Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 60: A Review

Rowan has released issue 60 of its knitting and crochet magazine. Let's have a look at it!

Ember. This is a Kaffe Fassett design -- and it's available for free from the Rowan website. I rather like this vest, but I am finding the styling choices made here to be rather inexplicable.

Tabert. This design is very "overwhelmed stay-at-home and homeschooling mother of six".

Reiver. I'm really loving the unusual and striking embroidery motifs, but I'd nix the blanket stitched edges and go with a more polished edging.

Braveheart. This scarf is some seriously innovative argyle design. I wish I could get a better look at that sweater.

Barley. Classic cabled sweater and hat with some good shaping.

Balfour. I'm loving the intricate fair isle stripes.

Glen. Some great colourwork here, and I love the cardigan, but I'm not crazy about the shaping of the vest.

Brodie. This one's fun and playful in an adult way. I'd neaten up the shaping of the sweater. The hat is good as is.

Hartwist. The pattern is beautiful, but I would neaten up the fit. Very much liking the scarf with its dots of contrast colour.

Numbus. The colourwork is interesting and evokes the 1940s. I wish I could see the neckline.

Barista. Warm and comfy with some interesting stitchwork.

Cupcake. A classic cabled cardigan that didn't get the buttons it deserved.

Echo. Very much liking the ruched cables on this sweater, which is almost more of a fabric-like effect than one common to knitwear. The shaping is very good as well.

Caliban. I can't properly evaluate this poncho because I can't see it well enough in this photo. All I can say is that it appears to drape well.

Pretzel. This doesn't look too bad when worn belted by a professional model, but I have a feeling it would take a turn for the frumpy when worn open by a civilian.

Havana. This one looks divinely comfortable and I love the loose cable devices. I'd raise the dropped shoulders and neaten up the fit a little -- but only a little, because this is a piece that calls for a relaxed fit.

Reya. Some really lovely two-tone fair isle work in this one.

Granola. Some simple yet effective stitchwork.

Torte. So frumpy, and those short sleeves look ludicrous.

Lorenzo. I like the overall stripe pattern, but would make a few tweaks. The stripes in the cuffs, neckline, and waistband don't quite work with the stripes in the body, and I would also nix that lavender and put in another colour with more oomph and contrast.

Rainey. Nice piece with a beautiful yoke.

Teacake. How perfect is the Rowan's Kidsilk Haze version of this one (inset)? It's nice in the bulkier version as well, but I would go with a more interesting colour.

Brew. Not bad. It's quite wearable at any rate. It could use a more interesting colour.

Nyla. This one has a strikingly graphic appeal.

Mara. This colourwork of this piece is incredibly innovative and cool, but the shaping is terribly unflattering. I'd take the chart and apply it to another piece entirely.

Cookie. I love the all-over leaf bobbles in this one, and the back looks good. I can't see what's going on the front and so have some reservations about it.

Biscotti. A handsome scarf.

Ariel. This is... okay. It's a bit different, and it's wearable, but somehow it isn't quite grabbing me. Perhaps it's the choppy effect of those sections on the sleeves.

Prospero. An okay cowl. It's hard to say more based on this photo because I can't see the detailing.

Umbra. This is rather an elegant coat, though I'd still prefer it to be more shaped.

Shadow Hat & Scarf. I'm liking the beanie version (inset) of the hat rather than the slouchy version, because the edges of the latter look unfinished.

Thorn. The intarsia pattern is excellent and the contrast bands really set the design off.