Glorious Knits - Designs for Knitting Sweaters, Dresses, Vests and Shawls [Hardcover]

Kaffe Fassett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 1985

From Kaffe Fassett, the hottest, most imaginative knitting designer on the scene today, comes a colorfully illustrated breakthrough knitting book. 120 full-color photographs.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Fassett is a textile artist whose bold colors and large geometric designs are fortuitously timed to fit the current fashion for large, colorful sweaters. His book joins Design Knitting , edited by Mark Dittrack ( LJ 6/1/79), and Angela Jeffs' Wild Knitting ( LJ 3/1/80) in presenting step-by-step directions for designer sweaters and other garments incorporating traditional motifs from many ethnic sources and knitting techniques in contemporary styles. He encourages knitters to devise their own color schemes, although color charts are given for each project. All are beautifully photographed in color, making this a good selection for textile arts as well as crafts collections. Highly recommended. Constance Ashmore Fairchild, Univ. of Illinois Lib., Urbana-Champaign
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

"The most inspirational how-to book since Martha Stewart's Entertaining."--Washington Post. "The undisputed leader of the knitwear and needlecraft revolution, Kaffe Fassett has elevated knitting to an artform."--New York Times 120 full-color photographs.


From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter (April 13, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517558432
• ISBN-13: 978-0517558430
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #892,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kaffe Fassett, an accomplished painter and designer of textiles, is widely acknowledged as a visionary in the use of color. In 1988 he was the first living textile designer to be given a one-person show at the V&A in London, where he lives. He is a fabric designer for Rowan Patchwork and Quilting and the primary knitwear designer for Rowan Yarns.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious is a good word, June 11, 2004

By 

N. Nutt "warthoglette" (Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Glorious Knits - Designs for Knitting Sweaters, Dresses, Vests and Shawls (Hardcover)

Kaffe Fassett has taken inspiration for his patterns from the world around him, walls, roofs, food, the sky, you name it he's considered it for one of his patterns.
The results of some of these considerations are 35 patterns of easy wearing clothes that are easy on the eyes as well. Beautiful color combinations on charted designs make the clothes visually appealing as well as tactically from the yarn that is suggested.
And that's the only drawback I see with this book, if you don't use the recommended yarn, some of which is quite expensive, you don't get the color shadings shown in the book. The garments are still attractive and comfy but just not quite what I'd hoped for. Still, due to the design and attractive charting, I'll be knitting other items from the book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is what started me knitting over 20 years ago, February 29, 2008

By 

Sara Roberts "knitter and foodie" (Eureka, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Glorious Knits - Designs for Knitting Sweaters, Dresses, Vests and Shawls (Hardcover)

I first saw this book in the late 80's at a friend's house. One look at the cover and I was hooked. That yellow star jacket had me so wowed I had to learn to make it. This one book was an epiphany for me. I started knitting and have never looked back. My second ever sweater was that yellow star jacket on the cover.

I have also knit the Jack's Back sweater. In both cases, I did NOT use the specified yarns. Instead, I made up the colors based on the pictures and yarns I already had. The results were quite successful. For those knitters out there with huge stashes like I now have, this book is ideal for color play and stash busting of oddment yarns. All you need do is gauge match your yarn and have fun. This technique is good because most of these original vintage yarns are no longer available.

Fassett's designs have remained remarkably fresh even after all these years. A lot of that has to do with the fact that his biggest design influence is color. This book has gorgeous photography, many patterns and clear enough photos to make a reasonable guess at colorways. Or you can do what I did for the Jack's Back: line your yarns up in natural light until you have a colorway that pleases you and go!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Most Beautiful Knitting Books, March 2, 2009

By 

Bonnie Brody "Book Lover and Knitter" (Port St. Lucie, FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Glorious Knits (Paperback)

Like Fassett's other books, this is one of the most beautiful knitting books I have ever seen. It is as much an art book as it is a knitting book. The photographs of designs, places and knitting projects are all in beautiful color. It is an inspiration to look at this book over and over.

Truthfully, I am afraid to try knitting the projects. I think I would go blind. I use this book as a resource for color and to remind myself of all the beauty that can be created through the art of knitting.

I recommend this book for all knitters.