this travelling patch!

Taken from my grandmas old ball gowns?

The quilt getting another airing!

 

Old fashioned beaded necklace

An old fashioned necklace made out of vintage fabric and beads sewn on in flower shapes

Playing with the beads!

The beads sewn into fowers in different colour combinations

Measuring, cutting and sewing the vintage fabric, laying out and glueing the bead flowers

A pink variant - work in progress

 

Detail of flowers

Cluster of beaded flowers

The finished necklace

 

OT tempted by the ribbon fastening!



 

Handbag tissue pouch

This used to be a pair of old curtians that I found in a local charity shop....

...but then I turned some of them into a handy pocket tissue pouch

I was waiting for an excuse to use some of my lace trimming!

   

A needle in the Balmy Haystack!

Hand-crafted needle made case using fabric remnants, scraps of felt and old ribbon from my jar!

Untie the bow to reveal a felt inner to safely store all your needles!

 

 

Embroidered Teacup Pin Cushions!

I've made a teacup pin cushion before, but not an embroidered one, so thought I'd give it a go!

I sourced some odd teacups from a local charity shop. They didn't have matching saucers.

Mis-matching saucers are fun and can be used as a base for scissors and cotton

An aerial view!

Peony pin cushion

Sweet flowers

Ready for my next sewing project..!

 

Home-made cosmetic purse

I'd seen a tutorial a wee while back on how to make a frame purse and decided to have a go!

The fiddliest part was glueing the fabric into the frame which has to be left to dry.

I used Amy Butler "Passion Lily" fabric from her Soul Blossom collection for the exterior.

The contrasting lining is made from an old dress!

I enjoyed this project as I learnt how to do a "boxed bottom" finish, which could be used on bags etc!

...the finished cosmetic purse.