Knitting with The Color Guys: Inspiration, Ideas, and Projects from the Kaffe Fassett Studio Hardcover – February 7, 2012

This is the thrid or fourth knitting book by Kaffee Fassett that I have purchased through the years, and I've loved reading every one of them, including this one. I have knit only one pattern from the books, but I'm still glad that I purchased all four books. I loved reading and just looking at the great pictures in this book. I hope that someday I'll have time to knit maybe one or two of the items in this book, but even if I don't, I know that I'll re-read the stories about how Kaffee Fassett and his "right hand man" came up with each pattern and design. I am in awe of artists like Kaffee and his Studio co-creators, and how these folks can find their inspirations in the most seemingly mundane or sometimes incredibly exotic places. Quite honestly, Knitting with Color, is, for me, more of a book to read and be mentally transported, than a book that I purchased mainly for the patterns. If you've been fascinated or inspired by Kaffee Fassett before, and you are a knitter, I'd recommend buying this book. If you are drawn to knitting patterns because of their color play or color design, this book is for you, as well. If you are looking for a knitting book that is a "must-have" for your knitting library, based on the practicality of patterns or stitches, you may be disappointed. I did not purchase this book because I "needed" it for a particular pattern, or type of instruction, I purchased it because I "wanted" it. I have plenty of other access to specific knitting patterns. I found this book to be fun, incredibly interesting, and full of inspiration. Even if I never knit anything from Kitting with the Color Guys, I will still be happy that I purchased it and that it's on my shelf to enjoy from time to time.

if you're a skilled knitter looking for a challenge and would delight in a book providing unique and colorful designs, this is one for you! With just one or two exceptions, this is not a book for novice knitters looking for ready-made patterns. Plan on either fair isle knitting or intarsia, using many, many bobbins. That being said, what a terrific book if you're at the point where, even if you don't use the patterns as they're written, you can use the charts as jumping off points and alter them to suit your own needs. I'm in the process of re-charting the semicircles in the scarf and blanket patterns into full size circles, thereby requiring less frequent color changes. I'll be making a blanket for my granddaughter, Because it' will be much narrower than a full size afghan, by using a relatively thick yarn I'll be able to keep the number of repeats (and bobbins) down to a more manageable level. Other patterns can be similarly re-imagined, and for those wanting to try some of the techniques but not commit to a major undertaking, some of the pattern charts could be used with few repeats to create, for instance, interesting and colorful placemats. The book itself is beautiful simply to look at, and the uses of color as displayed in the book can in and of themselves be inspirational. As long as you know what to expect, you won't be disappointed.

The color and beauty of this book are enough by themselves to buy it. It is a springform of color hues and layouts that sing to the reader. There are no knitters with color sensibility that surpass Kaffee Fassett and Brandon Mably. Both are the kings of color and all of their books are wonderful. This new one is just grand. The patterns are bright and varied and each one is sure to be an heirloom knit. The layout of the knits is like an artist's book and the knits shine by themselves and with the backgrounds chosen for them.There are several blankets and throws for adults and children, stoles, hats, scarves, gloves, leg warmers, and cushions. Some of the patterns are bright and in primary colors. Others are softer and in more muted tones. All of the patterns are beautiful and knitting one for someone you love would feel rich and giving. Each piece is an heirloom piece and requires quite a bit of work and thinking. This will make the finished piece that much more special. I highly recommend this book not only for its patterns but for its beauty. Bonnie Brody 1/18/12

I loved this book, even though I don't knit. Still, I like his designs and use of color, and thought that I would be able to adapt them to quilting, which Fassett primarily does now.

You either like Kaffe or you don't. No one can mix pattern, color and texture like that guy and his partner Brandon. I like to dream that I could carry off the look in my home one day and so it is an inspiration piece for me and enhances my art library of knitting books.

Knitting for over 50 years! This is an exquisite book for pattern knitting.

very smooth and honorable transaction.Thank you --I always say that one of our nation's best bargains are our public libraries.. wherever they are located. Thanks again.Phoenix library

This book arrived on time and in excellent condition. This is a book that I really enjoyed reading. In fact, I am reading it again and again, because I really love the way Kaffe Fassett works art with colors. Someday I would like to master color knitting like he has.

This is a beautifully produced book showing off not just the work of Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably but also gorgeous photographs of the things that inspire them - from nature, from pottery, from textiles. This is what I would term a coffee table book as it is wonderful just to look at the glorious photography and read about what inspires their design processes but often such books aren't really very practical with few if any patterns that you would really want to knit. This is what sets this book apart from the rest - it is full of some very doable ideas and patterns for both the beginner and the experienced knitter and encourages you to experiment and push your boundaries with the use of colour and texture. I am already on my second Hyacinth Scarf which is so easy, so quick to make but so effective using one 100g ball of Regia Stripe and one 20g ball of Rowan Kidsilk Haze. It is worth noting that the patterns are all for accessories such as scarves, stoles, throws, hats etc and not for actual garments.

There are some great things in this book - most of the best using the Regia Hand dyed effect yarns and the space dyed sock yarns. One could use other similar sock yarns though I am sure. I've taken the idea from the Hyacinth scarf and started on a blanket and ordered the yarn for the poppies stole. My daughter loves the striped scarves. However there are just as nice patterns in the booklet from Regia also designed by the same chaps.... Many of the ideas are not complicated but good use of yarns - though some will be very expensive, unless you have yarns in your stash some of the stoles and blankets are going to cost over £100 to make.now a month later ...... makinng the poppies stole in the Regia Hand dye effect yarn, the yarn is a nightmare..... slippy and gets tangled all the time...

Love the book, has beautiful illustrations HOWEVER, it must be noted that most of the yarns used in the projects are no longer available. In some cases, you can find suitable substitutions but there are projects where certain multi-shaded yarns were made for KF and the effects cannot be reproduced.

Kaffe Fassett's brilliant use of pattern and colours runs through everything he does. I knit as well as quilt and enjoyed this book immensely. Some great patterns that would adapt to quilts too. They are the sort of patterns that don't date, though some of the styles may need adapting to today's fashions. However, retro is in so why not try them as they are? Probably not suitable for beginners. But, if you like them, give them a go.

On closer inspection (having purchased the book) the individual colours used to create each pattern have been hand dyed so the subtlety in the photos is impossible to recreate in an ordinary knitting project using up odds and ends of balls.