Twist Collective Winter 2014: A Review

Twist Collective has released their Winter 2014 issue, and it's the best knitting magazine issue I've seen in quite some time. There's perhaps only one design in it that I wouldn't be happy to make and/or wear myself. Let's have a look, shall we?

The Addington cardigan. This is an attractive piece that any woman could wear. I'm not quite sure what's going on with the closure at the neckline, but then one could use any kind of button or clasp there.

The Elica shawl. Simple, pretty piece.

The Paramo pullover. Simple but smart piece. This is a sweater a woman can get a lot of wear out of.

The Quiver shawl-collared pullover. Love this one. It's classic and distinctive and works equally well on a man or a woman.

The Tupelo cowl. Nice piece with a great texture.

The Hyssop pullover has beautiful lacework and a good shape.

The Bierstadt hat and mittens. Attractive and eye catching.

The Riverdale cardigan. Nice classic look. I'm not sold on the curved front hem, which can look like a mistake.

The Mad Dash cardigan. Beautiful, interesting piece with great back detail.

The Fenwick Scarf and Gaiters. These are nicely designed pieces (it's hard to go wrong with classic cables such as these), but I'm not sure about the whole gaiter concept. These will get absolutely filthy in no time.

The Siffleur pullover. So lovely!

The Nevyn cardigan. Excellent piece. The cable detailing on the back is quite inspired. It's a way to add shaping and visual interest at the same time. And I'm almost wishing I didn't already own a pair of cute rubber boots, because then I'd have an excuse to track down and buy those awesome poppy boots.

The Nishi shawl is an exquisite piece of work.

The Radius pullover. Very solid contemporary design here. I would pass on the built-in fingerless gloves, but that's me.

The Masonry socks. Very smart socks. I do like a sock design with a little restraint. Confining the pattern to the ankle and toe looks much sharper than covering the entire sock.

The Quarry sweater. Another very smart piece.

The Tangent cap and cowl. Very pretty set. Love the Art Nouveau-ish fan patterning on the cowl.

The Hartford design is a classic cabled pullover.

The Epicenter pullover. I'm impressed with this one, which managed to be very contemporary and innovative in a way that will appeal to those of us with more traditional tastes, and is totally wearable at the same time.

The Calinda scarf and mittens. Another lovely set.

The Caldera pullover. I totally want this piece to be on me right now. I especially like that the designer chose to go with a buttoned placket and collar here rather than the usual turtleneck. We can't all wear turtlenecks.

The Fillster cap and mittens. Very much like the intricate cable design used here.

The Leadlight cardigan. A lovely piece. Extending the body's cables through the fair isle yoke is an effective and distinctive touch.

Anaphora cowl. What a beautiful piece. All the stitchwork, but especially that twining floral motif, is exquisite.

The Kew shawl. Interesting and attractive lacework.

The Willerval hat and mittens. This is very decent design, but I think I wouldn't go with a red and green colourway here. It's a little too candy cane-ish.

The Parapet jacket is a very elegant piece of work. The stand up collar is an especially nice touch and adds a lot of style to the whole piece.

The Pelion shawl. Love the combination of contemporary shaping with classic cables.

The Intaglio sweater. Beautiful piece. Love the cowl neckline.

The Skyscraper cardigan. I quite like this design on the whole, though I would do something different with the neckline, such as adding a collar. It looks unfinished as it is.

The Abyss shawl. Lovely combination of gradient colour and graceful shaping.

Twist Collective Fall 2014: A Review

Twist Collective has published their Fall 2014 issue, and it's a very solid effort from them. I don't think there's a single pattern in it that I wouldn't be willing to make myself, and I don't know when I've ever said that before. Let's have a look at it.

The Weft Cardigan. It's quite smart, and the shape is good.

The Hulabaloo socks. Nice pair of socks, but I don't really get the trend of styling such socks with pumps. Do women really wear socks with pumps, and if so, are they doing some ZZ Top video cosplaying?

The Kokliko scarf, cowl, and mittens set. It's very pretty, but I always do find a three-knitted set to be one piece too much. I'd knit just two of these.

The Smarty cardigan is wearable, well-shaped, and has striking, interesting detail.

The Safra design. This one has directions for making either the shawl or the scarf. They're both really lovely with some great detail, and will keep you warm without catching on everything as the design is not too lacy.

The Calais design is a nice piece of work. It's both distinctive and a piece that could be worn to death because it'll go nearly anywhere.

The Petersham mittens. Very much like these. I don't think I've ever seen the crossed wires design on mittens before, which makes them seem like something fresh and new.

The Oleada cap and mittens set. Fairly basic, but quite attractively so.

The Roxton pullover. Very much like this one. That front panel is an interesting look.

The Latifolia hat and mittens are very pretty. I know it may seem a too-obvious choice for a leaf-themed knit, but I picture these done in green.

The Akebia pullover is beautiful. I love a special yoke, and that line of red at neck, hem, and cuffs is just the finishing touch this design needs.

The Caledonia cardigan. Nice piece, and it can be done in either cotton or wool as it'll work for either a summer or a winter sweater.

The Grania tam and mittens. Very sharp and striking.

The Corvina cardigan. Lovely detailing on this one.

The Fluence shawl. Interesting and eye-catching piece for the more modern wardrobe. The interlocking zigzag edging is a really original touch.

The Ashling vest. I've seen a few designs recently with these kind of slits in them. It must be a mini-trend. It's not a trend I find unappealing, though it does require an underlayer. The cowl neckline and overall shape are good.

The Fynele hat and mittens. Another pretty little hat and mitts set.

The Sixpence shawl is a distinctive piece, and it's rare for me to say so of a shawl, because I see a lot of lovely lace shawls. The circular bands and the "sixpence" webbing at the border are both unusual, and an even more unusual combination, and yet it totally works.

The Heydey pullover. I quite like this one overall (good shape and great detail), though I would either keep those flaps at the neck tied, or even omit the ties and instead add a decorative metal clasp to it. Leaving the flaps open and the strings dangling is just too half-dressed an effect for me.

The Candlesmoke mittens. Love these. I am definitely more of a "curved lines" design person than a "graphic lines" design person, and these look Art Nouveau-esque.

The Hausti shawl. Very pretty.

The Falkirk cardigan. Nice piece. The colour scheme doesn't grab me, but that's personal preference because it is a combination that works, objectively speaking.

The Wheat Fields. Good-looking scarf. I think I'd add a fringe or a crocheted edging to this one. It looks a little unfinished as is.

The Greenery pullover. Love this one. The yoke's great, and using the same diamond pattern again at the hips is an creative, interesting touch.

The Cahoots cardigan. This is a really simple, classic piece. The contrast buttons are a way to spice it up, but it will work on its own merits with matched buttons too, especially if you knit it in a beautiful yarn and in a colour you love.

The Vasalisa mittens are lovely. Twist Collective does seem to love to do intricately designed accessories.

The Ravenscrag pullover is a lovely classic piece.

The Paria pullover is one of those designs that are simple enough to be wearable anywhere (as it is here with jeans and in a boat, or in the office with a wool skirt), and yet have just enough original detail to be sophisticated. This is an accomplished design.

The Tignish shawl. Beautiful piece, and I love that old rose colour, which is the only shade in the pink range that I can wear.

The Portiere pullover. Another reliable classic piece.

The Courant shawl. Wow. The colourwork and lacework in this one is something very unique. It looks like the detailing you'd find on the walls of some ancient mosque. Very impressive.