Kaffe Fassett's Pattern Library: Over 190 Creative Knitwear Designs

Kaffe Fassett's Pattern Library: Over 190 Creative Knitwear Designs

by: Kaffe Fassett, Sally Harding

Topics include: chart for this design, knitting charts, colour knitting, toning shades, intarsia technique, stockinette stitch, colour ideas, row repeat

Book Description:

Kaffe Fassett's Pattern Library -- Kaffe Fassett -- Over 190 creative knitwear designs

For over 30 years, Kaffe Fassett has produced some of the worlds' most successful knitting designs. Now, for the first time, Kaffe Fassett's Pattern Library brings together in one place a collection of over 190 of his most brilliant creations.
Each design is illustrated with a close-up photographic match, accompanied by a detailed color chart, so you can copy the pattern. A general chapter on creating your own designs, covering issues such as scale, repeats and borders, enables you to share in Kaffe's creative process and benefit from his unique tips for designing your own pieces. Whether you are an experienced knitter or a beginner looking for the best place to start, the Fassett creations featured in this book will open up new possibilities, introducing you to an ever-exciting world of color.
Over 190 exquisite patterns from the world's foremost textile artist Easy-to-follow, illustrated designs with close-ups and a detailed color chart to enable you to copy the pattern Practical articles and tips to design your own patterns "Fassett has firmly established himself as the single most exciting craft-and-color expert today."

-- Booklist About the author
Kaffe Fassett has attracted huge audiences worldwide to the knitting and needlepoint crafts. A best-selling author, he has also presented his own TV series, "Glorious Color," and a major exhibition of his work has traveled the world, after forming the first one-man show of a living textile artist ever to show at the V and A in London. He also designs wallpapers and fabrics for companies such as Designers Guild and the Royal Horticultural Society. Kaffe gives slide talks and workshops on color in design, which take him all over the world, allowing him the opportunity to highlight product development and new designs/ranges and to gather inspiration.

Over 190 creative knitwear designs -- Books on collections of decorative items are my passion -- fans, garden gates, tea pots, and, above all, textiles catch my attention. They have me returning again and again to leaf through volumes and marvel at the endless varieties the human eye and hand have achieved. I constantly pore over sample books of weaving, paisley prints, and embroidered ribbons. Now, after years of designing knit patterns, I am delighted to present my own collection book of knitted patterns and motifs. They are drawn from swatches I have made while creating designs for the Italian fashion house Missoni, the London-based fashion designer Bill Gibb, Rowan Yarns, private clients, theatre productions and, most recently, the fabulous Peruvian Connection mail-order knit catalogue. Many of these swatch ideas became elements in my final design, and others are appearing here for the first time.

Introduction

Geometric Patterns

Figurative Patterns

Knitting Charts
Following the charts
Stripes
Squares
Crosses
Patches
Triangles
Diamonds
Stars
Circles
Houses
Creatures
Pots
Fruit and Foliage
Flowers

Using the Charts
Approaching design
Working with chart patterns
What to make with the charts
Choosing color palettes
Working with textures
Mixing patterns
Color knitting techniques

Chart sources

Acknowledgments

Index

Reviews:

Colorwork on steroids, a valuable reference for handknitters --
Kaffe Fassett is an artist using textiles (knits, quilts, needlepoint) and paint. His style is to use a sort of ornamentation-on-steroids, a wild profusion of color and pattern to create a wash of color with pattern that looks logical in its confusion. His work never fails to amaze me. If you liked his earlier knit books, this Pattern Library is a really valuable addition. Instead of sweater patterns, this book has detailed charts of the designs and hints on how to knit them (such as the popular round Persian Poppy pattern that you can knit using a "magic ball" or random strands of yarn tied into a giant raggedy ball that yields fascinating results.) For those who design their own vests, pullovers, jumpers and coats, this is a really valuable reference book. Personally, I'd just use it to knit pillows and not even worry about creating a garment with the patterns. Plenty of color photos, detailed shots and a nice printing job, too. Highly recommended for knitters who love colorwork.

Incredible resource -- My mother got me started knitting when I was five years old. Admittedly my first scarves were trapezoidal marvels as I lost or split stitches, but I've enjoyed the hobby ever since. Kaffe Fassett's book of designs is an incredible resource. Not only are there useful designs for the knitter, but needlepoint, cross-stitch and other enthusiasts of handwork will also find wonderful ideas for their artwork. I used a pattern of flowers taken from the book to design a decorative band for the front of an otherwise very plain swing coat sweater, and I have yarn now for a similar sweater using another, broader floral pattern for the lower edge of another garment. Really, if you're tired of the routine, this book--an eye pleaser just as something to look at--will give you tons of ideas for your own designs.

Most cost-efficient resource for "do it all yourself" -- Excellent resource for color work. And I mean color work as in knitting, embroidery, tapestry, mosaic. Doubles as all of that! This was my first book by Kaffe. Now I own a half dozen of them. And love them all.