Interweave Knits Summer 2015: A Review

The Summer 2015 issue of Interweave Knits is out. Let's have a look at all the summery knitted goodness within, shall we?

Jubilee Kerchief. Fetching little accessory. If you're the type who can wear a kerchief without looking like something off a Soviet propaganda poster, which I unfortunately am not.

Highlands Headband. Don't care for this one too much. It looks like a Girl Guide craft badge project.

Figure 8 Head Scarf. This one isn't too bad. It has texture and a certain style to it. No link for this one because, as of this writing, the one provided on the Interweave Knits page is broken.

Berkshires Band. This one's better. Good stitchwork.

Olympia Headband. This is one you'll want to wear when you're getting all physical and letting your body talk while you do your Jane Fonda workout tapes on beta. In other words, you'll probably never want to wear it.

Appalachian Thermal. And here we have a sweater with what looks like a bookmark tacked on to the front placket. This sweater needed some interesting detail, but not this particular one.

Bartram Vest. Classic vest with a finished, polished look.

Mount Robson Pullover. A perfect, classic man's sweater. It's amazing how much the stockinette shoulder patches add to the look.





Clove Hitch Tee. Don't care for this one much. It looks okay on a professional model when styled just so, but a long loose top like this would look frumpy on most women. I'd neaten up the fit a bit at least.

Phyllotaxis Hat. Nice little lacy cap.

Wildflower Bolero. I'm torn between thinking this is a rather cute little topper for summer and thinking it looks like it was made out of an afghan. Making this piece in a different yarn would correct the afghan tendency, though.





Dianthus Cardigan. This one has not only a mullet hem but mullet sleeves.





Blue Columbine. This one looks a bit limp and unfinished, and it doesn't hang well.

Trillium Shawl. Lovely.





Western Slope. I like the back of this but the combination of the garter stitch and cables at the front doesn't work that well, and the shape is a little on the baggy side.

Larkspur Shawl. Another lovely shawl.

Chesapeake Jacket. Not a bad little piece. The colourwork is crisp and striking and shape is good. I'd normally advise fixing the slightly dropped shoulders but I doubt it's possible to do that without interfering with the crab pattern at the shoulders.

Magic City Henley. The shape is good, but the colourwork, which is meant to represent Birmingham, Alabama, isn't visually cohesive.





Chrysler Cardigan. Terrific design. It's got a sharp visual appeal, and the shape is both flattering and perfect for the charted design.

Cottage Baby Blanket. Nice piece. I do have a definite soft spot for this kind of very textured solid colour afghan, which always looks luxuriously and elegantly comfortable.

Sock Yarn Braided Trivets. These are adorable, like tiny braided rugs.

Interweave Knits Spring 2015: A Review

Interweave Knits has released their Spring 2015 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Potter's Shawl. Simple little shawl with enough detail to make it attractive. The staging of this photo is a bit of an eye roller, because I can't think of anything less likely to mix well than a hand knit shawl and wet clay. Even Demi Moore managed to be more authentic than this when she mucked about in clay in Ghost (i.e., she went sleeveless and had a shirtless Patrick Swayze draped over her rather than a shawl).

Ribbon Tool Shawl. Pretty, and the shape lends itself to being worn a few ways and to staying in place in general.

Velum Cardigan. I usually don't care for these loose drape front cardigans as they tend to look frumpy on non-model types (which, of course, is most of us), but this one isn't too bad. It lies well and has good texture and detail. I still wouldn't recommend it for a short woman, though.

Beech Leaf Shawl. Not as taken with this one. The rolling inner edge makes it look unfinished, and the shape is a bit awkward.

One Way Tee. Cute little summer top.

Timetable Pullover. The combination of a cropped front hem, lace-trimmed mullet hem, and elbow-length long sleeves just make this one look askew and unfinished.

Five Points Shawl. Nice contemporary-looking piece.

Stone's Throw Socks. Nice! I like the combination of a variegated yarn and a subtle ripple pattern.

Sleeper Car Jacket. This open front cardigan is quite pretty in itself, but it looks frumpy even on the model. I'd be inclined to add some waist shaping and neaten up the fit a bit.

Eastbound Sweater. This shaping is so 1980s, and that's not good. This kind of boxy, oversized fit combined with dropped shoulders does no woman any favours.

See what I mean about this being 1980s shaping? It's so 80s, it's Flashdance.

Second Story Tee. Another nice summer top. The diagonal lines are an effective touch. I do think the piece could use some waist shaping, though.

Union Station Cardigan. Very much like this one, which is pretty and well-shaped, with a visually striking chevron lace pattern. This piece definitely deserved better than to be styled over overalls.

Endless Rose Cowl. The pattern on this is lovely, but the height and stiffness of the cowl does give it an unfortunate resemblance to a neck brace. I'd consider cutting this down a little to suit the neck length of the intended wearer.

Rheya Cardigan. This lacy cardigan is attractive enough, but the fit and the cropped sleeve length is giving it a shrunk-in-the-wash look, and I am having a hard time looking past the pleated shorts they've been paired with. Knife-pleated shorts, Interweave Knits? Really?

Corcoran Pullover. Not favourably impressed with this one. The stitchwork is a little too afghan-like and the model's bra is visible through it.

Miranda Cardigan. Quite like this very wearable, contemporary design. This is my idea of a good open front cardigan that would look good on most women, because the neat shape keeps it flattering and polished-looking.

Gibraltar Henley. Nice looking sweater. I'm imagining it in white or ivory and getting a lot of use as a go-to piece for those occasional chilly summer days or evenings.

Honey Pullover. Great shaping and attractive lace detailing on the sleeves is all this piece needs to make it work. This is one to make in a fresh, bright shade of the intended wearer's favourite colour so she can love wearing it all summer long.

Interweave Knits Winter 2014: A Review

Interweave has published the Winter 2014 issue of Interweave Knits. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

The Fall River Cowl has a nice texture and sits well.

The Quivira Coat. This is a classic Aran coat and the texture is good, but the shaping could do with a little work, such as raising the dropped shoulders and shaping the ribbed neckband so that it sits better.

The Moraine Jacket. I like this one, though I think I'd replace that tied belt with a leather one, or perhaps add a metal buckle to a knitted belt.

The Muir Wrap. I'm not taken with the colours used here, but this is one visually striking wrap.

The Hudson Wrap. This looks too much like an afghan to work as a wrap, but I will say it is quite a nice afghan.

The Bear Lake Cowl. Love the texture of the piece, but not the way it sits. This is one of those "flat tire hung around the neck" cowls.

The Ozark Wrap. Nice piece, but again it's too much like a blanket to work as apparel.

The Tanawha Wrap. This one is just small enough to work as an oversized wrap. Interesting texture and nice colour.

The Zuni Cardigan. Good design. The shawl collar sits well (a lot of shawl collars don't), and the colourwork is subtle and interesting. I wouldn't include the tie belt, though, and I'd advise against knitted tie belts for most people. It's a difficult look to pull off. It isn't even doing this professional model any favours. Waist shaping is a much safer bet.

The Bozeman Hat. Nice slouchy tam in a beautiful colour.

The Trapper Cowl. Very cleverly done knitted tartan pattern.

The Ice Rink Pullover. Love this one. The shape, texture, and cowl neckline are all very well done and make the sweater both comfortable and comely.

The Kittery Point Cardigan. Very pretty new take on the fair isle cardigan.

The Siobhan Blouse. I like this design but would replace the tassel with another cable device. Including the tassel makes this look like something Lady Mary Crawley of Downton Abbey would wear in order to save herself the trouble of actually having to rise from her seat in order to ring for her maid Anna when she wants her hair combed.

The Cocoa Cardigan. Lovely simple cardigan with some distinctive detailing.

The Quadrille Pullover. Nice little pullover with terrific latticed cabled texture. I don't think the choice of a three quarter sleeve length is working that well here, but they are easily lengthened.

Pearl Lake Mitts. Very cute fingerless mitts.

The Caterpillar Cowl. This lace edged cowl has that sad flat tire look when it's worn single, but it looks ever so pretty when worn doubled.

The Modest Pullover. Nice simple pullover, though I think there are better yarn choices for this design. I'd go with a flecked rather than a variegated yarn.

The Wind at Your Back Pullover. This one has good lines and good texture.

The Matalina Pullover. Love this one. The texture's attractive and interesting and as you can see this sweater is unusually flattering for a cabled sweater.