Description
Kaffe Fassett & Brandon Mably Colour Workshop
One-Day Workshop
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (with a 1-hour lunch break)
Please arrive at least 30 minutes early to allow for set-up and ensure a prompt start.
Dive into a truly inspiring journey exploring colour, print, and scale—and how they can transform your quilting! This practical, hands-on workshop is packed with expert guidance and lots of fun.
Kaffe and Brandon spend most of the day helping you arrange fabrics and develop your unique colour palette, empowering you to create original and stunning pieces.
Please note:
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This is a design-focused workshop — no sewing takes place, so sewing machines are not required.
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The quilt format we will be following in this workshop is Kaffe’s Economy Quilt Design.
The Economy Block workshop is based on the Hot Economy quilt pattern in Kaffe Fassett’s book, Quilts in London. This is a class suitable for beginners who already know how to sew a seam and how to use a rotary cutter. It is also for more advanced quilters who wish to concentrate on complex colour development.
Click on the YouTube video below, to see the results of one of our previous workshops, where participants followed the Snowballs Quilt format.
Colour Workshop with Kaffe and Brandon
In this unique workshop, all participants follow the same quilt layout—not to create identical quilts, but to explore the transformative power of colour. The layout serves as a learning tool, allowing you to see how different colour choices can completely change the mood and impact of the same design.
What to Expect:
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The focus is on fabric auditioning and colour selection—no sewing will take place during the day, so no sewing machines are needed.
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The workshop starts with a short introduction from Kaffe and Brandon, who will assist you in choosing your initial fabrics if needed.
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Throughout the day, Kaffe and Brandon will circulate, offering personal advice, showing you fabric combinations, and guiding your colour choices just as they do when designing their own quilts.
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You’ll work on a design wall flannel to arrange your fabrics, which you’ll take home rolled up, ready for sewing when you return.
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Music plays in the background, creating a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere.
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Towards the end of the day, a class critique offers a valuable opportunity to discuss and reflect on your colour choices and learn from others.
A Note on Seating:
If attending with a friend, we can try to seat you nearby. However, we recommend sitting separately to avoid influencing each other’s colour decisions. This ensures you benefit fully from Kaffe and Brandon’s expert guidance.
Workshop Preparation & What to Bring
Design Wall Flannel:
You’ll need approximately 2 metres of Design Wall Flannel for your design wall. You can either:
Two metres is optimal — enough space to explore a wide range of colours and contrasts without being too large to manage. A smaller wall limits your ability to experiment fully, while a larger one can be difficult to reach.
SUPPLIES TO BRING TO CLASS
- Quilts in London (available to purchase on the day)
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat – at least 12” x 18”
- Rulers – 6” x 12”, 12 x 12””
- Fabric scissors
- Pencil
- Pins
On the day of the workshop, you will be able to buy a range of fabrics through the host shop. Kaffe & Brandon will be able to assist you in selecting colours and patterns to use in your quilt.
Fabrics:
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Fabrics are not included in the course fee.
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Feel free to bring fabrics with you (within reason), or purchase on the day.
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Fabrics should be patchwork weight cotton (medium weight). Avoid very lightweight fabrics like cotton lawn or heavy fabrics.
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Do not pre-cut your fabrics before the class — wait until you begin so you can respond to feedback and adjust your choices.
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An open mind about colour and design is essential. If your favourite fabrics aren’t used, try not to be offended — making “mistakes” is part of the learning!
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Avoid bringing fabrics you have a strong emotional attachment to, so you can experiment freely.
- MAIN FABRICS
Pick a colour palette that you would like to work with. Bring a selection of small, medium and large-scale prints in light, medium and dark value of your chosen palette.
You will only be using squares of the following sizes, 5”, 8” and 11” on the day.
You will not cut triangles in this class.
After the workshop, follow the instructions in the book to complete the quilt
11” square will be cut into four 5 ½” squares and used for the outer triangles
8” square will be cut into four 4” squares and used for the inter triangles
5” square will be fussy cut for the centre square
Helpful Tools:
Many participants find a reducing glass useful. This tool works opposite to a magnifying glass — allowing you to see your project from a distance, which is valuable when space is limited or when assessing your colour choices.
Fabric Selection Tips:
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Look for fabrics that will create a harmonious arrangement — ideally with similar backgrounds or brightness levels.
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Kaffe and Brandon will assist you throughout the day in choosing and adjusting your fabrics, and may suggest purchasing more to perfect your palette.
Please do not cut fabrics before class.
Please feel free to bring any fabrics you would like to use to the workshop – these do not have to be Kaffe Fassett fabrics. If you are not sure how you are going to proceed, that is okay. You can bring your stash favorites and be prepared to shop with Kaffe and Brandon during the workshop.
Bring rotary cutting equipment (board, cutter and ruler), scissors, pen and paper. You will find it helpful to use a rotating cutting board, although this is not essential.
Some rotary cutting experience required.
Practice rotary cutting before the class so that you are up to speed at the onset. We offer a “Hints and Tips Tutorial” on the morning of the workshop to remind you of rotary cutting basics, but you should know how to cut before the class. There is no additional charge for this tutorial, it is included in your workshop fee.
☕ Additional Information
🍴 Lunch Information
Please remember to bring a packed lunch with you. A cool bag is recommended if needed.
If you prefer to buy something on the day, there are several convenient options nearby, including Subway, Bakery 79, and Tesco.
We’ll also provide tea and coffee during the session to keep you refreshed throughout the day!
Shopping Opportunity:
You’ll have time to browse our Warehouse Shop before the class starts, during breaks, and even afterwards — the perfect chance to stock up on fabric, notions, and supplies for your next project.
🚗 Parking:
Free parking is available at the warehouse.
Please park in the designated car park at the bottom of the building — this ensures clear access for disabled visitors and delivery vehicles. We kindly ask that you avoid parking along the length of the warehouse.
We look forward to welcoming you for a fun and creative day!
📅 Cancellation Policy
Workshop Cancellations by Us:
In exceptional circumstances, we may need to cancel a workshop or event. If this happens, we will:
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Offer you an alternative date where possible, securing your place in the class
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Provide as much notice as possible, with cancellations made no later than 48 hours before the scheduled workshop
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If no alternative date is suitable, we will refund you in full
Please note:
We are unable to reimburse any additional costs you may have incurred to attend, such as travel, accommodation, or materials purchased independently.
Cancellations by You:
If you need to cancel your place:
We appreciate your understanding and encourage early notice wherever possible to allow us to offer your place to another attendee.
Location
Lady Sew and Sew
Farm Road
Henley on Thames
Oxfordshire
RG9 1EJ
UK
Tel: 01491 572 528
What people have said after they have attended this class….
“Just to say thanks for a fantastic day with Kaffe and Brandon yesterday. They were totally inspiring in their enthusiasm and willingness to guide us, even if they were attempting to persuade us to change a fabric we liked! Sometimes blunt, but always said with a warm twinkle in their eye. Your organisation was totally slick. Hospitality warm and welcoming from the word go and nothing was too much effort, even when you were busy.”
“…a huge thank you to you and your team for hosting the terrific workshop with Kaffe and Brandon. I really enjoyed myself and gained a lot of knowledge from it.”
“Thank you for organising such a wonderful class on Saturday, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It was my second class with Kaffe and Brandon and I got so much out of this one, probably because I wasn’t so overwhelmed by the whole process!”
“I am just writing to thank you for hosting such a superb workshop with Kaffe and Brandon on Saturday. I had a fabulous time (and it was an excellent birthday present from my husband!) and I am really delighted with my quilt design – even though it is somewhat more ‘bold’ than I had envisaged!”
“Just wanted to say thank you for a brilliant creative and inspirational workshop experience on Saturday, please pass on my thanks to all involved.
In fact I got so much out of it, I would like to book onto the next one, and a friend who I have been enthusing to about the experience would like to come too.”
“Thank you and all the team for all your hard work today and thank you particularly for being so supportive throughout the day and especially for helping me through my initial panic.”
“Just wanted to thank you all again for making it such an enjoyable day yesterday, I’m still buzzing! Kaffe and Brandon hit just the right note and I feel encouraged and much more confident in my abilities! I learned such a lot and I’m just sorry I live so far away!”
“Thank you so much for today … Another fabulous day with you, Kaffe, Brandan and your terrific team. I really enjoyed it, and it was just what I needed!”
“Very pleased with the result and I learnt such a lot. Fabulous workshop with such inspirational tutors and caring and attentive staff. You created a supportive environment which allowed us to come out of our comfort zones and play with pattern and colour and learn about how to design fabulous quilts. Thanks to all the team at Lady Sew & Sew, Kaffe and Brandon”
To see some of the amazing results from Kaffe Fassett & Brandon Mably Workshops at Lady Sew and Sew, follow us on Facebook, here
