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Welcome to the Kaffe Hat Box Quilt-Along, where we will create a beautiful wall quilt using Kaffe fabric, Kaffe decorative stitches, lots of color and creativity! This beginner-friendly Quilt-Along will teach you the basic patchwork & quilting techniques and is relatively fast to make. As Kaffe Fassett would say: Let’s bring color to our world!
In our first part of this project we would like to introduce our BERNINA Kaffe Edition models. Secondly, we start with the fabric preperations and provide you with the templates. This is a tutorial shared by our colleagues from weallsew.com.
Structure of the Kaffe Hat Box Quilt-Along
We will share new parts of the Quilt-Along here on the blog regularly. If you missed any part, don’t worry, you can find all available instructions here:
To all Kaffe Hat Box Quilt-Along articles
When you have finished a part of the Quilt-Along and you would like to share it with our community, you are welcome to use our Community Section. By the way, you can find a lot of inspriration there. When uploading to the Community Section, make sure you select “Kaffe Hat Box Quilt-Along” in the “Campaign” drop-down list:
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Let’s start! 🙂
Who is Kaffe Fassett?
Kaffe Fassett is a ubiquitous name in the quilting world. Every quilter I know has heard of him, despite not being able to pronounce his name correctly. An easy way to remember, explained by Kaffe himself, is thru a mnemonic rhyming aid: you have a safe asset with Kaffe Fassett! Quilters, sewists and makers around the world recognize his signature look of vibrant colors, large floral prints and bold color combinations. This is why BERNINA has partnered with Kaffe to release two amazing special edition sewing machines.
First, let me introduce the BERNINA 770 QE PLUS Kaffe Edition. The picture of the machine says it all! Rest assured this machine is just as beautiful on the inside as on the outside. The Kaffe Edition has the same functions as every B 770 QE PLUS with special Kaffe Fassett Designs.
Next, check out the BERNINA 475 QE Kaffe Edition. You are seeing it correctly! This machine has an all-over teal color with a beautiful millefiori-inspired design! At 20 pounds (9 kg), this can be your travel sewing machine and the envy of your fellow quilters. But seriously, I want to see this in my sewing room every day!
Exclusive decorative stitches
Did I mention that both Kaffe Edition machines come with exclusive decorative stitches? These stitches were designed from hand drawings by Kaffe himself. I already have my favorites!
To celebrate the new Kaffe Editions, we’re creating a beautiful wall quilt using Kaffe fabric, Kaffe decorative stitches, and lots of color and creativity! Join us for this exciting Kaffe Hat Box Quilt-Along!
Materials for the Kaffe Hat Box Quilt-Along
- Open Embroidery Foot #20
- Patchwork Foot #97
- optional: BERNINA 770 QE Kaffe Edition
Fabrics
- (4) 1/2 yard (0.45 m)or 1 fat quarter large floral – hat boxes
- 1/2 yard or 1 fat quarter – back wall
- 1/2 yard – side wall
- 1/2 yard – floor
- 1/2 yard – hat box trim and cornerstones
- 1/3 yard (0.3 m) – sashing
- 1/3 yard – binding
- 1 yard – backing
Supplies for Entire Series
- 2 yards (1.8 m) Ultra Clean & Tear Stabilizer
- optional:
- Fusible Woven
- Mettler Silk Wrapped Finish 50 wt Cotton Thread
- Mettler Poly Sheen Thread – purple and orange
- 36” square batting
- Plastic template
- Temporary Marker
- Quilting Ruler with 45 degree mark
- Rotary Cutter
- Scissors
Preperations for the Kaffe Hat Box Quilt
1. Make Templates
Print the free templates and check the size for accuracy. Trace the templates onto clear plastic and cut out. Label each one so you know which side is the right side. The pieces are not symmetrical.
Download the free templates for the Kaffe Hat Box Quilt-Along here:
2. Cut Hat Box Fabric
Trace Hat Box Top and Bottom templates onto floral fabric. Cut out. Do the same for the other 3 floral fabrics.
HINT
Optional: press OESD Fusible Woven to back before cutting. This helps keep raw edges intact.
Trace the Hat Box Trim template 4 times onto the Trim fabric. Do not cut out yet.
3. Cut Background Fabric
Cut the following sizes for the background pieces:
- Back wall: (4) 8 1/2” x 8 1/2”
- Side wall: (4) 4 1/2” x 12 7/8”
- Floor: (4) 4 1/2” x 12 7/8”
Here is the layout:
Place the side wall and floor pieces right sides together. You should have 4 sets. Place the ruler at a 45-degree angle on one short end (see picture below). Cut.
This is how your background pieces should look. You will have 4 sets.
4. Sashing, Cornerstones and Binding
Cut the following sizes with the appropriate fabric:
- Sashing: (12) 2 1/2” x 12 1/2” strips
- Cornerstones: (9) 2 1/2” squares
- Binding: (4) 2 1/4” x WOF (Width of fabric. Cut your binding strips from one selvedge edge of your fabric to the other.)
We’re off to a good start! Next week we’ll start piecing the blocks. If you haven’t already, visit your local dealer and see the Kaffe Edition models in person. They are amazing! If you like embroidery, the BERNINA 770 QE PLUS Kaffe Edition comes with over 60 Kaffe embroidery designs built into the machine. These designs have a hand-stitched look that are exclusive to the machine.
Check out how amazing these exclusive embroidery designs can be in projects from quilts to bags.
See you next week!
Can’t wait to get started.
Will the Kaffe new stitches be available for download for those of us that have existing 770 QE??
Dear Valerie,
No, the Kaffe stitches are exclusive to the limited Kaffe Special Editions and won’t be available for existing models. But you do not have to use a Kaffe decorative stitch, you could just use one of the many stitches your 770 QE already has 🙂
Kind regards, Ramona