Knitter's Magazine K119: A Review

Knitter's Magazine has released issue number 119. Let's have a look at it.

Circle the Square afghan. Nice-looking piece. I like the integration of traditional lace and geometric lines.

Mint Cascade cardigan. Very pretty! One would almost have to make this one in some shade of green.

Aqua Frieze cardigan. Love the design of this one, though the cropped length and open front design do give it something of that "shrunk in the wash" look. But then it could always be lengthened and reshaped.

Shetland Squares pullover. This piece is constructed by sewing two large rectangles together, and it looks like it. I'd add waist shaping and neaten up the fit somewhat. There's a reason why we don't all wear sandwich board outfits.

Citrus Bars afghan. LOVE this one. Both the yarns used and the design work together perfectly to make a simple yet lovely and striking piece.

Entrelac Magic afghan. This isn't the impressive piece of design the previous afghan is, but it's attractive and functional enough. There are more inspiring yarns to use for it than those used here.

Prismatic Panels afghan. This is a new wave interpretation of the classic ripple afghan.

Monkey Business booties. Very cute!

Monkey Business hat. Simple but attractive enough.

Wee Waldo booties. I'm not sure too many people will get the Waldo reference unless the rest of the baby's outfit is in keeping with the theme, but these are nice enough in themselves.

Wee Waldo sweater and cap. Cute. It's hard to go wrong when knitting a striped sweater for a child.

Boxed Lilac top. The lacework and colour of this top is lovely, but it's not something that will be flattering on most women. Even this professional model isn't able to make it look all that good. I'd reshape it into a slightly oversized, drapey top, and nix the mudflaps on the sides.

Monkey Bars baby blanket. Nice piece of contemporary design. I'd be inclined to forego the sock monkey colourway and explore the many other possibilities.

Tracts & Trails. This looks a little too much like eighties-era vinyl upholstery to me. However, I think I might like it better in another colourway, as this one isn't quite pulling together.

Symphony of Stripes shawl. The texture of this piece looks luscious (given that it's made of silk and mohair it could hardly be otherwise), but that is one unattractive colourway and I can't imagine how one would style this shawl, as it would go with nothing but the most basic of basic outfits. I'd dial back the number of colours used from five to three or less.

Wears Waldo pullover. Basic striped baby's sweater, but I do give points for the punny name.

Hiding in the Shadows baby blanket. The basic striped baby blanket you see in the backrgound is actually illusion knitting, which is rather a cool concept for a baby blanket, though I do think I'd want to go with another theme.

Knitter's Magazine 118: A Review

Knitter's Magazine has released issue 118. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Red/Violet. This looks like something that appeared in a woman's magazine circa 1990, next to tips for creating an inexpensive homemade version of Lunchables for a child's lunch.

Refracting Diamonds. Nice shape and detailing.

Ultraviolet. Between the length and open work knitting's tendency towards stretching and shapelessness, this will look dowdy on most women.

Silver Status. Not a bad jacket. It has some polish and contemporary appeal. (I'm assuming that the one side of this cardigan isn't really 2.5" higher than the other and that the clasp normally lies straight across the front and it's just the model's pose that is making the sweater sit askew.)

Well Connected. Not a bad take on the classic cabled cardigan.

Radiating Ribs. I'm no fan of the spencer normally, but I do like this one. The lines are excellent, the yarn is attractive, and the styling is very well done. Spencers work best over dresses with either an empire waist or no defined waist at all (so that there aren't any competing horizontal lines), and the use of a shawl pin is inspired.

Skacel Collection. The caption for this design says that "[t]his mixed-media top—Artfelt® and knitting—begins with a center panel made with Skacel’s Artfelt® paper and roving, then joins knit side panels with short-row hip gussets and light-as-air sleeves". This does make for an interesting texture and colourway, but the baggy shape and sleeve length is going to be unflattering on most women.

Incline/Decline. This looks like some sort of seventies-era wall hanging that's been turned into a top. Maybe I'd like it better with a better, crisper colourway. These look muddy and tacky.

Surface Tension. This one takes a basic t-shirt style to the next level. I'd consider making this a little shorter and more fitted through the hips.

Accent on Stripes. This design is knitted from side to side in ripple stitch, and is buttoned rather than seamed at the sides, which an interesting and novel construction, but I think this may be one of those cases where a creative concept didn't get the execution it deserved. It's hard to tell without more pictures, and especially a clearer look at the front view. I might not include the stripes, as they do look a little too afghan-like.

Ripple Effects. Elegant summer cardigan.

Ocean Shale. This looks like it came from The Golden Girls' wardrobe trailer.

Static Resistance. Not bad. It's undeniably eye catching and has a good shape.

It's Just Physics. These have a certain casual appeal. I like the full-fledged top on the left better than the shrug on the right, which is pretty but does look a little like a cowl that's lost its way. The yarn used here is lovely.

Möbius X 3. They're all pretty so far as colour and texture goes, but the centre möbius cowl is much better styled. The other two look like sad flat tires.

Warp Speed. This design is very Missoni, and has a good shape, but I would not use variegated yarns like these for this item, but would go with a solid or flecked yarn. The stripes make it too much like an afghan for my tastes.

Blueprint Wrap. Very pretty shawl. I like the combination of the delicate lace and the precise shape.

Knitter's Magazine 117: A Review

Knitter's Magazine has released Issue 117. Let's have a look at it.

The Boho/Hobo cardigan. It looks like an afghan worn inside out. It's designed to be reversible and this may not be its best side, but my guess is that the seamless side looks like an afghan worn right side in.

The Royal Plum jacket. I like this mosaic and cable piece. It's smart and versatile.

Blocks a la Carte pullover. Too visually choppy for my liking, and not particularly flattering.

Step Up cowl. Accomplished, graphic design, and a fresh, pretty colourway.

Drift and Flow shrug. This shrug can be worn frontwards or backwards, and I feel like I need two sets of pictures so I can be sure of what I'm signing off on. I do like the version of the front depicted in the left photo, but I need to know what the back looks like. I don't care for either the front or the back in the other version — they're way too busy visually.

Sssinuous hat and scarf set. Interesting and even rather cool hat and scarf. It's nice to see a totally wearable contemporary design like this.

Carved Cedar pullover. Quite like this one, which is a fresh take on the classic cable.

Tropical Tee pullover. This is just so bulky and heavy looking and the colour scheme is overdone.

Tamarack jacket. Love this one, which is the very definition of elegantly relaxed style. It does look a tad on the heavy side, but then it is a jacket.

Tech Mitts. These are rather smart. The pinstripe contrasted with the rope cable stitch is a nice effect.

Woodland Diamonds pullover. Very much like this one, with its skilful use of colourblocking and just the right amount of detail.

Midnight Rendezvous top. This one is very nice too. Good shape and use of self-striping yarn.

Bridge the Gap. Ah, just what every woman wants: tie-back curtains for either side of her stomach.

Spice Trade pullover. I wish I could see this sweater better. The scarf play is preventing me from getting a good look at the shape and sleeves of this sweater. I do like what I can see, but I have some concerns about this design's possible bulkiness.

Herringbone in Relief vest. I like this one, which has a polished, sophisticated, go-anywhere look, but there are better colourways for it than pink and blue, even if it is a very adult pink and blue.

Cloud Cover poncho. Not a bad little piece, though I do wish the bottom edge was less roughly finished. That's easily remedied with a crocheted edging.

Another Slant Pullover. And here we have another upcycled afghan design. Afghans are fine things in their place, and that place is the couch.

Winter Diamond wrap. Love this one, which is innovative, polished, and wearable. I've never seen a pattern quite like that argyle/hexagon one.