Tangled Fall 2012: A Review

Tangled is another knitting magazine I have discovered thanks to my research for this blog. It's a webzine and its patterns are available via download for $6(USD) per pattern. Let's take a look at their most recent batch of patterns, shall we?

The designer of these socks comments that she wanted to use "striped yarn to the max". And did she. These are a lot more fun and more eye-catching than the usual horizontal striped sock.

This is... okay. I very much like the concept but something about it isn't quite working. Maybe it's that a solid colour yarn, or at least one without a horizontal variegation, would have shown the buttoned princess lines to better advantage. Maybe it's the styling, that it looks more like it should be worn over a blouse than by itself — it's a bit heavy-looking to be worn with a summery outfit. And it doesn't help that it's definitely too small to fit this model — see how it's gaping between each button?

I got all excited about this waistcoat when I saw the beautiful back view, and then an "air hissing out of all four tires" feeling when I saw the front. I'm not a fan of the draped-front style in cardigans, let alone the side-wing effect. It's not terrible, but it just looks impractical and kind of sloppy to me.

I haven't seen too many cowl patterns yet, because it's still a relatively new concept, but this one is definitely my favourite so far. I love the ruched pattern and I love the idea of making it long enough that it can be worn either as a scarf or as a cowl. This item is both beautiful and practical.

I really don't like this "military jacket". The neckline looks awkward (one side is pulling up higher than the other). The mismatched buttons are too kitschy and the shade of brown too understated for an item that's aspiring to a military-style smartness. And the jacket just doesn't look flattering on the whole, although that may be because it's a size too small, which is enough to sabotage any design. I would have made this jacket single-breasted (the double breasted look isn't the most flattering on women at the best of times and doesn't look good at all when worn open), and in a sharper colour, and reworked that collar so that it sits right.

I'm including this cardigan pattern even though it's crochet because it's too pretty to be left out, and anyway there only were six patterns in this issue. It really is lovely, though again... it's a half-size too small on this model. And I'd make the sleeves full-length. Elbow or three-quarter sleeve lengths can look good on some women, but they tend to create a horizontal visual line in places where such a line may not be desirable: a woman's midsection or bustline. Before you decide what length to make the sleeves for your next sweater, think about where the line will fall and whether you want it there.