Knitty First Fall 2015: A Review

Knitty has released its First Fall 2015 issue. Let's have a look at it. This is the Baker Street scarf. It's run-of-the-mill classic, but of course because it's such a classic, it's a handsome piece of work.





Pub Crawl Cowl. This is very college/university student, but I have to admit it's cute and fun.

Dragon's Breath cowl. Pretty!

Damascena cowl. Love this one. It's both retro in a 1920s collegiate argyle sweater kind of way, and contemporary, because the variants in the argyle pattern are a new twist.

Jamestown pullover. Nice piece with an effective combination of cable and cross hatch stitches. I'd neaten up the fit a bit.





Desert Belle. This drape front cardigan was made with an optional striped bottom panel that can be zipped on or off. It is an interesting, creative concept, but this is one of those times a good concept didn't get the execution it deserved. I like the sweater much better without it.

Saint Rémy pullover. Simple and striking.

Nelina. Wow. This is really a terrific piece of design, with an unusual bias-knit construction, great shaping, and lovely stitchwork. It's flattering, wearable, attractive, and interesting. Very well done!

Stereo Echo Shawl. This one looks for all the world like a giant dish rag when seen flat, and it doesn't look much less so when on the model.

Ridge and Furrow shawl. Pleasing classic shawl.

Atomic fingerless mitts. Cute modern take on the snowflake mitten.

Knit Stitch Felted Tote. This designer created a stockinette stitch-themed tote to hold her knitting. Now that's meta. And it's a well-shaped, well-constructed, and rather snappy-looking bag to boot.

Vanilla Cake Table Scarf. This scarf is woven, not knitted, but I'm including it in the interests of having a complete review. And also because I like that fringe, which could be replicated for a knitted item.

Circles Within Circles Beret. Nice hat. Really effective, attractive stitchwork in this one.

Rhode Island Red Hat. Oh my goodness, these hats are so, so cute! And I don't even like chicken-themed stuff!

Knitty Spring & Summer 2015: A Review

Knitty has released their 15th issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

The Hybrid Vigour. The designer of this piece came up with it as a way to answer her frustration with the fiddly, slippy nature of shawls: the shawl is connected at the ends, creating an item that is part shawl and part poncho. I hear you on the frustrating nature of shawls, sister, and I like this item. The lace is pretty and the piece hangs attractively.

Peppermint Bay Shawl. The lacework and the construction of this piece is impressive, but it does look more like a throw than a shawl to me.

Lawton Wrap. Another very pretty piece of lacework. A shawl pin makes it possible to don this oblong item with some style.

Nahant stole. The designer of this item tried fractal spinning and then designed this scarf as a way to use up the gorgeous result. Lovely piece, but good luck finding yarn this special in any store!

Crane Hill Tank. This piece combines crochet and knitting to good effect. The shaping is decent and the result is a simple, pretty, wearable top.

Myliu Lino Pullover. Not so taken with this one. The lace work is pretty and the yarn used here is lovely, but it doesn't sit all that well and isn't terribly flattering.

Mia Tank. Not bad. It has some interesting detailing and decent shaping. I think I'd make this to sit a few inches shorter on the wearer and in a more interesting yarn choice.

French Smock Sweater. This looks like a baby blanket with straps attached.

Lorinda sweater. This is a pleasant-looking cardigan, but I would run the buttons and buttonholes all the way down the front.

Geek socks. Cute socks. The slipped stitch technique has been used to give what would otherwise be plain stripes a more interesting vibe.

Evangelina sock. The ribbon drawstring on these pushes these into "too twee for me" territory, but the stitchwork is interesting and appealing.

Stars and Stares eye pillow. This pillow is designed to be filled with rice, buckwheat, or flax seeds, mixed with lavender, herbal tea, or mint, etc., and heated or cooled to be used not only on the face but on any tired or aching muscles elsewhere. The designer has come up with a few designs for the eye pillows, but if you've ever wanted to find a way to terrify your small children into not disturbing you when you're trying to take a nap, this one would your best route to doing that.

Victorian Mash-Up Hat. For this creation, Franklin Habit tried out knitting a couple of squares from a Victorian-era counterpane pattern, stitched them together, and topped them with Victorian-style knitted fringe. I don't think I'd actually put this on a baby. It looks like one of those novelty hats rabid sports fans wear at sports arenas, along with chest paint and giant foam fingers, in an effort to get on the Jumbotron. Since this child is too young to be a fan of anything except perhaps milk and cuddles, putting such a hat on this baby makes it look like a very small mascot for Team Yarn.

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!