Showing posts with label Rowan Knitting and Crochet Magazine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rowan Knitting and Crochet Magazine. Show all posts

Thursday 14 September 2017

Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 62: A Review, Part 2


Today we're going to look at the second half of the designs in Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 62, having looked at the first half three days ago.





Bradshaw. Classic cabled turtleneck.





Wilshaw. I like the detail on the body of this coat, and the back looks quite sharp, but the front looks unfinished and the sleeves look silly.





Midnight. Good shape and texture, but I think I'd make this one in a variegated yarn, as it needs just a little more visual interest.





Weeton Scarf. It's seldom I see a crocheted scarf I really like, but I do quite like this one with its pleasing woven effect.





Fumbar. This one's a refreshing take on the classic fair isle yoke pullover, the shaping is good, and I like the subtle neutral colourway.





Midnight Cowl and Dimmet. I rather like this one, which could be worn on its own or as a layering piece, and I love the versatility of the cowl and sweater set idea that I just might have to make one for myself. Though I would wear a proper belt with it, not a piece of leather cord or twine or whatever that is around the model's waist.





Almondbury. The texture's great and the colours are beautiful, but this one isn't so much a cardigan as it is an afghan with sleeves.





Farnley. This one's rather cute. I even like the pom poms, though I'd make them a little smaller.





Dusky Scarf. This is quite attractive and a good way to add some distinction to a plain outfit.





Oxton. A nice classic piece.





Gransmoor. Very pretty leaf and diamond fair isle design, though I would do it in another colourway. This combination of dark blue and pale blue is popular with designers, but for some reason it never quite pulls together for me -- it's visually just a little jarring and off-key.





Veiled. This is very simple but it's wearable enough.





Buttrick. This one is good overall, but has an unflattering boxy shape that isn't doing this professional model any favours. I'd normally advise adding waist shaping but that could be difficult to do in this case given the closely set cable pattern, so instead I'd probably just give this design a pass.





Subdued. The designer of this one seems to have tried to jazz up a too-plain item by randomly adding ties to the sleeves, and like most randomly added design elements, it's not serving its intended purpose.





Marr. Very striking mosaic patterned coat.





Sundown. A cute little cropped cardigan. This can be a difficult length to wear but they do look cute over a dress.





Bielby. This one has such a dragged out, downtrodden look that even the model it's on is looking as though she's getting a sudden urge to sit in a darkened room, wrap herself in a blanket and eat marshmallow fluff straight from the jar.





Eventide. Not bad, though these long narrow cardigans tend to be hard to wear. That's easily remedied though -- just make it in a flattering length for the intended wearer.





Thackrey Scarf. The matching hat for this scarf appeared in part one of this review, and I like the scarf just as much. It was a sound idea to knit it in a tube so that there's no "wrong" side.

Monday 11 September 2017

Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 62: A Review, Part 1


Rowan has released issue 62 of its knitting and crochet magazine. Let's have a look at the first 21 of the 41 patterns in it, shall we? ETA: Part 2 of this review can be found here.





Twilight. Classic cabled and bobbled sweater, and it doesn't hurt that the yarn used for this sample is Kidsilk Haze and Fine Lace in a beautiful colour.





Eve. I'm liking the stripes, but the shaping of this surplice cardigan is not particularly flattering, and it also doesn't look good when worn open.





Fishlake. Oooh, I really love this fair isle, with its baseball shirt-inspired design, and would knit and wear it myself without making a single alteration to the pattern. "Classic with a bit of a twist" is my favourite look.





Whispered. A nice cowl with an attractive slip stitch texture.





Gloaming. This cardigan has dowdy lines and makes even this very attractive professional model look frumpy. The pattern description calls this a "comfortable cardigan". I'm reminded of the truism that if a real estate ad is reduced to calling a place "clean", it means there isn't much else to be said in its favour. Like cleanliness in a place offered for rent or sale, comfort should be a given in knitwear.





Greenwood. This pullover has seriously cool chartwork. It's impossible to add waist shaping to this one because it would detract too much from the pattern, but I would fix the dropped shoulders and neaten up the fit.





Hutton. This crocheted shawl is a little too afghan-y for my liking, but I do like the colourway.





Daybreak. Fairly plain, but wearable enough. I think I'd add some ribbing or a picot edging at the neckline as it looks a little unfinished as is.





Lund. Nice piece with a very effective zig zag stitchwork pattern.





Sunset. Not liking the A-line shaping of this one, which is hella unflattering. Tellingly, all the sample photos show the model at an angle, never full frontal.





Evening. I'm liking the pretty cable and bead detailing on this one, and while I'm not crazy about the shaping and would turn this into a standard fitting long- or short-sleeved pullover, I also don't hate the lines of this top as they are. It has a poncho-like effect and works pretty well as a layered piece.





Cowlam. Nice! The texture's good, and the larger than usual turtleneck and elongated cuffs give it a bit of a lift.





Eclipse. I want to like this, but I can't help feeling that the proportions and balance are off. I'd add some more lacework to this rather than having that one isolated strip of it at the bottom.





Sweeting. A good-looking and wearable jacket.





Thackrey. Very cute and smart little cap.





Afterglow. Very pretty.





Foss. Love the cables in this but man, this thing is huge. Unless your dream is to make a sweater that can double as a sleeping bag, I'd scale it way back, and also close up the very long side slits, which extend to a few inches above the model's waist. I really like the concept of a cowl that is knitted separately and can be left off or worn with other items if desired.





Eastbury. Simple but smart and wearable.





Nightfall. The shawl collar and beaded stitchwork combined with garter stitch is a great look, but the shaping is really detracting. I'd fix the dropped shoulders and add a bit of waist shaping.





Sykes. Classic cabled pullover, but again I'd fix the dropped shoulders and neaten up the fit.





Mellow. This has a certain retro appeal -- I've seen some elegant 1950s jacket patterns in a similar vein -- although the unstructured look and unfinished edges also keep it contemporary. I like it, though maybe not enough to wear it myself, and I'd fix the dropped shoulders.

Monday 20 February 2017

Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 61: A Review


Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 61 is out. Let's have a look at it, shall we?





Porthtowan. I like the idea of the large scale zig zag, but not the colourway.





Soma. The lacework is gorgeous, but I'm not sold on the way this sits.





Nirvana. The texture's great and I love the sideways cable effect, but I would fix those dropped shoulders.





Moonbeam. I'm not usually a fan of the poncho, but this one is so light and delicate and drapes so well that it's working.





Kali. There's something about that middle panel that isn't working -- it looks too random and proportionally off, somehow. I'd do the whole sweater in the lace stitch.





Indira. An attractive, casual piece. I'm liking the gradient stripe effect.





Essence. Quite like this one. It's one of those elegantly relaxed pieces, with great shaping and a touch of textured detail.





Destiny. The stitchwork is good, but the baggy shape and dropped shoulders would make this look frumpy on most women. Even this professional model isn't quite carrying it off.





Celestial. A pretty, useful, go-most-places sweater for cooler days in summer.





Bala. Oooh, the curving lace detailing on this one is not only visually pleasing but very flattering, as it creates an hourglass effect. The only possible flaw in this one might be that the neckline should be cut a little lower, as it seems to be cutting the model off at the neck somewhat.





Anala. This is as basic as it gets, but then one can always elevate a basic pattern with a beautiful or interesting yarn in a colour the intended wearer loves.





Anaadi. There's some pretty lacework in this, but I would definitely neaten up the shape, fix the dropped shoulders and either cut down the neckline or make it a proper cowl or turtleneck.





Ahimsa. Basic tank.





Whelk. A simple yet very effective use of chevrons.





Urchin. This wrap looks so bulky and awkward that it presents more like a sweater that the model had only got half on before the overeager photographer jumped the gun and took the picture.





Seaton. Classic cabled cardigan.





Seaham. If I were making this, I'd scale the fit of this down from oversized to a relaxed fit, but it's not a very interesting pattern, so I would probably keep looking for another basic pullover that already fit well rather than bother to adjust this one.





Rockling. This is better than the longer-length cardigans we've seen thus far in this issue: it has decent shaping and fit. But I'm still not thrilled with it -- I think the front edges are a little too bare and needed some sort of finishing detail.





Periwinkle. A very pretty detailed little cardi. Not every woman can wear the cropped length, but the design can easily be lengthened for a wearer who would be better served by a longer length.





Padina. This is fairly plain, but it's adequate.





Oyster Scarf. Not a bad little scarf, but I can't say I care for the rolled up effect. I'd always be trying to unroll it, and of course it would promptly roll back up again, and I don't need a Sisyphean task hanging around my neck.





Mussell. A handsome lattice cabled pullover.





Lantic. I'm really liking the sporty, contemporary look of this one, and it'd be fun to pick out a colourway for it.





Hithe. I'd neaten up the fit of this, and it would be worth the effort because that lacework is gorgeous.





Croyde. Very basic and slightly awkwardly proportioned to boot. I'd pass on this one.





Clovelly. Some great cablework here, but I'd neaten up the fit and raise those dropped shoulders with a vengeance. The shoulder seam must be at the model's elbow!





Chalkwell. The stripes are fun and this project would be a great way to use up some odds and ends of stash yarn.





Bommie. Good shaping and that is one very striking Fair Isle pattern.





Bayberry. This one has a slightly different construction than the usual hoodie. The hood is less defined than hoods usually are, which gives it a shawl-like effect. I think it works, though I'd like to see how the hood looks when it's lying across the shoulders and back of this sweater. The cabling is excellent.





Barricane. I'd fix the dropped shoulders, but this is otherwise a solid classic piece.