Knitty Winter 2014: A Review

Knitty has published its Winter 2014 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we.

Wavedeck. Lovely. The lacework has a very pleasing balance to its pattern.

Comber. Another lovely shawl. The colours are supposed to represent the colours of the seashore, but I think I'd go with a solid colour here.

Knitted Gloves. These were adapted by Franklin Habit from Weldon's Practical Knitter, 1st Series (1880s), with accompanying comments about how he doesn't want to hear any whining from knitters reluctant to knit fingers because knitting four little tubes isn't that demanding. The stitch used here not only has great texture but would be very stretchy, which is an excellent thing in a glove.





We have three patterns here, all grouped under the title Plays Well Together: Granny's Diamond Necklace, Pinned, and Covered. I think perhaps I am simply the wrong demographic for the granny square. I read some time ago that first names go in and out of style according to a predictable three-generation cycle. People of the right age to name their own children often give them names from their great-grandparents' day, because those names have an quaint appeal to a generation that never knew anyone of those names. Meanwhile, the parents of the baby's parents are often dismayed, because they did know people of their grandparents' generation who had those names, and to them it's a hopelessly dated name. I'm 41 and I had great-aunts named Stella and Clara, so those names sound like old ladies' names to me, but to a twentysomething new mother, they might well sound fresh and new again.

Much the same sort of phenomenon informs our tastes in other areas. I'm not buying the granny chic thing, because I grew up seeing granny square afghans and throw pillows in homes owned by people of my grandparents' generation. To me the variegated yarn granny square is as irredeemably dated and tacky as the bowl of plastic fruit that used to sit on my grandparents' dining room table, while to someone younger it might seem charmingly retro and hip. And all I can say of these three patterns is that the pincushion would be useful.

Heritage. Cute checked cowl.

Kayak. Simple cowl with an appealing graphic design.

Giga. I'm not too taken with this one, which looks a little rough and unfinished. The colourway isn't doing it any favours either.

Cosi Cosa Cowl. Good texture. It looks better worn double than it does worn single, but I wanted you to be able to really see the stitchwork.

Slouchy Saami Hat. Cute hat. Though I can't quite figure out what's going on with the slightly messy-looking transition from ribbing to body of the hat.

Tourbillion beanie/tam. Quite like this richly patterned tam.

Reflector Hat. This hat, which was designed to be worn while cycling, will keep your ears warm and help keep you visible to passing motorists, but it does leave something to be desired in terms of aesthetic value. ETA: And as a reader on this blog's Facebook page has commented, this hat is meant to be worn in lieu of a helmet, which is not a safe alternative.

Alice Cap. The body of this cap is quite good, but the hat needs better trimming and a better colour scheme to work on the whole. That scrap of knitting randomly tacked on to the side is doing nothing but hanging there.

Winter Doldrums pullover. Beautifully plotted yoke on this one, complete with poinsettias.

Smithfield pullover. I would neaten up the fit a touch on this one, but this is exactly how I would style this one, with leggings and flats, for the ultimate in comfortable casual wear.

Folie à deux. This pattern comes with directions for both this dress and a top with a more scooped neckline. They're fun and well-shaped pieces for those who like their knitwear on the sassy, groovy side.

The Minetta Cardigan. Perfect classic cardigan.

His Mark cardigan. The combination of the bright, multi-colour colourway and the busyness of the pattern puts it a little over the top for my liking. I'd do this in fewer and quieter colours. The shaping is quite good. I do appreciate the stand-up double collar, which is a nice alternative to the usual turtleneck.

Lean On Me vest. Nice piece. It could look very sharp and elegant in neutral tones.

Irrational Skirt. This has to be the ultimate math geek knitting project. The numbers on this skirt, which is knit in one long strip and seamed into a skirt, contains the numbers of Pi. As many of them as is needed to make a skirt, that is, given that Pi is infinite. The resulting design is reasonably wearable and flattering. Just don't use it to cheat on a math test, please.

Tauriel socks. These socks were inspired by the Tauriel character from The Hobbit. They do look rather elfin, at that. Love the cables and the socks are well-constructed.

Dr. Quackers. Totally cuddly and adorable toy.

Drogo slippers. These slippers have a really marvellous construction: they're seamless and reversible and patterned all over, and they're attractive to boot. Nice work!

Knitty Deep Fall 2014: A Review

The Knitty Deep Fall 2014 issue has gone live. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

The Great Horn-Rimmed Vest. This is pretty cute in a quirky sort of way, and has some nice detailing.

The Cubes Sweater. This is a rather gimmicky little piece, and I keep thinking I would get rid of the gimmicks to make it work: the "cuff mitts", the hard to wear cropped length, and the neon yellow, which is probably a sign that they're not too successful. But then it may just be a sign that I'm over 20.

The Hugga Shrug. A shrug with not only long sleeves but half-mitts? Come on, it's a silly concept, it's bagging at the elbows, and it looks like it's eating the model's hands.

The Krydda Lace Cardigan. This is very pretty, if it is more my idea of a summer cardigan than one for autumnal wear.





The Seattle Pullover. I admire the effort to juxtapose some different textures in a single design, but this particular combination just isn't working. The sleeves and the cable in the front are both lovely, but not together, and the back looks like it's inside out. I'd keep the sleeves and come up with some sort of stripe-like textured stitchwork to use on the back and front.

The Jersey Jacket for a Child. This is an knitting pattern Franklin Habit has translated and adapted from Weldon's Practical Knitter, Tenth Series, published in 1888. Habit also carefully explains in the accompanying article why he enjoys knitting for babies even though he doesn't particularly like babies. It's not a bad pattern, though it's perhaps nothing special either — the interest lies mostly in getting to dress a baby in a bit of Victoriana gone modern, although there's something to be said for how warm, practical, and durable this pattern looks. There is a suggested alternative to the ribbon detailing, if you don't happen to want to include it.

The Venetian Blind Capelet. Can't say I care for this one, which is just too rough and crude looking for my tastes.

The Smashing the Glass Ceiling Stole. I didn't like this piece on first glance, but I kept looking and it grew on me. A colour-blocked lace stole is something fun and different and eye-catching.

The Nyssa Shawl. This one's... okay. It's a little on the heavy and awkwardly shaped side and doesn't seem to lie particularly well in any of the pictures.

The Wild Clover. This is pretty enough, and I do quite like the "clover" motifs, but I would go with a less minimal, plain edge, such as a bit of crochet edging.

The Twist Again Shawl. Very pretty shawl.

The Brindled Hat. Nice piece. I like the variable stripe effect, which makes an otherwise basic hat much more visually interesting.

The Gusto Cowl. This one's not appealing to me. Some of the stitches used here are attractive, but others just look like mistakes.

The Viburnum Cowl. Pretty little lace cowl.

The Two Sides Scarf. Very much like this very polished scarf that looks the same on both sides. Nice work!

The Apiculturalist Scarf. I'm a hard sell on anything granny square as most granny square designs are hopelessly ugly, but occasionally someone does manage to come up with an attractive granny square design. The colourwork is key, I believe. This isn't a bad choice of colours, and the inclusion of knitting helps add to the textural interest. The result is a rather cute scarf.

The Volteado Socks. I like these, and I think if they were in a colourway that was more to my taste, I might quite like them.

The Mirror Sock. These socks show a different stitch from almost every angle. They're like a sock-shaped sampler. This isn't a criticism because the design on the whole is balanced and pulled together.

The Ticklepenny Socks. Love these. I like that they have a plain stockinette sole and foot, because I find textured socks chafe my feet. The ankle detail is very attractive and eyecatching.

The Nachtfalter Fingerless Mitts. The designer of this piece claims the single cable at the top resembles a moth, and I can see that it does, but when I first looked at these fingerless mitts I saw a moustache, and I keep seeing a moustache. If you don't, or can get past the fact that you do, these aren't bad, though I wish they had more finished-looking edges. And perhaps you'll enjoy knitting a 'stache with your stash.

The Connectivity Gloves. These are supposed to be convertible from half-mittens to full mittens, but they only really work in a practical and visual sense when folded back. When extended to the end of the fingers, they are going to be loose and open-ended, like a too-long sweater sleeve, except that as mittens, they won't be able to carry off the look. If you want to make these, I'd plan on leaving them folded back.

This is Opus the Octopus, and it's a nice piece of work and a pretty cool toy, if it does have a slightly chilling look in its black eye. Perfect for the aspiring little marine biologist in your life!