Kaffe Fassett – A Life in Colour

My first visit to the Fashion and Textile Museum in London was to see the exhibition ‘Kaffe Fassett – A Life in Colour’. Do I need to tell you Kaffe’s life story? Just in case you are not familiar here is a summary. Kaffe Fassett was born in California and became an artist. As a young man, he moved to London. On a trip to Scotland, he visited a yarn warehouse and inspired by the scenery, he bought yarns of many colours. On the train back to London, someone taught him to knit. The rest, as they say, is history. That, at least, is what most knitters will tell you.

At the beginning of the exhibition is a small room which many people might have missed. The theme was Kaffe’s early years; as well as photos from his childhood there was the cardigan that he started knitting on that train!

We then walked down a corridor where there were some of Kaffe’s paintings. I like this painting of shells.

Some needlepoints and hand-knits were displayed with the blue and white ceramics which inspired them.

The next room had fantastic hand-knit throws and patchwork quilts displayed on pillars. They were simply stunning! There was also a wall covered in samples you could touch (lovely idea).

The colours are really joyful!

Upstairs was a display of knitted garments arranged by colour palette. As with any artist’s work, it is better to see the actual piece, rather than a photo (especially some of my photos, which had to be taken without flash).

This was adjacent to a large room packed with a variety of needlepoints and patchwork. I felt I had been immersed in a photoshoot for Glorious Needlepoint! A Life in Colour is a well-chosen title – whatever the technique, there was colour everywhere.

And a totally different colour mood; this is beautiful in a very different way!

I enjoyed spotting famous designs such as Foolish Virgins.

As well as things I had made such as the Pear cushion.

And the Ikon jacket.

I saw the Apple cushion, which I am still working on.

And a few things I should like to make, such as the Bloom wall-hanging.

I left ‘A Life in Colour’ with my head spinning from so much inspiration!