"Kaffe Fassett" knitalong

Update 19 September 2005

Please do be reassured, ladies and gents, that we are in this for the long haul.  It is quite OK to be in the planning or pondering stage at the moment .  It's quite OK to take three years to finish the project too.

Initially I had thought it would be mostly aimed at people who had a kit or started project lurking ready to pick up - and that's great if you do.  Diane has pointed out in the comments though, that it takes a while to plan such a big project and collect the yarns, never mind create the space in your knitting schedule. Now this is a good point.  I was in fact going to start by asking if anyone wanted to share ideas as to what might be a good project for a beginner or help in tracking down their yarns.  If you do - post a comment and hopefully someone will be able to help!  And join in when you're ready!

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Unofficial knitalong for mutual support and encouragement in completing the most amazing and impressive knitted designs in the world!

See the current participants and progress on my sidebar.

What’s the idea?

Everyone taking part is working on a Kaffe Fassett knitting design.  We are not all knitting the same design, as it’s such a matter of personal taste, but the idea is to encourage the participants to tackle/resume/finish something a little more challenging than usual.  Brandon Mably and Zoe Hunt designs also count, by the way, as do own designs using a Kaffe style.  I’m open to other suggestions as to challenging colourwork.

Not all Kaffe Fassett designs are difficult to knit, many striped and Fair Isle designs just rely on frequent and exciting colour changes.  Once you have got the hang of intarsia, you just need organisation and persistence to finish a beautiful garment.

How do I get involved?

Just email me here at Blithe Dance with details of your blog or email address, and the project you'll be working on.  You might like to download this button and it's link (just to this page) for your blog.

Any tips?

First have you any Kaffe Fassett knitting books?  If you read the editorial or the bit at the back, there are some great tips and explanations of how to make your knitting easier.

Sam’s ten commandments

1. Thou shalt have no other project…. Well not quite, it’s great to have some “easy knitting” to relax with, but you will need to give this a reasonable priority to make noticeable progress! The more you knit, the faster you will go, so try and get in a few long sessions
2. Are you knitting the right size and tension?  Do a gauge swatch if you are not sure.  If fit is important, be quite sure you will want to wear it when finished.
3. Don’t set too high a standard of neatness.  Can you see the irregularities from six feet away?  A good blocking will sort most of it out.  Have you seen the state of the finished garments in the photographs, anyway? 
4. Get organised!  Make a shade fringe.  Have all your yarns together in a decent bag.  Put all your bits/ends into a plastic envelope as you go.
5. For intarsia, use plastic bobbins, yarn butterflies or manageable lengths to keep the tangling at bay
6. Make a working photocopy of the pattern and colour in a copy of your chart, if it is not already in colour.
7. Don’t worry about small errors.  You can Swiss darn them out, or may just decide it doesn’t matter at the end.  On the other hand, count your stitches and shaping very carefully to avoid soul destroying mistakes.  There is no ripping back. 
8. Knit in your ends.  Knit in your ends.  Knit in your ends wherever possible, or it will take longer to finish the garment than to knit it!  Knots are OK too.
9. Repeating pattern?  Find out what yarn length is needed for a block.  Measure by stretching out your arms ( equal to your own height).
10. Are you a true disciple?  Ignore all of the above, gather a pile of colours you adore, and go where the fancy takes you!

See also this link for some more tips:

www.knitting-and.com/knitting/tips/fassett.htm

Who’s taking part?  This, I think is everyone who's expressed an interest - let me know when you make a start and send a picture!

Heather

Joanne

Judith

Diane

Sam

Tracy

Anmiryam

Daisy

Comments

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[Antique]

Hi. Me very much to like here. I shall advise this site to the friends.
I am sorry for my English. I only learn this language.

[Soo]

Hello!! I realise I missed this by ummm a year or two but I thought that if there were any of you still pondering a Kaffe Fasett knit you might be interested in mine. It's the Chinese Rose coat == and took a mere 18 years! (To be fair, there was a lot of 'off' time in the on and off knitting of the coat.)

Kaffe designs are unique - but I love the finished coat - even though I will never wear it. I admire it most days!!!! :-)

If you got to my blog there's a picture and a bit of info on the knitting of the coat on one of the first blog entries made in April this year.

[Madelaine]

I've started a child's checkerboard sweater following rule #10--just using many colors that I love. It's for my grandson who is 4 months old now. I'm making it in a size 2 so I hope he can still wear it when it's done.

[Karen]

I posted that last request and didn't have my profile set up yet so proably if anyone tried to contact me, they didn't have an email address. I have updated my profile, so if you can help me, please try again. Thanks again. Karen

[Karen]

I would also like to join. I am a beginner but am also wanting to make the toothed stripe waistcoat and I want to make it in the blues and turquoises pictured in his book, Glorious Knits. Can anyone help with a color list? Thank you so, so much if you can give me any info. Karen

[lynne Radcliffe]

Hi Sam,
I must be mad! After years of merely gazing at my Kaffe books, the urge 'to have a go' has overcome me! I am going to try the persian poppy design waistcoat and am busy collecting wool whilst reading over and over just how to do it! This site will be a great help, hoping to connect with other mad women who are attempting the impossible!
Lynne

[Laura]

I first posted here in January, and one person posted after me. Nothing since then. So, is this a dead SAL, then? Most disappointing. :-( I was rather looking for some support for my first Fassett project (still pending deciding on which pattern, and buying the rest of the yarn I need). Bummer.

[Ann (aka OnlyWhenPigsFly]

Please let me join - I beg you! I'm definitely a beginner but I have big aspirations (and a burning desire to knit this particular Kaffe pattern as a baby or bigger blanket....). Am I crazy? Probably! Thank you, Ann

[Laura]

I'm late jumping on most bandwagons. Is there room here for one more Fassett fan? And a newby at that?

[Jeanne]

Late as usual, but can I join? I'm collecting 4-ply for a Toothed Stripe Waistcoat....

[Elayne]

The decision is:
To design as I go. I'll make a "British Breed Wrap" using my handspun wool from 11 different breeds of British Sheep. I have 4 oz of each of the breeds giving me a lovely variation of natural colors.
I'm a true 10 in Sam's Commandments so I'll wing it while working both ends of the wrap separately but at the same time to be sure the patterns match and that there will be enough yarn. I'll Kitchener the two together at some point. The patterns will vary using Fairisle and Intarsia (I must have 11 sheep in there somewhere).

Now I'm excited and itching to get started.

[Wannietta]

Well I finally got started today! I did a swatch to get block lengths, cut scrap yarn to use a measures and dove right in! I am loving how the bright colours are coming out.
Thanks for hosting this KAL Sam!

[celeste]

'm knitting norweign ski hats with a riot twist for christmas for my brother's growing gradnkid tribe. these kids will be wild. Is Michigan ready for this
celeste/la

[Kirsty]

I'm watching progress with great anticipation. I found your blog the other day and had already started Mystical Stripe but it's not intarsia, so it doesn't really count for your knit-along. Have a look to see how far I've got http://www.castoncastoff.co.uk/blog/2005/10/06/almost-seeing-double/

[Carol]

PS Forgot to mention - I will be attempting to finish off Pebbles from book 24.

[Carol]

Sam - I would like to join in if I am not too late - I am going to try and finish off an old Kaffe that has been languishing around now for ages if thats ok. I have a back done 1 sleeve and 1 front done and 1/2 a sleeve I think still sitting on the needles. I am also collecting the yarns for China Clouds - only a couple to go now so maybe I will start that one at some point too if I get lucky yarn wise. I am a slow knitter though so the 3 year timing will be about right!

[anmiryam]

Hi Sam, I'm still contemplating which Kaffe to work on. There's the one for Martin from Vintage Knits (name is escaping me at the moment), Ancient, Foolish Virgins plus a few others lurking around (Old Tile, Kilim, and a couple of others that I don't remember the names of). I'll let you know as soon as I decide -- in the next couple of days. I'm excited and I'll clear the decks for this one, after I finish the River stole!