Showing posts with label Twist Collective. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Twist Collective. Show all posts

Monday 15 August 2016

Twist Collection Fall 2016: A Review


Twist Collective has released its Fall 2016 issue! Let's have a look at it.





Rumford. A classic with some nice stitchwork.





Carrick. I wouldn't wear this because I don't care to add more bulk to my chest area given that it's plenty bulky already, but I have to admit the exaggerated size of the cable isn't a bad effect.





Coax. Not bad. The ripple effect is not a favourite look of mine, so that's making me tepid on this one. I think a more subtle colourway might do more for this one.





Windvine. Love this one. The intricate cables and the shaping are perfect.





Byway. A very decent piece. The way the cables turn under the pockets is an original and effective touch.





Sangria. A smart and useful little cardi.





Proscenium. I like this one, with its relaxed, country feel. The side buttons are a different touch.





Wickford. Very attractive cardigan. That collar sits so well and the cable detailing is good.





Carnelian. The sleeve detailing on this one is excellent but the body looks shapeless and bulky by contrast. The design has a certain "eighties-era Shaker knit decided to morph into something better but changed its mind 40% of the way into the process" feel to it.





Sinua. Very pretty cable and lace stitchwork on this one.





Echinacea. Nice set. I very much like the stylized floral design.





Bibelot. I do like a theme knit that's cute and whimsical in an adult way. The devices here look a little steampunk-ish.





Lithograph. The hem's very attractive but those lines criss-crossing the body look more than a little straggly.





Dulcia. Another nice little cardi.





Svaritifoss. I'm loving this "lace over stockinette" effect and would love to see the technique explored further.





Saplings. I love a good tree-themed knit, and these mittens are as good an example of that design category as I've seen. The designer has used the shape of the mitten to define the tree, and it works beautifully.





Eyebright. A lovely little wrap.





Naturalist. Classic ganseys. Adding a contrast colour at the cuffs, neckband, and waistbands isn't a bad way to freshen up the look.





Efflore. Nice set. I love the stylized leaf outline.





Smoky Lake. Classic double-breasted cardigan. About which my only complaint is the one I usually make about double-breasted patterns: that it looks great when buttoned up, and bad when worn open.





Pavers. Very nice set. The unusual double-line cable effect gives it interest and sophistication.





Mosey. A good-looking design in both the the male and the female version. The endless variations possible with cables never fails to amaze me. There's always a way to freshen up this centuries-old knitting technique.





Antrea. Nice set. I'm liking the dimensional effect created by the combination of cables and ribs.

Wednesday 13 April 2016

Twist Collective Spring 2016: A Review


Twist Collective has released their Spring 2016 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?





Keystone. Nice classic piece.





Bosquet shawl. Some very attractive lacework in these.





Anyolite top. Some good detailing and nice shaping.





Zellige pullover. Love this one. The yoke design is really striking.





Reticella cardigan. I think I'm going to have to keep this one in mind for the cream cotton cardigan I want to make myself next year.





Flechir shawl. I like this one on the whole, but the slightly rolled edges and the ribbed vein-like lines do give a slightly rough look.





Wrought. Really pleasingly balanced piece.





Azulejos shawl. Some elegant contemporary lacework here.





Cassabana sweater. Not really taken with this one. I can't say it isn't shaped or finished, because it is, but it has a certain draggled look to it. Also that line of dropped stitches in the front will reveal the wearer's bra.





Unnathi shawl. Some really beautiful, intricate lacework in this one.





Kimberlite top. Quite like this one, with the interesting stitchwork on the side. It also has an unexpected keyhole detail in the back.





Cedri top. Useful and cute little summer top.





Ziarre cardigan. Nice little summer cardigan.





Papeda tank. Well-shaped piece with some nice lacy detailing at the neckline and side vents.





Rangoli shawl. Neither the tutti frutti colourway nor the mottled-looking stitchwork of this shawl are doing it for me.





Haden tank. Nice piece, though those buttons do nothing for it.





Rhodora shawl. Beautiful lacework.





Picard sweater. This design, and the eleven that follow it, are designs that have appeared in previous editions of Twist Collective. This one originally appeared in the Winter 2012 issue, which came out before I launched this site. The design is... okay. The collar doesn't seem like a particularly happy design choice, and I notice that a number of the Ravelry members who have made this design tweaked the collar in some way.





Ormond cardigan, from Summer 2011. It's a lovely classic item.





Gwendolyn, from Fall 2010. Nice-looking cabled hoodie. The contrast edging gives it a smart, sporty look.





Wingspan, from Fall 2010. I like this one, though the empire waistline isn't a great choice for the well-endowed woman. Even the model on the left can't quite carry off the look.





Flux cardigan, from Fall 2011. Love this one. Those intricately curving cables look fantastic.





Parcel pullover, from Winter 2010. Nice one. The chevrons feel more contemporary than the cables one might have expected the designer to go with.





Sympatico cardigan, from Fall 2012. This one is both retro and contemporary at the same time, and the choice of a yarn with a bit of angora in it gives the item a becoming softness.





Viridis, from Spring & Summer 2013. When I reviewed that issue, I wrote, "I very much like the Viridis jacket which has a beautiful lace front panel and good overall proportions and modern lines, but it's one that will have to be worn closed, because when worn open the front pieces are going to sag and the waist tie will trail. If you want to make this cardigan be prepared for that, and also be aware of the bulk it will add to the front of you as double-breasted styles inevitably do." I see it sits much better when worn open than I would have expected.





Kirigami pullover, from Winter 2009. I like the stripes and general lines of this piece, but that collar really detracts. It doesn't sit at all well.





Regent cardigan, from Spring & Summer 2012. Really attractive and gracefully shaped piece.





Jaali pullover, from Fall 2008. Flattering and wearable.





Epiphany, from Fall 2011. Very much like this one. I prefer the original colourway, which can be seen on the design's Ravelry page, but do think the sweater looks better in a neater fit as seen here. Epiphany was designed by Cheryl Burke, and she's a designer to keep an eye on, as she has a real gift for working with colour. The Mirry Dancers sweater was her work.