Kaffe

Kaffe Fassett: A Living Legend in Glorious Color

Kaffe Fassett, one of the most renowned knitwear designers of our era, is an American-born artist and designer based in Britain. A versatile fine artist with an unmistakable eye for color, Kaffe began his design career alongside Scottish fashion designer Bill Gibb. Together, they created a hand-knitted waistcoat that became part of the ensemble chosen by Vogue as Dress of the Year in 1970. That moment helped signal something important: traditional textile handicrafts were no longer just domestic arts. They had earned a respected place in mainstream fashion.

Kaffe’s name became forever linked with Rowan after a chance meeting with the founder of Rowan Yarns in 1982. That partnership helped steer Rowan in a bold new direction, toward designer-led projects that would define the young, innovative British yarn company. One of their first major successes was a mail-order kit featured on the cover of a British home magazine in 1983. Its phenomenal sales paved the way for the inaugural issue of Rowan Magazine in 1986.

The mid-1980s through the 1990s marked an especially prolific period for Kaffe’s knitwear design. During this time, he published numerous books filled with bold, colorful designs, including Glorious Knits, Glorious Color, and Kaffe’s Classics. His iconic pieces, such as Tumbling Blocks and Foolish Virgin, became wildly popular.

In fact, many knitters were so inspired by his work that they attempted one of his complex intarsia patterns as their very first knitting project. Some were successful. Many were not. But either way, Kaffe made knitters dream big.

Kaffe once gave a presentation in Oklahoma City that was so well attended it had to be held at the Myriad, later known as the Cox Convention Center. Today, that building is a pile of rubble as construction begins on the new arena for the OKC Thunder. Some of you may have even been there!

Throughout his career, Kaffe has collaborated with esteemed fashion houses including Missoni and Coach. His unique garments have been commissioned and cherished by notable figures such as Barbra Streisand, Lauren Bacall, Shirley MacLaine, and Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent. Although American-born, Kaffe is widely regarded as a British treasure and was honored with the title of MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).

Kaffe is known worldwide for his vibrant use of color and pattern. That signature style carries through everything he touches, from knitwear and patchwork to needlepoint, painting, mosaic, and quilting.

His fabric prints remain incredibly popular, and his quilt designs were exhibited last year at the needlework market Jeannie and I attended, alongside his Say It with Flowers knitwear collection.

His hand-knitted garments are included in museum collections worldwide. In 1988, Kaffe was honored with a solo exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum, marking the first time the museum had featured a living textile artist. The exhibition drew such enormous crowds that museum attendance doubled during its run, and the show later toured to nine different countries.

Of course, we also have our own little Kaffe story. At market last year, Jeannie bumped into Kaffe at the food court and lent him a chair. Brandon Mably, his partner in both life and design, even asked her to take a photo for him. Meanwhile, I believe I was busy ordering our food and somehow missed all of Jeannie’s hobnobbing.

Mom and I came into the knitting world during the height of Kaffe’s popularity, so I couldn’t resist sharing these images from old industry publications. They highlight the season’s trade show, and look who made the cut: Kaffe and us. So yes, I have had my share of hobnobbing around Kaffe over the years, too.

Now in his eighties, Kaffe shows no signs of slowing down. This past fall, he launched Kaffe’s Palette, a collection featuring seven vibrant new shades of Rowan Felted Tweed and Kidsilk Haze developed by the artist himself.

I have actually had people ask, “Why is there an old guy on the cover of this book?” Well, now you know. He isn’t just some “old guy.” Kaffe Fassett is a living legend whose impact on the world of yarn, color, and knitwear design is unmatched. It seemed only fitting to celebrate this glorious artist and designer by reintroducing him to our audience.