Kaffe Fassett

Artist and Designer · London, England

Born in California, Kaffe Fassett traveled to London as a young artist, and eventually made it his home. In 1968, on a trip to Inverness, Scotland, he purchased 20 colors of Shetland wool yarn, and learned to knit on the train home.

In the decades since then, Kaffe’s exuberant, painterly designs for hand knitters have appeared in every issue of Rowan Magazine, from Number 1 to the current issue. His exploration of color is without boundaries: in addition to painting, he also designs collections of print fabrics and quilts, needlepoints and mosaics. In 2019, he collaborated with fashion house Coach on a collection based on his archive of print fabrics.

A visionary in his bold use of color, Kaffe was the first living textile artist to have a one-person show at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He is the author of many books, including Glorious Knits, Kaffe Fassett’s Bold Blooms: Quilts and Other Works Celebrating Flowers, Kaffe Fassett’s Pattern Library, Kaffe Knits Again, and his autobiography, Dreaming in Color.

As longtime admirers of Kaffe’s work, we are delighted that he designed all of the projects in Modern Daily Field Guide No. 13: Master Class.

Contributions From Kaffe Fassett

Earth Stripe Wrap Bundle

This generous, iconic wrap is one of the most beautiful Kaffe Fassett designs we've ever seen, and it's also one of the simplest. In the Earth Stripe Wrap, Kaffe deployed the shimmer and halo of Kidsilk Haze, Rowan's laceweight blend of mohair and silk, in an achingly beautiful palette. Simple stockinette stitch stripes that go on and on, to envelop your neck and shoulders in luxurious color.

Your order confirmation email will include a link to the free pattern PDF.

Dreaming in Color: An Autobiography

Gather round, knitters, for the story of a life-changing train ride.