Fabulous Fabrics - Meet Kaffe Fassett

Inspiring fabrics are a source of immense joy to me. Fabrics bring life to the patterns I design and each is chosen especially for the feeling and drape; they are an essential part of my process from concept to completion. Lately, I’ve been inspired by the work of Kaffe Fassett and I think you’ll be as enchanted with his original designs as I am. 

Kaffe Fasset

Kaffe is an internationally renown textile designer. As a skilled fine artist in his teens he won a scholarship to The Boston Museum of Fine Arts School. A move to England led him to discover a new passion: knitting and designing knitwear. Kaffe’s brilliantly colourful work in needlepoint, patchwork, and knitwear has appeared in the pages of Vogue and on famous figures like Barbra Streisand and Lauren Bacall. He has collaborated with top brands such as Coach and Missoni, participated in various exhibitions and solo shows, published a multitude of books and patterns, and won numerous awards. In short, Kaffe is considered a guru in the world of colour and textiles.

Kaffe Fasset cotton quilt

Flowers play a prominent role in Kaffe’s designs. His “Antique Chrysanthemum” print is explosively beautiful, and will be available as a limited edition Rhapsody Coat soon.

Kaffe Fasset cotton prints
Kaffe’s love of florals and colour has come full circle – a rose has been named after him by one of the most prestigious rose producers in the world. It is a floribunda rose in shades of vivid hot pink and hints of deep lilac, with a wonderful fragrance. 

Kaffe Fasset Rose

Kaffe might now be best known for his stunning array of 100% cotton fabrics. These kaleidoscopic images showcase Kaffe’s love of colour play and juxtaposition with the pinwheels and mandalas seeming to spin through space while maintaining a relationship through pattern and scale. The larger sizes of his botanical prints reveal masterful details that are usually overlooked.

Leah Tuttle in a Diane Kennedy Rhapsody Coat

We look forward to sharing these creations with you. (coming soon!) We hope that knowing more about Kaffe will make wearing these items that much more special for you. Fabrics can take your clothing beyond being an average garment to becoming an artistic creation of sublime enjoyment for years to come.

 


More From the Journal

Pink Boots and Granny Squares
Maybe it’s crazy but I love it and I’m having fun making it! That’s what matters right? Over Christmas I started crocheting a sweater made from granny squares. I find it very relaxing to crochet or knit a simple repetitive...
Going boldly into Pattern Mixing!
As I mentioned in my last blog post, here is the finished photo of the 100% cotton tunic I made using my 'beautiful production scraps'. If you missed that post, you can find it here.  I was blown away by the...
Zero Waste and the Pink Boot Saga
If you read my journal last week, you might know I'm a new empty-nester with more time on my hands for some hobbies like crocheting and sewing. After a recent purchase of a pair of bright pink boots, I found...