Knitscene Spring 2020: A Review

Knitscene has released its Spring 2020 issue. Let's take a look at it, shall we?

Alongside Slouch. Not a bad-looking minimalist slouch cap.

Arced Shawl. This one might have gone too far in the afghan direction, but its shaping keeps it wearable -- it seems to drape well. And it also looks as though it would be cozier than many of the shawl designs I see.

Arrows Shawl. Simple, pretty, and wearable.

Crosswise Top. Not a bad little top. The combination of mesh, heel stitch, and bubble-shaped elbow sleeves makes for a different look. I don't care for the way the wearer's bra straps show through the mesh, but then strapless bras and tank tops exist for a reason.

Currents Shawl. What lovely stitchwork.

Darts Pullover. I have quite a strong inclination for this kind of sweater design. This design is so simple overall that it will go with jeans or a skirt and can be worn nearly anywhere, while having just enough detail to make it visually interesting. The happy owner of this sweater will be able to wear it until it's worn out. But I would fix the dropped shoulders.

Ellipsoidal Shawl. Another beautiful piece of stitchwork.

Garter Grooves Cardigan. This cardi sits so poorly that it's frumpy even on this professional model.

Gauzy Tee. I kind of love this, which would be such an airy, pretty, casual piece for nice spring days. I would neaten up the fit though.

Herbage Tee. This top is very pretty and wearable, and probably almost universally flattering.





Netted Tank Top. Rather like the contemporary, casual vibe of this one.

Peaks & Valleys Shawl. This issue is really batting a thousand on its shawls.

Sidelong Tee. The overall design is fine. I'd neaten up the fit.

Swingy Top. Not bad, but I think I'd definitely go with the Herbage Tee in preference to this design, as its shape is easier to carry off and I like that the lacework appears at both the bottom and sleeve hems. The sleeves of this one look a little plain compared to the bottom hem.

Trilateral Cowl. Attractive contemporary-style pattern, and it sits well.

Trilogies Hat & Cowl. This one would be an excellent stash buster, and it's a nice-looking and wearable set.

Interweave Crochet Winter 2020: A Review

Today marks a slight departure for the site. I have never reviewed a crochet magazine before, but have been asked a number of times over the years to consider doing so. I have finally come to the point of deciding I will try crochet design reviewing on for size, and see how I do with it and what the response is. I can crochet (the receipts are here and here), and have spoken out about the value of crochet, but am not as skilled at crochet as I am with knitting, so I hope you'll all bear with me as I take a stab -- or should I say a right hook? -- at reviewing Interweave Crochet's Winter 2020 issue.





Bergschrund Shrug. This isn't bad -- it hangs pretty well and is simple enough to work with a variety of looks. The back looks pretty good too.

But I can't say I care for the second suggested way to wear this shrug -- it has a choppy, awkward look, and I'd be inclined to think the wearer put it on in the dark and hasn't caught sight of herself in the mirror since.

Carmine Wrap. The Tunisian stitchwork looks a little crude for my liking, but kudos to the styling department, who have made this scarf look almost chic.

Catena Scarf. The two-colour relief is a pretty decent effect.

Chill Snowman. This is really cute, but I do get the feeling that this snowman would ignore me if I asked him for directions to the North Pole.

Cooper Scarf. Pretty basic, but wearable enough.

Drumlin Scarf. Love both the texture and the yarn used here, and this wrap drapes so well.

Esker Cowl. Nice use of a gradient yarn and a simple ridged texture.

Firn Capelet. I'm not really sold on this hooded capelet, which bears slightly too much resemblance to some kind of amorphous blob that is eating this woman's head.

Foldover Mitts. Not bad. I can't help but think wistfully how much they look like a ribbed pair of knitted mitts.;)

Journal Cover. I like the idea, but find the execution a little crude. I'd be inclined to sew the leather part to the crocheted part with a sewing machine rather than using that uneven running stitch. One can glimpse the original cover of the notebook at the bottom in one of the shots, which bugs me, but I don't know how those could be entirely hidden.

Kame Cowl. I don't much like this, but I think I'd like it better if it weren't for the colour scheme. Those gray and aqua colours do nothing for each other.

Ogive Cardigan. I have my suspicions as to how this pleasant little cardi sits and/or hangs when the wearer isn't pulling on it with both hands.

Randkluft Scarf. This has a haphazard, "crocheted out of scrap pieces of yarn which ran out in random points in the row" look.

Rimaye Cowl. I'm actually really digging the contemporary objet d'art vibe of this one. It's Tunisian crochet, which is why it looks so much like knitting.

Sashiko Clutch. Sashiko is a form of Japanese embroidery that dates back to the seventeenth century. The embroidery on this little clutch, which borrows from that tradition, is really quite smart and eye-catching.

Serac Pullover. The collar says, "Snuggle down and get comfortable!". The open stitch texture says, "Have an intimate encounter with every draft and protrusion/rough surface in your vicinity!" I can't deny I rather like the look of this piece, but it is wildly impractical.

Sheepback Scarf. Pretty wrap.

Wee Bandana. I suppose if you've always wanted to make your wee baby or widdle pet look like a wee outlaw, this might be just the thing. On a slightly more practical note, it will also work as a bib, and be a chance for beginner to expand their Tunisian crochet technique.

Vogue Knitting Late Winter 2020: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released their Late Winter 2020 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

#01, Overlapping Patches. When I saw the preview photo for this design on the VK website, I thought how much it looked like a Kaffe Fassett pattern. And then, upon viewing its Ravelry page, I learned it was in fact a Kaffe Fassett piece. His aesthetic is as distinctive as a fingerprint. The quilt-like design is a fun direction for knitting, and his colourway is masterful as always.

#02, Sunday Brunch. A very decent casual, relaxed piece. The collar sits well.

#03, Tea Time. The cardigan's nice, but I'm not sure how I feel about the combination of the (attached) collar and the standard v-neck of the cardigan. It looks a bit silly to me, but then it is a new look, and sometimes I mellow (or simply get worn down) on a new look that I disliked at first after I have had time to get used to them.

#04, Cocktail Hour. No need for me to mellow on this look -- I love it and would totally wear it myself. It makes me think of Joan Holloway's dictum of 1960, "Men like scarves." (For the record, I don't think men do find scarves an especial draw on women, and that 15-20 years later a more liberated Joan Holloway Harris would put it, "I like scarves.")

#05, Striped Pullover. This is an interesting and smart contemporary look. While I'm prone to suggest neatening up the fit/shape of designs, in this case I wouldn't, as I think this is a design that requires a loose shape and geometric lines.

#06, Fluo Flow. This one verges on afghan territory, but I think it remains just within bounds of wearing apparel. I rather like the way they've styled it.

#07, Ringwald. A classic open front cardigan.

#08, Ice Pop. I love the tartan pattern, but I would correct the dropped shoulders. I'm not crazy about the colourway, but then few knitters use the sample colours/yarn anyway. Picking out colours you love is part of the fun of knitting your own pieces.

#09, Vibes. Not bad. I won't suggest fixing the dropped shoulders, because I think that the lines of the brioche stitchwork make them work in this case, but I would suggest a new colourway, as this one is a little retina-searing.

#10, Geode. Very much like this one, with its striking abstract yoke detail.

#11, Gamine. Comfy "around home" sweater.

#12, Kyoto. This cowl is essentially a lovely sampler of knitting patterns. It looks better worn double than in "deflated inner tub" style, of course, but I've used this photo so you can see the stitchwork in it.

#15, Lady Susan. This collar is a lovely thing in itself, but I am not sure how one would actually wear it. I don't like the way it's styled here -- I think a crewneck sweater would pair better with this collar.

#16, Wentworth. With the last pattern ("Lady Susan"), we entered a Jane Austen category of design, in which the aesthetic takes a turn for the antique. The stitchwork on this capelet is beautiful, and it will add a touch of period drama to a classic outfit.

#17, Miss Bingley. This looks like one of the lesser designs in Knit Simple. Poor Caroline Bingley not only did not succeed in attracting Mr. Darcy, but must needs be saddled with... this.

#18, Morland. Love this one. It's both handsome and practical.

Neutral Gear Cabled Turtleneck. This a "from the archives" design, originally published in the 2002 special men's issue. It's classic menswear.

Lattice Cabled. Another reprint, this time from the Holiday 1986 issue. It's aged just as well as the previous pattern, which is to say -- not at all. But then that's menswear for you.