I am writing this after much reflection. This is about a fellow wordpress blogger, Kathy, who ordered a kit from a well known webstore . The fabrics for the kit were chosen by well known designer Kaffe Fassett. Kathy ordered the kit after seeing it online and she loved the clear bright tones of all the reds and pinks. When the kit arrived she did not recognise it as the same one that she saw online. She felt the tones were really different to what she had seen pictured and after contacting the online store she was told that the photo was at fault, that it did not show the quilt’s true tones and that as Kaffe had hand picked the kit fabrics she should give it a go. You can read her complete account here.
You will also see two comments encouraging her to go with the kit, one actually saying it is the only way to get the look you payed for. My point is that it isn’t the look exactly, most kits have substitute fabrics and Kathy was in fact told that Kaffe had picked the majority of the fabrics himself.
My question is why must we have exactly what is in the latest Kaffe Fassett or Rowan patchwork book? I know that it is wonderful that they have a vast variety of Kaffe’s fabrics nowadays but it is no coincidence that the kits to go with them have exploded within the industry. The money that is being made here is mind boggling, you have the fabric designer, then the fabric company, not to forget the stores.
Remember back in the old days, say the year 2000 when I started quilting, when we used to go around to various stores and get fat quarters of everything that appealed to us? Let us go back a bit further and look at what the early homesteaders used for their quilts. Anything they could get their hands on! Granted they only had all natural fibres then but the purpose of their quilts was to keep them warm and well, yes, alive through the cold winters.
Perhaps we are so busy now that we don’t have time to hand pick our fat quarters anymore, but I say it is a shame if so because frustrating it may be but it is what it is all about for me …….finally finding that elusive piece that absolutely makes the piece sing. And quite often I find it at the thrift shop or in the remnant bin of my local Spotlight Store which makes the whole experience even more rewarding.
Don’t get me wrong I am one of Kaffe’s biggest fans but I remember when he wanted us to interpret his designs. He used to say he couldn’t wait to see what version people came up with. I also think the one off is a wonderful thing , you know only do something once and see what combination the old brain and creative juices can come up with. Oh the challenge of it, surely that is a major part of the design process.
I think Kathy decided to make scatter cushions with all her fabric, she just did not feel comfortable making a quilt with what she had been sent. Good on you Kathy for making the best of what you had but it was an expensive lesson. Maybe the lesson is that if you must buy a kit get it in person so you can see the tones.
Posted in Blogging, Creations, Design, Fabric, Kaffe Fassett, Thoughts | Tags: cushions, fat quarters, homesteaders, money, Quilt Kits, Rowan, warm
