Showing posts with label Vogue Knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vogue Knitting. Show all posts

Monday 16 December 2013

Vogue Knitting Winter 2013/2014: A Review

Vogue Knitting has just released their Winter 2013/2014 issue. I've introduced a slight innovation into this review by linking each pattern to the "360 degree" videos Vogue Knitting posts on YouTube for each clothing design. The videos let you see each design in action from every angle and absent the styling, which can get distracting, and it's ever so helpful for assessing the design. I definitely recommend viewing the video of any pattern you are seriously considering knitting. Let's take a look at the 28 patterns in this issue, shall we?





#1, Double-Breasted Vest. This isn't bad. It actually looks much better with the collar lying down than standing up as it is here. My one complaint is that it looks so uneven along the bottom front.





#2, Preppy V-Neck Vest. I rather like this one, which seems like a mod version of a fair isle vest.





#3, Sleeveless Turtleneck. This is a fairly standard but attractive and wearable piece.





#4, Oversized Sweater Vest. I don't care for this one. I rather like the texture, but the shape and cut plus the bulkiness make this an item that will look frumpy on most women.





#5, Zippered Vest. This one gets points for originality, but isn't quite successful. The back waist detailing is cool, but that longer back hem really isn't working well and looks heavy and bulky in motion. I would cut this one down to hip length and keep the front and back hems the same length, or very close to the same length.





#6, Tunic Length Vest. This... isn't bad. It does look a little like a converted afghan, but I will say it's a very cool afghan. It's definitely for a wearer with very modern, bold taste.





#7, Moto Coat. I quite like this one. The lines and collar are so good. It will not look good worn open, but damn does it look good zipped up.





#8, Moto Vest. Not as big a fan of this one. It worked much better as a shorter jacket, with a full collar and sleeves.





#9, Traditional Moto Jacket. I very much like the lines of this jacket, but don't think the choice to go two tone adds anything at all. I'd knit this all in one colour, or maybe in a slightly variegated colour.





#10, Ribbed Yoke Pullover. I wasn't thrilled with the pictures of this one, but it pleasantly surprised me by appearing very wearable and flattering in the 360 degrees video. It's good to know that those bat wing sleeves "disappear" when the wearer stands with her arms by her sides.





#11, Open Cardigan. I thought I did like this cardigan (I can never resist a green and teal combination, and this one's gorgeous) until I looked at the 360 video. The cardigan appears meticulously constructed, and yet it lies in a way that will frump up most wearers. Unless you tend to always have a hand free to clutch your clothes in place, I'd give this one a pass.





#12, Short Sleeve Jacket. I bet there were ancient peoples who wore garments cut like this one. I'd like to think we've learned a little something about how to cut flattering garments since, say, the Mayans.





#13, Deep V Hoodie. This is cute and sporty. I like the lines of the hood and neckline. But I would fix the dropped shoulders and join the ribbing at the bottom.





#14 Colorblock Socks. Not a bad pair of socks, but I can't say I care for the toe split. They remind me of cloven hooves, and worse, might lead to "socks and sandals" occurrences.





#15, Slouchy Hat. Nice hat. It has an interesting texture.





#16, Colorblocked Gloves. Not a bad-looking pair of gloves.





#17, Puritan-Collar Pullover. I'm pretty sure the Puritans would have put the designer of this in the stocks for a day, and I'm not entirely sure it wouldn't have been warranted.





#18, Top-Down Raglan-Yoke Cardigan. This looks like someone sewed some swatches randomly together. And it's making me very glad I don't swatch.





#19, Drop-Stitch Poncho and Armwarmers. I think I can get behind this poncho, which could look cute on the right person and with the right outfit, but not the armwarmers. Jeez, if you need more coverage than the poncho will give you, wear a coat instead of trying to piece it out with silly accessories.





#20, Wrap Front Shrug. Sometimes I complain that a design looks too afghan-like. This one looks too baby blanket-like. All that wrapping and rippling just isn't flattering or attractive.





#21, Ombre Capelet with Bow. I don't know why it is that shrugs often have a "shrunk in the wash" look while capelets, which offer the same amount of coverage, look sufficient unto themselves, but any rate, this little faux fur capelet is quite pretty, and even elegant.





#22, Shaped Capelet. Pattern #22 and pattern #23 are designed to be worn together, and I am impressed with how well they just nestle together and become one when worn, although I think I might like this little capelet better without the addition of the scarf.





#23, Keyhole Scarf. The Keyhole Scarf worn by itself. It manages to become a sassy evening accessory with the addition of a brooch and a feather.





#24, Ruby Cowl. Faux fur yarn might just have found its destiny in the cowl.





#25. Love this afghan. I just wish there were a better shot of it available so you could see it in a way that does it justice.





#26. This floral-themed textured throw is nice too.





#27. Gorgeous, just gorgeous.





#28, Mobius Cowl. This is rather pretty and fun, and if you're new to fair isle it's a way to do fair isle without committing to an entire sweater or socks, which need shaping.

Thursday 17 October 2013

Vogue Knitting Holiday 2013: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released the preview for their Holiday 2013 issue. Let's have a look at it.





I believe this top was made using the same yarn throughout, and the solid and sheer effects were created by knitting the bodice with two strands of yarn and the sleeves and shoulders with only one. I do quite like this concept but am not sure I care for this particular execution of it. I like the sheer part, but the bodice has a too-heavy, clumsily shaped look.





The heavy and lacy vertical bands on this one are not attractive on their own nor are they flattering on a wearer.





Very elaborate construction on this one, and it works. It's flattering and eye-catching and would be an interesting and challenging project to make.





I'm a little torn on this one. I like the lace but the bands of plain stockinette seem too heavy in contrast. I'd be inclined to take that chest band out of it and just have the lace sweater trimmed in stockinette at the wasitband, cuffs and neck. Yes, you'll be able to see the brassiere below but you would be able to see straps and a lot of midriff skin as it is, so an underlying camisole would be advisable anyway. And it looks like this model has one on.





This one is... just not attractive. At all. I think it might look better if it were done in a solid neutral colour like black or gray. The colour combo plus the gimmicky design is too over the top. Right now it's looking like part of an old afghan was stitched to a stockinette tube hat, and not in a good way.





I displayed all these shawls together because I've got just one comment to make about them: that they're exquisite.





Love the dress (so smart and flattering!), like the socks... but I can't imagine any woman wearing them both at the same time in real life without looking ridiculous. If you want to make them both, considering wearing the socks on the slopes and the dress as après-ski wear, or some such.





Really like this little jacket. It's just so chic. I do wish I could see the bottom — I have my suspicions it's a cropped length, which isn't a flattering length for many women, but if it is that's easily remedied.





I really like this smart, graphic, wearable little pullover too.





Can't say this skirt appeals to me much, but it might be a victim of the styling here. The top garments don't go with the skirt at all, but then what would one wear with this skirt? I can only imagine a plain turtleneck in one of the blues would work. And I wish we could see the top of the skirt. The centre panel leads our eyes upward but the overblouse stops us short. This is a concept that might work better in a dress.





This one looks more than a little rough and unfinished to me, but I think it might be the colour combination that isn't working here. This design calls for a colourway that's a little higher contrast. I'm imagining the navy replaced with, say, a white, and it works better.





I like this one. It should work in a number of colourways and look right at the office or at the mall or around home or just about anywhere a woman is likely to go during the course of a winter's day.





This sweater is also rather unfortunately styled. I don't see the point of putting a busy blouse under a busy jacket. I like the jacket on the whole, but I do have my concerns about the way the front is rolling underneath itself and the way the jacket doesn't meet in the front. I'd make it meet in the front and probably also add a fastening, such as zipper.





This one looks luxuriously cozy, but I would tweak it a little. I'd fix the dropped shoulders and neaten up the fit a little because it's big, and maybe put a few rows of garter stitch or a crocheted edging on the bottom and the cuffs because they look a little unfinished as is.





This sweater reminds me of the neuro knitting post I wrote three months ago. It'm not terribly impressed with the look in this case, but I suppose it will do. Although the designer went to all the trouble of knitting the front panels from side to side and all I can think is that it would look better if those front bands were vertical.





This is another big, cozy, beautiful sweater. It's not going to be easy to scale this one down as it's elaborately designed so if you make this one make sure you're going to be happy with a big, heavy-looking sweater.





Really interesting afghan stitch. Though I'd want to knit it something other than this oatmeal shade.





I rather like this one. It's amazing how good the silhouette is from the back. Though it should not have been styled over a bow-tie blouse.





Here's another big, beautiful sweater with a removable cowl. This one has batwing sleeves, so make sure you or the intended wearer of this sweater likes her sweaters big and roomy.






Not sure about the proportions of the sleeves on this sweater — I'm not a fan of three-quarter sleeves at the best of times, but these especially look really off to me. I think maybe the sweater is too boxy for them. If you like this sweater (and I do think it's cute except for the sleeve issue), I'd make the sleeves wrist length.





Another big, cozy, beautiful sweater, but this time it isn't big enough to fit over a house but is just a little oversized. This is a Good Thing.