Knit Simple Spring & Summer 2019: A Review

Today we're going to have a look at Knit Simple's Spring & Summer 2019 issue.

Pattern #1, Lace Cardigan. Not a bad basic design. I'd raise the dropped shoulders.

Pattern #2, One-Button Cardigan. This one has nice texture and a decent shape and would make a useful summer top layer.

Pattern #3, Striped Cardigan. Another useful basic piece.

Pattern #4, Textured Cardigan. Decent use of texture and shape here.

Pattern #5, Oversized Cardigan. I don't think the shape of this one works all that well. Knitwear is usually too bulky to carry a kimono shape.

Pattern #6, Short-Sleeve V-Neck Cardigan. This is very plain, but the shaping is good and it sits well, and one can always go with an interesting yarn and/or buttons to spice up a piece if it's too utilitarian.

Pattern #7, Malibu Ripple Shawl. Normally I'd say something like this is too "granny's afghan", but the blue and white ripples are so evocative of waves on the shore that the feel is summery and beachy rather than "this belongs on a couch". The shape is also good.

Pattern #8, Lace-Edge Cowl. This one is very fetching and interesting.

Pattern #9, Shell Cowl. This one looks a little messy and unfinished for my liking.

Pattern #10, Lacy Cowl. Love the offbeat colour combination, and the stitchwork is good.

Pattern #11, Ripple Scarf. A nice gradient effect, and the lace pattern is attractive.

Pattern #12, Lace-Fringed Scarf. Basic lace scarf.

Pattern #13, Rectangular Shawl. Attractive and wearable wrap.

Pattern #14, Diagonal Eyelet Wrap. Nice combination of gradient colour and a simple diamond pattern.

Pattern #15, Flower Motifs. This one has that "my kid made it at craft camp and now I have to at least pretend to like it and use for a month or two until I can make it discreetly disappear" look.

Pattern #16, String of Flowers Scarf. This one's a little "trying too hard" to be really wearable, and I hate to think how much it would catch on everything.

Pattern #17, Crocheted Garland. I honestly can't think of a use for this one. I suppose it could be used to decorate a yarn store.

Pattern #18, Butterfly Pin. The model's moue of distaste says it all.

Pattern #19, Child's Afghan. A simple yet graphically striking design. This one would look good done full-size too.

Pattern #20, Pillow Set. The pillows aren't bad, but tacking cheesy knitted poppies onto them do them no favours.

Pattern #21, Romper. Very cute, but I can't help but feel that I'd just have to take this design a few steps farther by putting the bunny's backside on the back of the romper, and come up with a frontal bunny design for the right side of the romper.

Pattern #22, Bunny Blanket. Very cute!

Pattern #23, Bunny Cable Blanket. Quite like this design's elegantly simple rendering of a bunny figure in cables.

Pattern #24, Bunny Cable Pullover. A worthy companion to the blanket above.

Pattern #25, Carrot-Car Pullover. This design's a little crude, and I'm left with the unfortunate impression that the carrot has almost entirely eaten the bunny and is making a quick getaway with the grisly trophy of its head.

Pattern #26, Watermelon Hat, and Pattern #27, Watermelon Pullover. Cute set. Watermelons do seem to lend themselves to particularly sweet designs for kids.

Pattern #28, Watermelon Hat with Bobbles. I like the one above better than this one. It's more polished and instantly recognizable as a watermelon.

Pattern #29, Knit/Tulle Dress. Nice little wrap bodice, though the tulle skirt doesn't quite seem to belong to it. I'd be inclined to either coordinate the colour of the tulle with the bodice, or just make bodice as a sweater that can be worn on its own.

Pattern #30, Striped Socks. I like both the pattern and the yarn used.

Pattern #31, Watermelon Blanket. Adorable!

Knit Simple Winter 2018: A Review

Today we're going to have a look at Knit Simple's Winter 2018 issue.

Pattern #1, Quilted Block Cowl. What an attractive combination of colour and texture. Of course you'll need this particular self-striping yarn to recreate the look.

Pattern #2, Headband. Basic.

Pattern #3, Slouchy Hat. Not bad. Could be slouchier.

Pattern #4, Pillow. In case you need any more knitting motivation.

Pattern #5, Mittens. I don't think I'd fold up the cuff on these mittens, as they look a little too short in proportion to the rest of the mitten that way.

Pattern #6, Striped Scarf. I like it, but I think it needs fringes or some other finishing touch at the ends.

Pattern #7, Crescent Shawl. Nice shawl, though that dull colour doesn't do it any favours.

Pattern #8, Slipper Socks. These are warm and comfortable-looking, and the shaping is good.

Pattern #9, Teapot Cozy. That's a pretty yarn, but I'd like to see it used to make something with a little more style.

Pattern #10, V-Neck Poncho. I normally don't like cropped length pieces, but the length does work here, as this piece would be frumpy at a hip length. As is, it's a rather nice little topper with a shawl collar that sits impressively well.

Pattern #11, Fingerless Mitts. Very decent little mitts.

Pattern #12, Twisted Rib Hat. Some very attractive stitchwork in this one.

Pattern #13, A-Line Dress. A cute child's dress.

Pattern #14, Blanket. That's an unusually smart-looking baby blanket.

Pattern #15, Hooded Jacket. I kind of wish this jacket had a little more finish to it, but it would be a useful piece and a good stash busting project.

Pattern #16, Sweater Set. Cute!

Pattern #17, Lapghan. Looking at this I keep thinking how the edges of that little lap afghan is going to let cold air in every time its user shifts position, which probably means I'm more the afghan type than the "lapghan" type.

Pattern #18, Cowl. This one's a bit rough for my taste but it's serviceable enough.

Pattern #19, Long Scarf. Decent basic scarf.

Pattern #20, Pom Pom Hats. Not a bad-looking easy hat. I do like the furry pom poms that have come on the market in recent years. They add a lot to a simple knitted cap.

Pattern #21, Roll-Neck Pullover. So frumpy and unflattering. Even the poor model's all, "Look, I'm doing my best here, but I'm a model, not a fairy godmother."

Pattern #22, Turtleneck Pullover. A decent piece. That's a rather inventive stripe effect.

Pattern #23, Floral Granny Square Afghan. This looks like something I'd see in a thrift store... and walk quickly past.

Pattern #24, Granny Square Bag. I'm pretty sure that if I made this bag, it would turn on me, changing my name to Betty, sewing pinch pleats in my trousers, and dyeing my hair blue in my sleep.

Pattern #25, Pom Pom Hat and Mittens. Cute set.

Pattern #26, Scarf. I rather like the concept of a patterned end on a solid colour scarf.

Pattern #27, Cowl. Nice cowl. Though I can't figure out whether that motif is supposed to be people or trees, and it's beginning to bug me.

Pattern #28, Blanket. People or trees? OR ARE THEY TREE PEOPLE?