Creative Knitting Summer 2018: A Review

Creative Knitting has released their Summer 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it.

Donna Pullover. Some really interesting stitchwork in this -- note how the cables in the sidepanels on the front are diagonal. The dull oatmeal colour of this yarn does not do this pattern justice.

Maureen Pullover. Quite pretty and wearable.

Sandra Cardigan. I can't quite get past the "beach blanket with sleeves" vibe of this one.

Wendy Cardigan. Not bad. It sits well and has decent shaping.

Angela Tee. I'm liking the lace on the bottom, and the neckline, but that front pleat does not do this design any favours -- it gives the shape a dowdy look.

Cecilia Headwrap/Shawl. This shawl is as simple as it gets. The fun variegated yarn used on this sample can pretty much carry it, but I'd still pick a design with a little telling detail rather than this one.

Sylvia Shawl. Beautiful lacework in this one, and that is one gorgeous yarn. It's Hedgehog Fibres Silk/Merino Lace, and it looks beautifully soft and luscious.

Yvonne Vest. Not bad. Wrap style designs tend to be tricky to get right, but this one sits pretty well.

Baby Turtleback. Adorable. Sometimes a non-knitted embellishment, such as the chiffon ribbon used here, adds a lot to a design.

Cotton Candy. This is one I wouldn't do in a variegated yarn, as it makes difficult to see and appreciate the lacework in the skirt and gives the outfit a busy, fussy look.

My Only Sunshine. This has a crude, unattractive look. The only nice thing I can about this one is that I like the idea of a child's jumper with an accompanying knitted toy for the pocket.

Bertram Tank. Not bad. I like the chevron pattern in the body. I would add some sort of edging to the neck and armhole edges as they look a little unfinished as is.

Cyril Ruana. Big drapey wraps like this are not normally my thing, but there's no denying this is an impressively high-impact piece.

Joanna Shawl. There are more carefully finished striped shawl patterns out there. I'd go with one of them rather than this one.

Nigel Shawl. A fun and attractive mitred square shawl.

Creative Knitting Spring 2018: A Review

Today we're going to have a look at Creative Knitting's Spring 2018 issue.

Below the Pier. This is a rather attractive piece, but I can't help thinking that given its rectangular shape -- which is an awkward shape for a shawl -- it would look better sized up somewhat and left on a couch.

Buttercup Tunic. Beautiful stitchwork in this, but that enlongated sleeve and body length isn't for every woman. However, it's easy to shorten the pattern to suit the intended wearer.

Cabotage Cardigan. Not a fan of this one. Open front cardigans tend to look too small (and this isn't one of the exceptions) and the rolling edges look unfinished.

Cruising Cowlette. This is a pretty little scarf.

Elland Shawl. This is a beautiful wrap with great shaping and texture.

Everywhere Eyelets. This isn't bad. The asymmetrical panel in the front may be making me a little twitchy, but I'm doing my best to firmly suppress that, as it has a rather offbeat appeal. This sweater would be a fun one to do in a crazy variegated yarn and to wear with jeans.

Hilo Cardigan. This piece, with its smocked-like yoke and cap sleeves, is quite cute. I totally could not carry this look off personally, but it would be adorable on the gamine type who could.

Peach Pullover. A standard tee. This is one to make in an interesting yarn.

Princeville Vest. Not a fan of this one, but I think I might like it better if it were made in a more interesting yarn with a more attractive buckle. It looks a little too plain and sensible this way, and consequently has the effect of some sort of 1920s undergarment, and I'm not talking about the undergarment found on the kind of twenties-era girl who danced the Charleston and carried a flask in one of her garters.

Scarlet Skies. Not bad. Both shaping and stitchwork are good.

Shifting Cypress. Beautiful lacework in this.

Skygate Stole. Love the gradient colour used here, and the stitchwork is lovely, but I do wish the designer had gone with another shape than rectangular.

Smooth Sailing Shawl. This is kind of fun in an offbeat way. I can't help thinking the shawl didn't get the best styling here, and isn't being shown to advantage.

Temple Valley Vest. I'm not a fan of these long, draped, trailing vests. They're impractical and don't tend to be too flattering. Even this professional model isn't quite working this carefully styled and posed look.

Topsail Tee. I'm quite liking the fan motif on the yoke, and the shaping isn't bad, but I would add some sort of trim to the sleeves and neckline to make them look finished. That neckline looks positively ragged.

Waterdrop Pullover. Good shaping and finishing, and I like that this designer did something new with the eyelet pattern by giving the eyelets a teardrop shape.

Creative Knitting Winter 2017: A Review

Creative Knitting magazine has released its Winter 2017 issue. Let's have a look at it.

Bodacious Bobble Hat. Cute, though I can think of better colourways for it.

Color Play Vest. This looks for all the world like a bathmat with a button on it.

Color Theory Throw. I love this one without qualification.

Cozy Cabin Cowl. This has a slightly rough, patched-together look.

Kireina Cardigan. Very attractive stitchwork in this one, and good shaping, though I would add another inch or so to the depth of that collar. As you can see, it's not lying flat even in this photo.

Knit & Weave Cowl. This is another cowl that has a patchy, tacked-together look.

Rainy Day Reading Socks. Cute, cheerful socks.

Beguiling Basket-Weave Cap & Scarf. This is a handsome hat and scarf set with good texture, and it would work with most jackets and coats.

On the Edge. The Ravelry page for this pattern calls it a dress and Creative Knitting's blurb calls it a poncho. I'd call it a tunic, myself, and given that it's so bulky, not a terribly flattering one. It's never a good sign when a model needs to cock her hip and put one hand on her waist to make a design look good.

Transitional Tunic. Nice detailing at the neck and cuffs, but this A-line shape may be a tricky one to wear.

Weekender Pullover. Bland simple pullover with dropped shoulders. There are better basic patterns out there.

Wrapture. Knit coats can be hard to wear, but this isn't bad at all. It sits quite well. It's very simple and neutral, but that means that it'll go with the maximum number of outfits, and the mohair-like texture keeps it from being boring. I'd do this in a beautiful quality, textured yarn in a colour that is a pleasure to look at, and use some sort of interesting fastener for the toggle, like a brooch. I'd also fix the dropped shoulders.

Archways Hat. Cute cabled hat.

Bisqueware Poncho. This sits so well, and the colourway's lovely.

Cables on the Catwalk. I rather like this one. It's bulky, but it's well shaped enough that it doesn't swamp the model, and it would turn a simple outfit into something interesting.

Wandering Cables. I'm less than enthused about this one. I usually am an easy sell on a cable cardigan, but this one has such a bulky, awkward look to it, with its dropped shoulders and deep neckline.

Ski Lodge Wrist Warmers. I'd put half-thumbs on these. The design looks like it's been amputated as is.