Knitty Spring & Summer 2020: A Review

Today we're going to have a look at Knitty's Spring & Summer 2020 issue.

Rullskridsko. A classic Fair Isle design. I'd make this one in a higher contrast palette, but that's not to say that this low-key colourway isn't attractive too.

Grapefruit Splash. This one would make a nice layering piece if, like the designer, you find yourself chilly in an air-conditioned building. The stripes and the contrast border make for such a fun, casual look.

Green Machine. I'd add a little waist-shaping to this one as it has a squarish, unflattering shape as is. I don't think I'd neaten up the fit, though, as one wants clothing to be loose in summer.

Bowknot Blue. Nice texture, but the shaping isn't flattering. I'd raise those dropped shoulders and add waist shaping.

Tigerwheet. This has a "I made it in home economics class and didn't finish it but convinced the teacher I meant to do it this way in order to pass the course" look to it.

Bidicot. This one would make a fun accessory for a plain outfit, but I'm not thrilled with how those edges look.

Peri Peri. This asymmetrical shawl seems to drape well and has a pretty lace pattern on it.

Noland. This is a lovely confection of a piece. The lace and the yarn are beautiful, and it has a such a delicate, graceful look. I'd be inclined to neaten up the fit on the body a little -- though I'd still leave it loose-fitting -- but it is fine as it is. it drapes well, and such a lightweight piece will never look bulky on the wearer.

Phiolet. Fun socks, even if the idea of wearing mismatched socks makes me twitch uncontrollably.

Farrago. These would be fun way to showcase a self-striping yarn.

The Ombis. I'm not a fan of mesh-like knitting as wearing apparel. The look is too shopping bag. This one looks like Ursula the Sea Witch's shopping bag -- if Ursula cared about reducing, reusing, and recyling, that is, which I doubt.

Knitty Winter 2019: A Review

Today we're going to have a slightly belated look at Knitty's Winter 2019 issue.

Lemon Zest. Very basic, but like a lot of basic things it's very useful and wearable. This would also be a good first sweater project for a beginning knitter.

Breckle. This is a simple little piece, but the stitchwork and the contrasting shades play together so well.

Big Flower. As soon as I looked at the photo of this design, I thought to myself that it looked just like a Kaffe Fassett design, and lo and behold, it is one. Fassett's work has such a distinct look I'd know it anywhere. The kimono-like shape and Japanese-style floral design complement each other.

#hashtagcowl. #Cuteconcept.

Open Road. This one is inventive and contemporary. I like the stitchwork, the side cable detail, the sleek effect of the shoulders and neckline, and I can see this piece working styled a number of different ways.

Pic N Mix. What a beautiful play of colour and fair isle pattern. This one would be a great stash buster.

Marisha. Nice texture, and the JUL closure is a great added touch and makes it possible for the wearer to style this scarf in several different ways.

Switch Way. The mix of colour and stitchwork in this shawl is fun, visually interesting, and surprisingly polished.

Quorra. Not a bad design, though I would fix the dropped shoulders. And while I don't like the combination of hot pink, aqua, and white because it's too eighties, the designer describes them as "fantastic 80s-riffic colors", and apparently designed the sweater to suit the yarn, so your mileage may vary.

7am. These legwarmers have such a stumpy look and would work better at a longer length.

Chain, Chain, Chain. Wow, this one is fantastic. Love both the yarn and the design, and together they positively sing.

Fogski. These have a clumsy, cobbled-together look, and -- though the pattern is only sized for adult small, medium, and large -- don't come across as a design that's really appropriate for an adult.

Curio. Very pleasant little cardi.

Dogwerry. What a sophisticated and satisfying combination of stripes and diamonds.

Shadowed. This is a rather nice-looking cap, even if my brain keeps trying to play a mental version of Pac-Man with it. I would definitely not knit this one in black and royal blue.

Bacta. These would make me feel like my hands were bandaged.

Knitty Deep Fall 2019: A Review

Knitty has released its Deep Fall 2019 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Fuck Cancer Hat. Here we have the cover look. This design employs a slipped stitch technique that creates the appearance of a bold script, and it works so well I must keep it in mind for future projects. I like both the overall concept and the execution of this hat design, and as someone who has lost several loved ones to cancer and whose parents have both had cancer in the past five years (they're both alive and well, I'm happy to say), I also applaud the sentiment.

Apple Valley. Here's a classic circular yoke pullover with a geometric pattern that is one of those Rorschach test-type looks. Does anyone else see upside-down turnip plants?

Calash. This is an attractive, even stylish, hooded scarf, which is no mean design feat, as I've seen a lot of dowdy-looking items of the kind in my time.

Assemblance. There's nothing really wrong with this one -- the shape is good, the design is workmanlike -- but it does give me an uncomfortable feeling that I'm seeing this model's inner works. Also, those sleeves are much too long.

Nuthatch Hat. Not a bad little cap.

Nuthatch Cardigan. Here we have a cardigan to go with the hat above. Some very nice stitchwork on this one, with a smart contrast trim. And though I have made some of the little girls in my life matching sweater and cap sets, I have never made such a set for myself, and am suddenly wondering why.

Knoop. This is quite literally a scrap-yarn project, as the designer made these cowls out of a box of odds and ends of yarn that was getting too full, using the Magic Knot Ball method. Put some care into planning your colourway, and you'll have an attractive cowl like no other.

Switchcraft. These would make me feel like I was wearing potholders on my hands.

Always Be Brave. This is strikingly and attractive, and would be a great way to showcase that variegated yarn you've been eyeing at your favourite yarn store.

Ascuteney. I like this one. The shaping is good, and the abstract colour swaths have a nice balance and flow and makes me think of mountain ranges with a path leading temptingly towards them.

Saturday Night. This cowl's reversible, and would be a fun project to pick out yarns for.

Nudiabranchia. This piece, which is modeled on the nudibranch or sea slug, is a certain technical accomplishment, but I don't think I care for the idea that a sea slug having me by the throat, and likely also telling me that it has ways of making me talk.

Feuille-morte. What a lovely shawl design. Both shaping and stitchwork are excellent.

Knitty First Fall 2019: A Review

Knitty has released its First Fall 2019 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Collanne. This wrap makes for an attractive, casual look, and it would be a fun design to pick a colour scheme for.

Banrion. This wrap has the look of a classic Breton sweater combined with ship cables, and I'm here for it. Very nautical.

Last Night I Dreamt. Classic cabled cap, and it's reversible, which is always a nice plus.

Mrs. Rabbit's Muffatees. This cowl and mitts set, which have an interesting slipped stitch texture, were inspired by Beatrix Potter's work. Even if you don't think you'll ever happen to make this set, do check out the pattern page, which features a lovely little biographical essay about Potter, and is illustrated with some charming watercolour sketches.

Brenton Point. This is an interesting new take on the fair isle yoke sweater, and it has a certain fresh, contemporary feel to it. I think it's the combination of the solid background colour on the yoke, which gives the yoke a cowl-like look, the use of simple diamonds in the yoke, and the minimal detailing in the body of the sweater. The shaping is good too.

Promenade. This is quite eighties in its design, although the subdued colourway is contemporary. It's fun in its way, but I would fix those dropped shoulders.

Fugi Rib. I like these so much that I've added them to the sock patterns I've got saved as favourites on Ravelry and hope to get to in 2020.

Don't You Want Me. This one is definitely very 1980s, and of course the name of the pattern very specifically references the 1980s (and has given me a wicked earworm). They're fun, and the perfect thing to wear when you want to imagine you're dancing under a strobe light in a 1980s-era dance club.

Bremen Town Bag. Oh, this is a fun design that makes me smile. Yay for clever, plucky animals who band together, outwit a group of robbers, and make a happy, comfortable life for themselves after their heartless owners kick them out on the street for being too old. I can't help wishing the top edge was finished a little more nicely and/or had a flap, though.

Ozzie the Opossum. I'm trying to get past my utter repulsion for opossums here and assess this design fairly, so I'll just say this design is really well done and makes a horrifying species of rodent look cute and cuddly and now I'm going to go do something else as quickly as possible to get my mind off the mere existence of opossums.