Showing posts with label Pom Pom Quarterly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pom Pom Quarterly. Show all posts

Monday 17 October 2016

Pom Pom Quarterly Winter 2016: A Review


Pom Pom Quarterly has released its Winter 2016 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?





Alloy. This a is a pretty standard ribbed cap, but the subtly blended three-colour palette really elevates it.





Alula. Fabulous wrap. I love everything about it: the chartwork, the way it drapes, the colours, and even the tassels, which are a perfect finishing touch.





Calder. A graceful and very useful little scarf/wrap.





Cesium. A well-shaped and carefully finished classic cabled pullover.





Fragmentation. A very pretty use of gradient colour.





Lemel. This is one of those patterns that make me sit up and take notice, because it's something truly different. I love the ruched ribbon effect. I'd neaten up the fit a bit, but otherwise this is an attractive, wearable, and eye-catchingly unique piece.





Ma'am. This one doesn't do it for me. I think the problem is that it needed some more detailing and better shaping. It's a bit blah and frumpy as is, especially in its lower half.





Ondeto. A handsome scarf with some lovely stitchwork.





Palindrome. Oooh, this contemporary wrap has a lot of style.





Tallat. This struck me as a nice classic at first casual glance, but the more I look at it the less pleasing it gets. The only details are the mullet hem, dropped shoulders, "built-in" mitts, and a high collar that doesn't sit well. Even the lovely professional model who is wearing it looks frumpy in this pullover.





Vanishing Point. Some nice chevron pattern stitchwork in these.

Friday 5 August 2016

Pom Pom Quarterly Autumn 2016: A Review


Pom Pom Quarterly's Autumn 2016 issue is out. Let's have a look at it, shall we?





Florence shawl. I love the texture of this one, and the bold combination of pink and red.





Rocquaine. A classic gansey.





Tannins. This scarf feels very seventies, but in a classic, Mary Tyler Moore kind of way, not in a leisure suit kind of way.





Turion. These mittens are cute in an interesting and adult way rather than in a childish, bunnies and puppies way.





Vellamo. This is fun and rather smart, but I would change the shaping a little, as that cropped boxy shape doesn't tend to be very flattering.





Lara. Quite an attractive, artistic scarf. I especially like the strip effect created by the eyelets.





Kaali. Very pretty and nicely detailed in a quiet, subtle way. The picot edging and the rose and white slipped stitch effect at the cuff really add to the look.





Tevara. Love the back of this, but I wouldn't include the slit at the back neck and I'd fix those dropped shoulders and add some shaping.





Thessaly. Very much like this one, which is so very wearable and polished it could be worn almost anywhere.





Serafine. Simple but effective. That's a clever way of integrating the pocket into the design.





Asklov. Nice! That leaf tracing motif is ever so pretty.

Wednesday 18 May 2016

Pom Pom Quarterly Summer 2016: A Review


Pom Pom Quarterly has released its Summer 2016 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?





Altair shawl. Pretty basic crocheted shawl.





Catchfly top. A wearable and flattering classic.





Olivette top & tunic. The asymmetry in this one is interesting, and the shaping is good.





Nouri sweater. This one has a certain relaxed elegance. I like the side detail, and it drapes beautifully.





Trailbreeze tank. The back shaping on this piece is much too mudflappy for my liking.





Tannery Falls tank. This one looks like its designer started out to make a potholder and just kept going.





Red Bull Isle tank. If I saw this one someone out in public, I would be trying to decide whether the top was designed this way or whether it was caught on itself.





Vaara top. The eyelet effect at the shoulders and detailing at the waist elevates this one above the usual basic tee.





Windlass top. I love the Aran detailing on this one, but I would nix the side vents and back mullet hem.





Thornett tank. This one has a lot going for it, but the way it bags and sags in the middle is so unfortunate. It's probably nothing some shaping and proper sizing wouldn't fix, and I do like the shaping of the straps and the side detail.





Hollis bag. This is a nice looking summer bag that has the simple, slightly rustic effect of a straw bag without straw's roughness and tendency to break and snag other items. I'd line it with a pretty fabric, and possibly also interfacing, to help it keep its shape. One can also sew pockets into a fabric lining.

Monday 1 February 2016

Pom Pom Quarterly Issue 16: A Review


Pom Pom Quarterly has released its Spring 2016 issue. Let's have a look at it.





Striated. At first glance, I thought this cowl was shaker knit. It's actually a shaker knit-like lace stitch. It's quite a handsome, useful piece.





Unfold. I like the mitered texture of this piece, but I see from the extra photos on this pattern's Ravelry page that it doesn't sit all that attractively when the model isn't pulling on it.





Riveret. This isn't a bad-looking piece, but the cropped, squarish shape of it will make it unflattering on many women. It isn't doing anything even for this professional model.





Right Angle. Great texture, but I am not thrilled with the dropped shoulders or the boxy fit.





Rhombille. Love this one! It has an unusual construction and great stitchwork.





Perpendicular. Simple shawl with just the right amount of interesting detailing.





Imitation. These are... okay. They look a little too much like the tacky mesh half-gloves that were trendy in the eighties for my tastes. I think I'd like them better in a colour.





Delineate. I quite like this one, which is sexy without being too over-the-top about it. Nice shaping and the back has some great stitchwork.





Equilibrium. Not liking this one much. It looks as though the designer put some effort into its construction and detailing as it has a saddle shoulder, decorative eyelets, and side vents, but the end result is ill-fitting and askew.

Monday 2 November 2015

Pom Pom Quarterly Issue 15: A Review


Pom Pom Quarterly has released its Issue 15. Let's have a look at it, shall we?





Avalon Ballroom scarf. What absolutely gorgeous stitchwork.





Callas bolero. This is one of those items that doesn't hang well even on a professional model, which augurs poorly for any average woman who tries it on.





Carlu pullover. Strikingly pretty. I rather like the added touch of the buttoned cuffs, especially when they're colour-coordinated to the contrast colour at the neckline.





Cicely pullover. I love the slit neckline and decorative beads on this one, which gives it a slightly dressy evening feel to the design without making it something that can't be worn at any time of day. The length does feel a little off proportionally -- even this model isn't quite working that wide waistband and cropped length. If you don't have a waist you care to show off and/or feel your upper body can't handle the visual foreshortening, I'd make the sweater a little longer and decrease the height of the ribbing by several inches.





Deco City shawl. Nice little wrap with an unusual linear lace pattern. I also admire Pom Pom for committing to the deco theme in the photo shoot (as well as throughout the entire issue). They went to the trouble of finding an art deco-esque couch and styling the model in a very late twenties way.





Hulanicki socks. Nicely and even smartly patterned.





Suffragette hat. This is one of those patterns that didn't quite get where it deserved to go. I quite like the rhythmic effect of the welts that circle this cloche, but the side slit isn't a happy effect. It makes the hat look unfinished, or even as though it burst open, sending flying whatever cool finishing ornament had been added to that side.





Theda cowl. Nice piece on the whole, though that edging does look a little unfinished.





Turnberry pullover. This is one really distinctive and gorgeous piece of stitchwork. I think this one might have supplanted a pattern I had picked out for a cotton sweater I intend to make myself this coming spring. I will be making these sleeves full length though. Those bracelet-length sleeves usually don't look right to me.





Wilding. You know, I'm actually kind of on board with the cut outs (cut the sleeves back to the wrists and give this sweater a better shape and more interesting texture, and it'll be a rather sexy look), but not in combination with the built-in gloves. It makes the sleeves look as though they were trying to make a run for it and pulled a "didn't do it, wasn't there, can't prove a thing, we're really gloves" when someone noticed the bare skin at the top of the arms.