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.
Join Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably for a truly inspiring day exploring colour, print and scale, and discover how different fabric choices can completely transform a quilt design.
This is a unique opportunity to spend the day working alongside two of the world’s most celebrated textile designers. Kaffe and Brandon will guide you through the process of developing your own colour palette, helping you to experiment with fabric combinations and create a quilt that is uniquely yours.
The workshop is based on the Purple Passage quilt from Kaffe Fassett’s book, Quilts at an English Manor House.
This is a design-focused workshop with no sewing taking place during the day. Instead, the emphasis is on choosing, arranging and responding to colour and pattern.
Colour Workshop with Kaffe and Brandon
The workshop is suitable for beginners who already know how to sew a seam and use a rotary cutter, as well as more experienced quilters who want to develop their understanding of colour and explore more complex colour combinations.
Everyone will work from the same quilt layout. The aim is not to create identical quilts, but to see how dramatically the same design can change depending on the colours, fabrics and prints selected.
Kaffe and Brandon will spend the day helping you develop your ideas and will share their experience of combining colour, scale and pattern. You’ll have the opportunity to experiment, make changes and discover combinations you may not have considered before.
What to Expect
- The focus is on fabric auditioning, colour selection and design — no sewing will take place during the day, so sewing machines are not required.
- The workshop begins with a short introduction from Kaffe and Brandon, who will help you choose your initial fabrics if required.
- Throughout the day, Kaffe and Brandon will circulate around the class, offering individual advice and guidance on your fabric and colour choices.
- You’ll arrange your fabrics on a design wall flannel, allowing you to see how the different colours and prints work together.
- Your design wall can then be rolled up and taken home, ready for you to continue your quilt.
- The relaxed atmosphere, music and informal guidance make this a really enjoyable and inspiring day.
- Towards the end of the workshop, there will be a class critique, giving you the opportunity to discuss your choices, see how others have approached the design and learn from the group.
A Note on Seating
If you are attending with a friend, we can try to seat you nearby. However, we recommend sitting separately so that you can each develop your own colour choices without influencing one another.
This is an important part of the workshop and allows you to get the most from Kaffe and Brandon’s individual guidance.
Workshop Preparation & What to Bring
Design Wall Flannel
You’ll need approximately 2 metres of Design Wall Flannel to create your design wall.
You can either:
- Bring your own flannel, or
- Pre-order it so that it is ready for you on the day.
Two metres is the ideal size. It gives you plenty of room to experiment with colour and contrast without becoming too large or difficult to manage.
Supplies to Bring to Class
- Quilts at an English Manor House – available to purchase on the day. You will use the book for instructions on completing your quilt after the workshop.
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat – at least 12” x 18”
- Quilt rulers – 6” x 24” and 9.5” x 9.5”
- Fabric scissors
- Pencil
- Pins
You’ll be able to browse and purchase a wide range of fabrics on the day, and Kaffe and Brandon will be on hand to help you choose colours and patterns for your quilt.
You do not have to use fabrics from the Kaffe Fassett Collections.
Fabrics
Fabrics are not included in the course fee.
Choose a colour palette that appeals to you and bring a selection of small, medium and large-scale prints in light, medium and dark values within your chosen palette.
You can bring fabrics from your own stash or purchase them on the day. To complete the quilt, you will need approximately 0.5m of 10–20 different fabrics.
Fabrics should be patchwork-weight cotton of medium weight. Avoid very lightweight fabrics such as cotton lawn or very heavy fabrics.
Please do not cut your fabrics before the class. It is much better to wait until you are at the workshop, where you can respond to Kaffe and Brandon’s advice and adjust your fabric choices as your design develops.
An open mind about colour and design is essential. If some of your favourite fabrics don’t make it into the final selection, don’t be offended! Experimenting and making unexpected choices is all part of the fun.
We also recommend avoiding fabrics that you have a strong emotional attachment to, as this makes it much easier to experiment and try something different.
Please feel free to bring any fabrics you would like to use – they do not have to be Kaffe Fassett fabrics. If you’re not sure how you want to proceed, simply bring some favourites from your stash and be prepared to shop with Kaffe and Brandon during the workshop.
Bring your rotary cutting equipment, including board, cutter and ruler, together with scissors, pen and paper.
You may find a rotating cutting board helpful, although this is not essential.
Rotary Cutting Experience
Some rotary cutting experience is required.
Please practise your rotary cutting before the class so that you are comfortable with the basics before the workshop begins.
We offer a Hints and Tips Tutorial on the morning of the workshop to refresh your rotary cutting skills. There is no additional charge for this tutorial – it is included in your workshop fee.
Additional Information
Lunch Information
Please 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.
Tea and coffee will also be provided during the day.
Shopping Opportunity
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to browse our Warehouse Shop before the class starts, during breaks and afterwards – the perfect chance to stock up on fabrics, 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 along the length of the warehouse.
We look forward to welcoming you for a fun, relaxed and inspiring day with Kaffe and Brandon!
Cancellation Policy
Workshop Cancellations by Us
In exceptional circumstances, we may need to cancel a workshop or event. If this happens, we will:
- Offer you an alternative date where possible, securing your place in the class
- Provide as much notice as possible, with cancellations made no later than 48 hours before the scheduled workshop
- If no alternative date is suitable, refund you in full
Please note that 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:
- 14 days’ notice or more before the first session: you may request a refund, minus a 10% administration fee, or transfer to another available class.
- Less than 14 days’ notice: unfortunately, we are unable to offer a refund or transfer.
We appreciate your understanding and encourage early notice wherever possible, allowing 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
Take a look at the results from one of our previous workshops, where participants worked from the Economy Quilt layout.
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
