Latte Quilt – A Review

Latte Quilt by Kerrie Hay. 2003 Quilter’s Resource, Inc. Soft cover, ISBN 1889682195, 107 pages, full color photo illustrations. CD-ROM included with the designs for the quilt in the following formats: Artista version 1, 2, 3 .art, Deco & Brother .pes, Husqvarna .hus, Janome .sew, Pfaff .pcs. Also included are templates for accurate placement of designs.

Although this book is full of gorgeous photos, none of them compare to actually seeing this quilt in person. I have been privileged to do so at Super Stitch, my favorite Janome dealer, where they have had a Latte Quilt class. A finished example is hanging in the shop. When my husband saw the quilt he told me to buy the book, and when hubby tells me to buy a sewing book I am always most happy to obey! If you are ever close to North East, PA, stop in at Super Stitch to see the quilt and tell them Gail sent you!

Words can barely describe this quilt—WOW, awesome, fantastic, would come close. It is a tone on tone quilt. Each block is beautifully designed with embroidered lace type motifs combined with decorative stitching and quilting. This quilt is a labor of love and long-term commitment. With this book, you have all the instructions you need for making this quilt. The quilt is 91 ½” square with a center medallion, surrounded by 15 blocks and a pieced border. The central block is 22 ½” square and the surrounding blocks are 14” square. This quilt and is made with 3 3/8 yards of 60” quilters muslin and 6 3/8 yards of 60” Duchess satin. Not only is this quilt a labor of love, to make it as shown requires a financial commitment also as the whole quilt is dependent on machine embroidery to achieve the lacy effect and that involves over 20 spools of thread plus at least 20 bobbins worth of thread, besides all fabric and the other accessories needed.

There are a lot of detailed instructions and templates in the book for sewing up the various parts of the quilt. At the beginning of the book there are instructions for a matching pillow. At the end of the book is a gallery of photos for other applications of the designs but no instructions are given.

This quilt is your chance to make a wonderful quilt using all your machine embroidery knowledge, decorative stitches, beading, pin tucking, double and triple needlework. When you finish this quilt you will certainly have a sense of accomplishment and most likely a chance to win a prize at the fair! Myself, I think I will just try for making a pillow from the designs.