It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Modern Daily Knitting’s little Field Guides around here. Each time we get news of a new one, there’s excited chatter around A-C Knitwear HQ about just how lush the latest offering will be. We eagerly await the first sneak peek for wholesalers, then it’s a matter of counting the days until we can share the beauty with you all. For this latest Field Guide, keeping mum has been especially hard. Joyous, riotous, genius — all words we’ve been throwing around to describe Kaffe Fassett’s impeccable, irresistible designs for Field Guide No. 16: Painterly. Buckle your seat belts, this is going to be a wild ride.

Kaffe Fassett really needs no introduction — his totally unique way with colours has been celebrated for decades! Last year, he delighted us with Field Guide No. 13: Master Class, a mediation on stripes and stranded colourwork. This autumn, he has another treat in store for us: simple, rhythmic intarsia.

At its heart, Painterly is all about knitting simple rectangles that become scarves, throws, cushion covers or cowls. The rectangles are a canvas on which Kaffe paints the sort of patterns that are only achievable with intarsia. Because the motif shapes are pleasingly geometric, the patterns are fabulous for uninitiated intarsi-stas or for the intarsi-agnostic. There are plenty of tips, all presented with Ann and Kay’s usual verve (gems like “we don’t worry about wobbly stitches” and “we let the yarn flow and pull from the tangle”). We’re willing to bet you’ll be knitting incandescent intarsia in no time and wondering just where it’s been all your life. (And if you need any extra help, we’ve got intarsia videos on our YouTube channel and more coming soon!) .

Enough with the preamble though … let’s look at some patterns!

2020 has been a year when many of us have spent lots of time at home, so something about the Village Scarf (Ravelry link) feels very right for the times. The repeating house motif used in the scarf is fairly literal, and I love how, depending on which way you look at it, you can see rows of orderly houses or fairly abstract shapes. It’s a project that exudes cosiness …. I can imagine happily knitting along it through the darkest days of winter!

And while we’re on the subject of houses, there are two delightful patterns to help you Kaffe-ify your space. The Kites Throw (Ravelry link) is made up of colourful triangles, reminiscent of the brightest and jolliest patchwork quilt. For those wanting a smaller project to enliven the couch, there are the I-cushions — one pattern, with the choice of two motifs, and judicious use of i-cord trim (swoon).

A second scarf, with blocks that recall cityscapes, and a very clever cowl, round out the collection. One of the things that Field Guides do so well is put together patterns that build on each other. You can try out these motifs on a cushion or cowl, or dive straight into a giant cosy scarf or blanket. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong.

These patterns are great for experimenting with colour: seeing how different shades behave next to one another and how one small change can really change a pattern’s look. All the samples use Kaffe-classic Rowan Felted Tweed. We don’t stock it, but you can find a nice range of colours at our local, Frome Yarn Collective (they ship within the UK) or at Modern Daily Knitting (great for the USA and Canada). We also think it could be fun to try these patterns using Jamieson & Smith 2ply Jumper Weight, held double — imagine the possibilities! Jen’s dived into her Felted Tweed stash and already made a start on the Cityscape Scarf and Watercolor Cowl:

And I’m hoping to dip into my J&S box and pick some colours for the I-Cushion shortly. I think that’d be a joyful project to knit on over the next few months!

You can grab your copy of Field Guide No. 16: Painterly over in the online shop — why not make it a Kaffe double feature and grab No. 13: Master Class while you’re at it? And we’ve also got a great range (if we do say so ourselves) of other Field Guides in stock — each packed with a punch of fabulous patterns and ever so conveniently sized for stocking stuffing. Thanks to exchange rate changes, we’ve been able to bring the price of the Field Guides down to £13.00. Happy intarsia-ing!