Customer Reviews

Kaffe Knits Again: 24 Original Designs Updated for Today's Knitters

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a wonderful book. Yes, this book revisits Kaffe's brilliant patterning and colorwork from the past. In doing so, it makes these designs accessible to knitters again by specifying current yarns. (To knit one of Kaffe's vintage designs according to the original pattern would require a lot of time on eBay.) Personally, I welcome the book's transformation of some of the over-the-top, oversized garments of the 80s and 90s into timeless items for the home. The updating of sweaters to a more modern fit is also great. The models, styling and most of all the beautiful photographs of Charleston House make this book a must for those who appreciate Kaffe Fassett's work in knitting.

OK, these are not the Kaffe Fassett sweaters of days gone by, when Rowan Yarns had an incredible range of hues and weights from which M. Fassett (and we) could choose to create (reproduce) all those beautiful, subtly blended colourations. I faithfully collected all of the books and patterns and I loved making those sweaters, never minding the eternities it took for me to work in all those ends when finishing because I knew I would have something that I would love wearing once I was all done. But it has been a good 20 years since Glorious Color first appeared, M. Fassett has moved on to explore other interests in fiber art, and we are living in a different time in knitting and in the world, what with our hectic lifestyles and the greater homogeonization of the products available from yarn manufacturers. I personally appreciate having designs which, although employing far fewer colours and different yarns than in the past, capture what I have always loved about Kaffe Fassett -- his artistic use of pattern and colour to create a wearable work of art. I think those who conceived of this book were smart -- they are introducing a whole new generation of knitters to M. Fassett and his work and, hopefully, introducing many of those knitters to the possibilities of knitting (other than all those scarfs of a few years back), while keeping us more mature knitters in touch with an artist who has had a tremendous influence on so many of us. The book gives me at least new ideas as to how to combine many of the currently available yarns into aesthetically pleasing wholes, and lets me revisit "old sweater friends". It's simplification and to a degree recycling, yes, but the designs look fresh and the results are lovely. I think the book accomplishes precisely what its title promises and I am happy to have some new inspiration.

I've knit more than ten of Fassett's designs, from his earlier books -- Glorious Color and others -- and from Rowan pattern books. This book more often than not repeats older patterns in a new format -- old sweater designs become incorporated into throws or pillows; several older designs make their way onto a single scarf. A former sweater design is now used on a vest. Others -- the Crosspatch V-Neck, for example -- have been published before in the same format. The newer designs (Reflections, Polka Dots) are simpler, less sophisticated in their color sense, and far less visually intriguing than any of the designs in Glorious Color (the best Fassett book by far). Some are, to my taste, downright ugly. Fassett's introduction states that he's updating his past work for nervous knitters. But there's nothing simple about knitting most of the colorwork here, so the book comes through as a meaningless rehash. All are photographed against backgrounds at Charleston House, reminding me of a claim made by a detractor, that Bloomsbury design was at its best clumsy and inept, and at its worst, hideous. If you want to knit Fassett at his best, go back to Glorious Color; if you want to enjoy Fassett's designs photographed in beautiful settings, go back to Glorious Color, and skip this.

I have been looking forward to the arrival of this book, as I have his other books and have actually knit a couple of his patterns! But my main disappointments with the book are that it repeats previous books and that size variation is not available. I am glad I got the book, but am not as pleased as I thought I would be.

Beautiful sweaters for petite people. Don't buy this book if you are greater than size 8 or if your men's size is greater than extra-small. When will these yarn companies get a clue?

Kaffe has beautifully reworked previous designs into manageable throws, pillows, vests, and sweaters using yarns that are available now. You'll even find the Foolish Virgins on a scarf! This is the perfect book if you haven't tried colorwork, or are newish at it, or have been afraid to try Kaffe's patterns, because many of these designs use two colors per row (one uses one color per row). The photography at the lush and elegant Charleston House is outstanding and the photos clearly show the items in several views.

I'm more of a quilter who absolutely loves Kaffe's fabrics and designs, but in the same way he has pulled us quilters into looking at patchwork differently, I'm finding that his knitted items also push us to look at color and design differently.
I've only been knitting for slightly over a year, but find his juxtposition of quilting images in knitting to be gorgeous. He also encourages knitters to step out there and make knitted pieces that celebrate color more than most designers. He focuses on the design as much as the yarns, and his joy in fiber shows in every photo. Thanks for another gorgeous book!

Reviewed by Janelle Martin

When most knitters hear the name Kaffe Fassett, they immediately think color. Now known for his bold, graphic designs and innovative use of color, when Fassett burst on the knitting scene in the early 1980s, he was considered a maverick. He changed colors whenever the mood struck, tying off yarn in the middle of a row, and used more than 20 different colors in one design.

Inspired by the colors in the landscape during a visit to a Scottish textile mill, Fassett bought yarn and asked a passenger on the train back to London to teach him to knit. His first knit garment design was featured in Vogue Knitting and soon Missoni was commissioning his designs.

Many knitters consider color knitting to be too complicated and pass over Fassett's exciting designs in favor of "simpler" projects. While I understand the fear of colorwork, I knit his Ribbon sweater as my second project soon after learning to knit (from his first book Glorious Knitting) and over the years have knit several of his designs and returned to his books for refreshers on working with color.

Kaffe Knits Again: 24 Original Designs Updated for Today's Knitters is his first book in over a decade and here he revisits some of his favorite designs. Some patterns are reworked in less time-consuming projects like shawl or cushion, others use fewer colors per row. Some, like the Big Flower Throw discover new life when reworked in chunky yarn on large needles. Knitters will be delighted to discover favorite designs reworked in modern silhouettes.

Armchair Interviews says: Whether this is your first introduction to Fassett's unique take on color or merely a reintroduction, Kaffe Knits Again is sure to win many converts.

The title of Kaffe's new book is important: it has been updated for today's new knitters. A couple of the patterns were not ones I recognized from previous books. This book is full of inspiration with manageable projects. For those who want more, I highly recommend "Kaffe Fassett's Pattern Library" (which does not include the "Crisscross " pattern). One can easily translate those pattern charts onto other sweater or purse outlines. Together, these two books would make excellent additions to a new knitter's library.

once again kaffe puts out a wonderful, idea inspiring book. he offers great ideas for projects w/insights on how he creates. very enjoyable read w/patterns as well.