Wed, 19 January 2011
Media Link: ChromaPhilia (66:50)  There's a million crafters in Fiber City and we've all got a yarn to spin.  This episode of Fiber Beat is underwritten by Bobbin's Nest Studio, from Santa Clara, CA. Bobbin's Nest is a fabric and yarn store specializing in: knitting, sewing, crochet, and hand embroidery. In 2011 they will be hosting Sharon McMahon of Three Irish Girls and other independent fiber artists for Stitches West in Santa Clara. Join them in February 2011 for this exciting event. Welcome to Episode 15: ChromaPhilia which is double long episode with two colorful interviews back to back. This past October I was given the most perfect of presents for my birthday: I was granted an audience with two men who are huge proponents of color and fiber expression: Brandon Mably & Kaffe Fassett. First up on the episode is an interview with Brandon. We spoke about his work as manager of the Kaffe Fassett Studio and his evolution as a knitwear designer, author & workshop leader. Next on the episode is an interview with the celebrated artist Kaffe Fassett, who has published designs in knitting, embroidery & quilting. We spoke about many things, including his current book on simple shapes producing spectacular quilts, his development as a fiber artist and how he became the only living artist to have a solo show at the Victoria & Albert museum. The following people, places and things were mentioned:
Fiber Beat CONTEST for Episode No. 15 I have a signed copy of Kaffe Fassett with Liza Prior Lucy's Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts for one lucky listener. All you have to do to enter is tell us which of Brandon's or Kaffe's designs brings you the most joy. My favorites are Kaffe's Icon sweater and Brandon's Jester sweater. If you'd like to see examples of their work, you can search on either designer's name in the pattern section of Ravelry. Now, it's your turn. To enter the drawing, please leave your comment on fiberbeat.com or on the Fiber Beat Ravelry forum. One winner will be randomly selected from all the entries. DEADLINE FOR ENTERING IS February 8, 2011. The winner of the Fiber Beat CONTEST for Episode No. 14 is Heather of the colorful In Case of Zombie Apocalypse blog. Her signed copy of "It Itches" is on its way to her home. Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to Heather. I would like to thank sponsor Bobbin's Nest for their continued support and to thank you our awesome listeners for downloading and listening to our first TWENTY-TWO episodes (audio/video) of Fiber Beat! Last, but certainly not least, I'd like to extend a 70 mm, surround sound, technicolor thanks to Brandon Mably and Kaffe Fassett. We used snippets of the songs below in this episode. If you like the music, please support the artists (links provided for your convenience):
My name is WonderMike and I'll see YOU on the Fiber Beat!! Comments[12]
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- hi wondermike!
just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for your highly entertaining podcasts... since i fractured my wrist i know make the daily commute without being able hold a book or knit! thank you for making my non knitting season more bearable...
Lynn
Singapore - What a terrific episode. I enjoyed listening in on your conversation with these two charming men. I'll never forget the time I had an opportunity to take a class with Kaffe. We had been told to bring in something for color inspiration, and I chose a reproduction of a Monet seascape. Kaffe took one look and told me he hated the color scheme! Initially taken aback, I eventually realized that this gave me great permission to disagree with both Kaffe and Monet and trust my own color sense. Kaffe also signed my first edition of Glorious Knits, admired how the colors in the dust jacket had faded, and told me the story of picking up a flower out of the gutter, placing it on the model's hat, and realizing that it was just what was needed to bring the whole picture together - that photo ended up as the cover of the book.
My favorite Kaffe Fasset design is Tumbling Blocks. - Hi WonderMike,
I've just discovered your podcast and have downloaded what I've missed so far. Thank you, it's an interesting, warm and engaging podcast.
My favourite Kaffe Fassett is in 'Glorious Patchwork' - Pinafore-print Diamonds. I'm moved by the way the fabric pattern, which is very intricate and detailed, works so beautifully with the construction of the quilt design itself. I'm a fibre and mosaic artist, so this is a true source of inspiration and fascination for me.
Have a wonderful day,
Annetta
Blackwall, Australia - Wonderful episode! Your closing comment is so apt: they are indeed perfectly matched to their designs in Kaffe's Classics.
My favorite design by Kaffe is Ancient. It has a wonderful melding of colors within billowy cloud-like shapes, punctuated with perfectly balanced squares of gold. The mix of irregular and regular, painted in glorious colors, softened with his silk-mohair yarn is magic.
For Brandon, my favorite is Old Tiles. I saw this first as a knitted garment and it stopped me in my tracks. Another design mixing geometric precision with randomness: a regular layout of shaded tiles, but with ragged edges surrounded by encrusted mortar. Absolutely breathtaking, portable to many different color variations and very wearable.
Two very talented people, each of whose designs are fabulous. - I have two favourite Kaffe Fasset patterns: the Foolish Virgins jacket and the Chinese Rose jacket. They make my heart sing.
I was a needlepoint enthusiast about 20 years before becoming a knitter. Glorious Colour was my initiation and I never looked back. I love Kaffe Fasset's designs.
From Brandon Mably's designs I like Daisy Chain and the Animal Print cardigan.
The world is indeed a more beautiful place for having Kaffe and Brandon in it.
Thanks, Wonder Mike, for the really lovely podcast. - The Kaffe Fassett design that brings me the most joy is the Big Flower jacket from a set called Damask Flower. This jacket was knit for me by a dear friend who was a spinner and weaver. She did it just the way Kaffe would have liked it. She took the pattern as inspiration and then did it her own way. It was the most wonderful gift I have ever received. The entire jacket was knit with hand spun and hand died yarns left from her many projects over years of working as a fiber artist. My friend died of a rare form of blood cancer a few years later. I continued to wear that jacket until it fell apart and I thought of her every time I wore it. I still have a copy of the pattern. Maybe I will try it on my own one day, but it will never be as fabulous or have as many wonderful memories as that original jacket. Thanks Kaffe for a beautiful design that inspired a project given with a lot of love.
- To be honest, I haven't really looked at many Kaffe Fassett or Brandon Mably designs; mostly because they are so far beyond my capability at this point in time. They are gorgous and colorful, and I aspire to some day be able to knit their designs. Thanks for a brilliant show. It was very enjoyable.