Knitscene Summer 2016: A Review

Knitscene has released its Summer 2016 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Lignon Cardigan. This one, with its asymmetrical collar detail, reminds me of a 4-H knitting project my sister once did when she was about 14. As she earnestly explained it to me and my mother, "I made a mistake in the back and didn't see it in time, so I made a matching one in the front, only I didn't get it as high." Other than the collar, I do like this piece with its dotted effect, and in the pictures where it is buttoned it is clear that it is a well-shaped piece.

Capillary Scarf. This one looks like a very long, skinny shopping bag.

Rosulate Tank. I'm not a fan of asymmetry, but this one is fine. Two ruffles would have been a little too precious, and the lacework and shaping are very good.

Cordia Tank. I haven't a fault to find with this one. Nicely finished piece, and I love that cinnamon red yarn.

Commelina Scarf. Both attractive and visually interesting.

Alpinia Tank. Liking the linear-style lacework on this one, which would make a nice cover up for the beach.

Helconia Wrap. This piece is not actually a wrap, as both its name and this picture suggest, but a loose cardigan. It's a lovely piece in terms of stitchwork and drape, if a little too Golden Girls in style for me.

Ipomoea Scarf. I can see this one going fairly well with very casual summer clothes.

Arundina Tee. Very fetching little top for summer. The yarn choice is particularly good for this design.

Mere Skirt. Lovely little airy piece for summer. This one would be such a welcome find in a woman's closet on a hot day.

Rogue Wave Socks. I like these socks on the whole, but they do look unfinished at the top, as though they just stop.

Buoyant Sweater. Not bad, and I do like the tie-dyed yarn used here, but I would fix those dropped shoulders.

Barachois Tunic. I actually rather like this one's minimalist, "she's come undun" style. Shorter women might have trouble carrying off the length, but it can always be scaled down to suit them.





Soliton Vest. The back of this item looks pretty good, but the front looks like an unfinished piece the model is trying on for size.

Seiche Tank. Love the lace detail on the yoke of this tank, though, as A-line shapes are not my friend, I'd be reshaping it.

Anil Cardigan. The lacework at the shoulders is pretty, but cardigan's general effect is that of a rumpled and stretched-out piece.

Tinctoria Tee. This mullet hem is working better and more stylishly than mullet hems usually do, but I think I'd still be making the front and back hems of equal length. The design is quite good otherwise, and this would make a useful overlayer for summer.

Billabong Tee. Another one of those minimal designs that work quite well. The shaping is good and the overall effect is "can't be bothered to dress up much and want to be cool and comfortable but still have style" -- which is the perfect chord to strike in summer.

Atoll Cowl. A light, simple cowl for summer.

Knitscene Spring 2016: A Review

The Knitscene Spring 2016 issue is out. Let's have a look at it.

Siula Grande Sweater. Simple useful piece with some good shaping.

Salcantay Cowl. The perfect accessory for the last day of those Outward Bound excursions when the only clean clothes you have left are pieces that don't match at all. Mind you, I'm making fun of the styling, rather than the cowl, which I quite like. It has a certain understated style and would elevate many an outfit, though it's wasted on this one.

Mismi Shawl. Another nice little piece. The two-tone yarn gives it a more casual look than a single yarn colour would, though it is still not Outward Bound-level casual.

Chachani Hat. This little cap does belong on an Outward Bound expedition, as well as a lot of other places.

Robie Tank. I like this one on the whole, but I wouldn't go with this variegated yarn because it gives the design the look of a disco ball.

Glass Palace Tee. This is a cute top with some sporty-looking detailing. Though I don't know if I would recommend it as an accompaniment to a long, full, laser-cut skirt, wedge-heeled sandals, and a workbench.

Savoye Pullover. Love the large scale check pattern and the neck. Don't love the dropped shoulders, and the cropped, baggy fit of both the body and the sleeves, but if you don't like them either, it's always possible to reshape the design.

Monadnock Tank. A classic, pretty piece.

Modern Tartan Slouch. This one's quite smart. And fortunately there's no need to pair it with a floral romper.

Tribune Pullover. The slits in this one wouldn't ordinarily be my thing, but I think they work for this design by giving it a bit of a modern edge. The texture and shaping are also good.

Marina City Shawl. This is one of those understated pieces that only reveal their beauty and elegance upon closer inspection. Love the star stitch used here. This is also one versatile and practical item.

Geodesic Mitts. These are super cute in a very smart, adult way.

Natalia Sweater. Lovely design, although I think there are a myriad of better colourways for it than this one, which looks a little wan.

Dinah Pullover. Really liking this one's minimalist yet polished style.

Wanda Vest. A classic. Though I'd pick a less dreary colour for it to rid it of that "post-war army surplus yarn" look.

Helena Gloves. These are rather fetching in a vintage-y way.

Greer Cardigan. I like this design on the whole, though I do have some nitpicks. Those sleeves are rather too full in the cap, creating an almost puffed sleeve effect, and the contrast colour edgings look a little afghan-y, though might look less so in a more subtle colourway. Making the sleeves more fitted and the colourway more sophisticated would take this design to the next level.

Yelena Cardigan. Classic cardigan with beautiful stitchwork.

Sharon Tote. This is one of those good concepts that didn't get where they deserved to go. I love the idea of a tartan bag, and the bow is a cute touch, but the straps used here are so at variance with the rest of the bag that they detract from the overall look. I'd buy (or make) straps for the bag before I made my yarn selection, and then choose yarns that would work well with the straps. I'd also line the bag with fabric, and probably also a sturdy interlining, to give it stability and shape.

Peggy Sweater. I like the concept of a back-revealing sweater for summer, but can't say I care for this particular execution of it, which presents more as a "saggy wardrobe malfunction" than a deliberate "I'm bringing sexy back".

Knitscene Winter 2015: A Review

The Knitscene Winter 2015 issue is out. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

The Queen Street Sweater. This is the cover design, and I can't say I agree that it deserves to be so featured. Despite the fact that this design employed a good quality silk, wool, and mohair blend yarn, it looks slightly shrunken and ratty and like something you'd keep for wearing around home. Incidentally, this sweater and the following five designs were given Toronto-related names as the two sisters who designed them are based in Toronto. Queen Street West is Toronto's street fashion, vintage clothing, and textile district; I go down there quite regularly to buy yarn, fabric, or other sewing supplies. Admittedly, one does see understated clothes like this on Queen Street West. It's not Yorkville, which is the high-end fashion district.

Bay and Gable Tunic. This one's better and has a rather nice, polished look. The bracelet-length sleeves and tunic length won't be to everyone's taste but are easily altered. The Bay and Gable name refers to an architectural style that is ubiquitous among Toronto's century homes.

Deep Woods Toque. Cute! I like the leaf motif and the thin line of colour with the matching pom pom. This design must have been inspired by the fact that one cannot live through a winter in Ontario without a toque.

Casa Loma Jacket. Not bad. This would make a nice topper for a cool day. I think I'd shape it a little more generously so it would meet in the front, as it looks a little too small on the wearer this way. I suppose the gray stone-like texture relates the sweater to Casa Loma, Toronto's one and only castle, a Gothic revival style mansion erected a century ago by a Canadian millionaire.

Yorkville Wrap. Attractive and polished wrap. This model would look quite apropos strolling around Yorkville, which as I mentioned above is Toronto's high-end fashion district, the Toronto equivalent of New York's Fifth Avenue.

Little Norway Pullover. A simple yet finished-looking and wearable design. The sweater is both a Norwegian-esque style and has a design that resembles military uniform chevrons, both of which tie it thematically to a bit of Toronto history I had never happened to hear about, the existence of Little Norway, a WWII-era Toronto training base for Norwegian air force personnel.

Red Loop Pullover. Classic cabled men's pullover.

Kaolin Tunic. Love the detailing on this (the collar looks fantastic), but am less than enthusiastic about the shaping. Very loose tunics like this tend to be unflattering on a lot of women. I'd turn this into a standard fit sweater, or at least make it not more than slightly oversized.

Field Notes Cardigan. I like this piece but am not sure about that slightly off-centre front fastening. It doesn't look quite asymmetrical enough to look deliberate and looks more like a mistake than a design feature.

The Hepsemantic Sweater. Nice piece. I like linear quality of the stitchwork, which gives a basic design a distinctive look.

Trapunto Vest. Nice-looking and incredibly useful piece. It's even reversible.

Chamei Pullover. Not a bad design. I'd want to knit this one in an especially attractive variegated yarn to give it a bit of a lift.

Snowfall Sweater. Adorable, except for the neckline, which looks too unfinished for my taste.

Fire Isle Sweater. Love this twist on the fair isle sweater. This design would have been my pick for the cover. I would fix those dropped shoulders, though.

Buffalo Checks Scarf. This has both a collegiate appeal and is adult enough for anyone well past their college days to wear. Also this looks like a great stash-busting project.

Vänskap Mittens. These look a little too juvenile for my tastes.

Northern Hat. Not a bad style, but I'm not liking how roughly the chevron motif was done.

Morphing Cowl. Wearable cowl.

Quetzal Cowl. This cowl is knitted in a scarf-like shape and then the ends are whip-stitched together to form a cowl. I'm not sure that the resulting formation works all that well. The pictures at the link provided show the cowl worn several different ways, and they all look more like something that belongs in a magazine spread rather than a style one would wear in real life. The lacework is lovely, as is the yarn used.

Finial Hat. Ooh, I like this one and would totally wear it.

Hotpoint Socks. Nifty!