What do you think?
Rate this book
Kaffe Knits Again: 24 Original Designs Updated for Today's Knitters
Legendary designer Kaffe Fassett returns to readers with his first knitting book in a decade!
Known by millions of knitters who cherish his intricate designs, unique color palette, and bold graphic aesthetic, Kaffe Fassett reinvents 24 of his most beloved patterns in this long-awaited book. Gorgeously shot in England’s eclectic, historic Charleston House, the country meeting place of the Bloomsbury Group artists and writers like Vanessa Bell (sister of Virginia Woolf), Duncan Grant, Dora Carrington, and E. M. Forester.
Worked in rich, subtle palettes and soft new Rowan yarns, Kaffe’s updated classics appear perfectly at home among Charleston’s huge collection of paintings and lithographs and the soft, warm tones of Bell’s studio.
For the legion of Kaffe fans or for any passionate knitters looking to add warmth, color, and variety to their clothes, accessories, and home décor, Kaffe Knits Again is the must-have knitting book of the year to own. From a fresco-palette shawl that pays homage to the lovely colors of Charleston House or a Moody Blues cushion adapted from one of Kaffe’s Scottish Tweed sweaters, to a unisex V-neck that mimics the natural hues of a stony beach and a geometric-patterned Gridlock throw inspired by an ancient carpet, all of the 24 projects in Kaffe Knits Again reflect the color-conscious, fearless pattern-work that has elevated Kaffe’s knits to the status of art.
While Kaffe’s designs are striking, they need not intimidate beginning Kaffe has included several that use only two colors per row and large-sized needles. Plus, helpful black-and-white line drawings and easy-to-follow directions will guide even novice knitters along Kaffe’s knitting dreamscape.
Known by millions of knitters who cherish his intricate designs, unique color palette, and bold graphic aesthetic, Kaffe Fassett reinvents 24 of his most beloved patterns in this long-awaited book. Gorgeously shot in England’s eclectic, historic Charleston House, the country meeting place of the Bloomsbury Group artists and writers like Vanessa Bell (sister of Virginia Woolf), Duncan Grant, Dora Carrington, and E. M. Forester.
Worked in rich, subtle palettes and soft new Rowan yarns, Kaffe’s updated classics appear perfectly at home among Charleston’s huge collection of paintings and lithographs and the soft, warm tones of Bell’s studio.
For the legion of Kaffe fans or for any passionate knitters looking to add warmth, color, and variety to their clothes, accessories, and home décor, Kaffe Knits Again is the must-have knitting book of the year to own. From a fresco-palette shawl that pays homage to the lovely colors of Charleston House or a Moody Blues cushion adapted from one of Kaffe’s Scottish Tweed sweaters, to a unisex V-neck that mimics the natural hues of a stony beach and a geometric-patterned Gridlock throw inspired by an ancient carpet, all of the 24 projects in Kaffe Knits Again reflect the color-conscious, fearless pattern-work that has elevated Kaffe’s knits to the status of art.
While Kaffe’s designs are striking, they need not intimidate beginning Kaffe has included several that use only two colors per row and large-sized needles. Plus, helpful black-and-white line drawings and easy-to-follow directions will guide even novice knitters along Kaffe’s knitting dreamscape.
- GenresKnittingNonfictionCrafts
144 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2007
37 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 1, 2008
Some knitters have dissed this book as a retread of Kaffe's old designs (which it is--see the subtitle), but unless you've got 23 shades of those discontinued yarns stashed away (and you love gigantic 80s sweaters), this book is a godsend. Everything is freshened up for current yarns, and translated into home items or modern-fit sweaters.
April 6, 2011
To answer an often-asked question: I read an interview with the author where he stated the correct pronunciation of his name is to rhyme with "safe asset."
Even those who don't plan to do any of these projects may enjoy checking this out of the public library to appreciate the color combinations in these designs.
This book is not for the faint of heart. Even the simple patterns are worked in thin yarns on small needles, which means it would take a lot longer to finish a project. For example, my usual project would be worked at 3-4.5 stitches per inch and 5-6 rows per inch. The gauge called for in a vest I admire in this book is 7.25 sts/in and 8 rows/in. That's nearly four times as many stitches to cover the same amount of tummy.
That being said, I adore the designs. I had an older book of Fasset's, and often wished I could get the patterns for yarns currently available. I'll be making one of these for my brother later this year.
Sad to say, it took the going-out-of-business sale of a local yarn shop to make me buy it. We'll miss you, Shirley Grade and The Yarn House (Elm Grove, Wisconsin).
Even those who don't plan to do any of these projects may enjoy checking this out of the public library to appreciate the color combinations in these designs.
This book is not for the faint of heart. Even the simple patterns are worked in thin yarns on small needles, which means it would take a lot longer to finish a project. For example, my usual project would be worked at 3-4.5 stitches per inch and 5-6 rows per inch. The gauge called for in a vest I admire in this book is 7.25 sts/in and 8 rows/in. That's nearly four times as many stitches to cover the same amount of tummy.
That being said, I adore the designs. I had an older book of Fasset's, and often wished I could get the patterns for yarns currently available. I'll be making one of these for my brother later this year.
Sad to say, it took the going-out-of-business sale of a local yarn shop to make me buy it. We'll miss you, Shirley Grade and The Yarn House (Elm Grove, Wisconsin).
April 16, 2010
I've got mixed feelings about this book. The patterns are very simple structurally, but range from beginner to advanced colorwork. There are a great many patterns I would truly love to knit in here, but not many that I would like to wear or use without a lot of alteration. Almost nothing that anyone else in my family would want to wear, apparently, as beautiful as the colorwork is, it doesn't appeal to the teen girl or the over-forty man.
The throws, although beautiful, have the disadvantage of being worked one sided. Which means that they're beautiful if you carefully drape them across your furniture, but not if you wrap yourself in them then casually throw them back on the sofa. I might consider working pillows or handbag as written, everything else I'd have to play with.
On the plus side, the pictures are beautiful, and the charts are nicely worked up (I _like_ the economy of sleeve over sweater body charting).
I'm glad to have this in my library, but I'm not quite sure how much use I'll actually get out of it.
The throws, although beautiful, have the disadvantage of being worked one sided. Which means that they're beautiful if you carefully drape them across your furniture, but not if you wrap yourself in them then casually throw them back on the sofa. I might consider working pillows or handbag as written, everything else I'd have to play with.
On the plus side, the pictures are beautiful, and the charts are nicely worked up (I _like_ the economy of sleeve over sweater body charting).
I'm glad to have this in my library, but I'm not quite sure how much use I'll actually get out of it.
April 22, 2024
Pretty… Lots and lots of colour work I don’t think I would do mini or any of these. Seems like old style too.
June 16, 2013
Kaffe Fassett's new knitting pattern book (now its a bit dated). So prepare yourself for bright colorful sweaters that remind me of my childhood 80's sweaters with houses, Chinese lantern, etc prints in fair-isle style knitting so I wouldn't recommend to a beginner or the relax-knit-therapy folks because you'll get a big head ache with all the charts and counting.
Kaffe Fassett makes up 24 different sweaters for men and women with a few blanket and pillow patterns. There are a lot of photos taken at England's eclectic, historic Charleston House, the country meeting place of the Bloomsbury Group artists and writers like Vanessa Bell (sister of Virginia Woolf), Duncan Grant, Dora Carrington, and E. M. Forester.
Rowan yarns are used so it is very expensive to make a sweater (count about 200$!) but there are possibilities to make it for a budget price with Knitpick's yarns or Yarn.com's Cascade 220 (about half the price).
144 pages and hardback larger format book
3 stars
Kaffe Fassett makes up 24 different sweaters for men and women with a few blanket and pillow patterns. There are a lot of photos taken at England's eclectic, historic Charleston House, the country meeting place of the Bloomsbury Group artists and writers like Vanessa Bell (sister of Virginia Woolf), Duncan Grant, Dora Carrington, and E. M. Forester.
Rowan yarns are used so it is very expensive to make a sweater (count about 200$!) but there are possibilities to make it for a budget price with Knitpick's yarns or Yarn.com's Cascade 220 (about half the price).
144 pages and hardback larger format book
3 stars
July 12, 2008
Kaffe Fassett is known for beautiful, colorful, innovative designs. However, I usually have found most of his designs inaccessible for an intermediate knitter. However, this books brings more of his creativity to the knitting world with wonderful patterns in different levels. You'll still need to understand some basic principles of colorwork, but there are several patterns that won't require you to be a master knitter. And Rowan yarns are fabulous to work with. So, it's a great pairing.
October 18, 2007
Wow. Gorgeous colors. Fassett is definately not afraid to play with color and his combinations are wonderful. Not my style of knitting, though. Fair Isle and intarsia are not for the faint of heart and I am faint of heart, at least when it comes to colorwork. Definately for the advanced knitter. I might be tempted to one day try the house bag. Maybe
November 9, 2012
Kaffe Fassett delivers a variety of beautiful and colorful knitting patterns in this book. Someday I would love to knit the Stepped Flowers stole and a variation of the Puzzle sweater. This book, however, does not include color knitting techniques so previous knowledge of stranding and colorwork is required.
June 7, 2013
I bought this book for the eye candy. It doesn't disappoint. I'll probably play around with knitting the patterns for throws, but won't make any of the sweaters. Loving the visual appeal that is Kaffe designs.
Read
June 5, 2011Okay, I didn't read this, I just looked at the pictures. MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . .
July 21, 2015
Not for me. Didn't like the graphic designs of these or the shapes.
June 28, 2016
Kaffe Fausett, the preeminent guru of elaborate and unusual color knitting assures the reader in the first few pages that, really, his designs are not hard at all. HA!
April 6, 2009
Mostly very geometric and blocky, which I just don't like.
April 26, 2016
Amazingly beautiful!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews