Knitscene Spring 2019: A Review

Knitscene has released their Spring 2019 issue. Let's have a look at it.

Sandstorm Pullover. Not bad. The lacework bodice is attractive. I would even leave the dropped shoulders in since the seamline works with the design, but I would neaten up the fit.

Tailwind Shawl. Quite an attractive wrap.

Sea Breeze Top. This one's almost a hybrid shawl/top. I like it -- I think it's a way to achieve a shawl-like effect without having to fuss with a shawl.

Jet Stream Cardigan. I usually find these drape front cardigans problematic because they don't tend to sit that well, but I must admit this one appears to advantage in all the sample shots on its Ravelry page. The texture's undeniably good.

Crosswind Shawl. Another pretty stole.

Headwind Shawl. I'm pretty sure this one would give me a "caught in a fish net" feeling. I'm no fan of mesh.

Whirlwind Top. Cute little tunic.

Sirocco Pullover. Very decent, wearable piece.

Turbulence Shawl. Pretty!

Bi-Wing Cardigan. Not bad. The pocket detailing is interesting.

Jetway Cardigan. Nice texture and shaping.

First Class Hoodie. This design was aptly named as it does indeed have more style and polish than the average hoodie.

Runway Top. This is a top that could work with the right styling -- it has a seventies vibe that could potentially be rather stylishly retro -- but this styling is murder. This poor model looks like she's dressed for an afternoon of no-holds barred bingo with her friends Myrtle, Agnes, Beatrice, and Gert.

Utralight Convertible Wrap. Versatile little shawl.

Compass North Pullover. I rather like the effect of the lines of large gauge stitches on this one, but would raise the dropped shoulders.

Static Wick Thermal. Someone designed a sweater with the textural effect of thermal underwear, and I find I am actually very much here for that.

Knitscene Accents: A Review

Today on The Knitting Needle and the Damage Done, we're going to have a look at Knitscene Accents, which is a new spin-off title from the ever-prolific Interweave Press.

Vitality Wrap. Excellent textural interest in this one.

Turning Corners Wrap. Seriously cool mosaic effect in this one.

Breaker Cowl. Nice piece.

Rutted Hat. Wearable neutral piece.

Snowy Peaks Hat. Traditional fair isle hat.

Mixed Bag Cowl. This one's a little rough and ready for my liking. The yarn and the button choice are kind of pleasing at least.

Periphery Shawl. This one has a certain panache.

Midnight Cap. Classic cabled cap.

Pigments Cowl. This one's fabulous. I love that it's not only reversible but striped on the one side and fair isle on the other -- two great looks in one cowl.

Vagarious Hat. I like the pop art feel of this one.

Medleys Shawl. This one's a veritable kaleidoscope of stripes.

Blazing Leaves Mitt. Very pretty. This is one of those patterns that I really enjoy imagining in a variety colour schemes.

Trifecta Shawl. This is a fun and inventive colourblock effect.

Yellow Brick Shawl. An attractive textural effect.

Mottles Hat. This one has a fun look to it, and it appears more complex and time-consuming a knit than it is, because the designer used a variegated yarn to add all the colourful stitches that you see.

Ring-Tailed Bandit Hat. Very cute theme. This would be a good hat for us Torontonians, as we struggle to peacefully co-habit with our large trash panda population. Although I almost feel as though the hat should also feature torn window screens and stressed housecats.

Splash Cowl. This one would be a good way to use up some odds and ends of yarn.

Facile Cowl. Basic but wearable.

Heartbeat Mitts. For the cardiologist or ECG technician in your life!

Bubbly Mitts. Cute mitts!

Knitscene Winter 2018: A Review

Knitscene has released their Winter 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Lake Geneva Sweater. Plain but wearable. This one will require an interesting and/or beautiful to keep it from being too basic.

Shimla Sweater. I hated the "cold shoulder" look when it first came out, but I think I'm actually coming around on it. The other day I actually caught myself looking at a Vogue Pattern two-piece outfit design with shoulder cut-outs on their website and thinking, "Maybe this spring....?" I don't mind this sweater. It's actually quite fetching. I would however change the construction to get rid of that sleeve seam and to continue the ribbing all along the length of the sleeves. To accomplish this, I would knit the sleeves at the same time as I did the shoulders by casting on enough extra stitches for it.

Suncadia Sweater. Nice, and I like that contemporary block chain effect, but I would shorten the sleeves and make them a tapered, rather than a flared, cuff.

Great Falls Sweater. Nice piece with an attractive cable effect.

Seabrook Sweater. I like this sheer sweater, but styling it is going to be a bit tricky. I think the thing to do is wear an underlayer that's just slightly shorter than the sweater and to leave it untucked in order to avoid creating any horizontal lines underneath this piece, because all I see when I look at this photo is that distracting waistline colour change.

Meadowlark Garden Sweater. I like this tunic quite a lot on the whole, but I would definitely fix the mullet hem.

Benson Top. Not bad. I think I'd go with more interesting yarn or more interesting buttons, as this one could do with a little oomph.

Celadon Raglan. I rather like this one, though I think I'd like it better if the shoulder cut-outs were a little smaller.

Wiltshire Headband. Your basic headband.

Pocono Cocoon. I'm not entirely sure what this is, but I don't think I care for it. It looks like an unfortunate shawl-sweater hybrid.

Wiltshire Vest. Here we have a shawl with armholes. It has such a sloppy look.

Bricktown Hat. Standard cabled hat.

Ouray Pullover. Standard roomy bulky turtleneck.

Empire Bluff Cowl. This cowl really stands out visually. Nice work.

Millcroft Shawl. Love the crisp, attractive stripes on this shawl.

Willow Winds Hat. Nice little cabled cap.

Longwood Scarf. The snowflake-like detail on the end of this otherwise perfectly simple garter stitch scarf really turns it into something special.

Morehead Pullover. Not a bad tweedy-looking sweater. Though I believe I do detect a hint of mullet hem.

Black Forest Cowl. This little cowl has a rather sharp, contemporary appeal.

Black Forest Hat. I also very much like the hat version of the cowl above.