Vogue Knitting Fall 2015: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released its Fall 2015 issue. Let's have a look at what's currently en vogue, shall we?

Pattern # 1, Cabled Wrap. We begin this issue with a selection of teal-coloured designs, which (being that teal/turquoise is my favourite colour family) I applaud. This a good-looking wrap. The shape gives it a contemporary appeal. I do question how it's going to stay in place, but then I suppose that's where a shawl pin comes in handy.

Pattern #2, Raglan Pullover. A lovely classic with some fantastic distinctive detailing.

Pattern #3, Scoop-Neck Pullover. This isn't a bad design aesthetically speaking, but it will bulk up the wearer's figure.

Pattern #4, Travelling Cable Mitts. Very pretty and well-shaped.

Pattern #5, Seamless Cap. Nice cap. I like the way the cables from the ribbing have been integrated into the design.

Pattern #6, V-Neck Vest. This one made me decide that I really ought to have a classic cabled vest in a beautiful shade of teal in my wardrobe.

Pattern #7, Simple Pullover. Uninteresting and unflattering.

Pattern #8, Open Cardigan. Quite liking this one, which looks like the perfect thing to keep at the office for those chillier than expected days.

Pattern #9, Arrowhead Top. Interesting contemporary piece that's also really versatile. This one will look good with jeans or a wool skirt.

Pattern #10, Ribbed Vest. Er. Are we looking at the right side of this?

Pattern #11, Ribbed Turtleneck Cowl. Simple and wearable little topper.

Pattern #12, Cocoon Vest. This isn't a bad-looking piece, but it's going to ride up maddeningly every time the woman who wears it raises her arms at all. She'll wind up looking like a woman who was trying on something in a shop change room, got stuck with it half-off and half-on and, in her search for a sales associate who would help her out of her jam, accidentally wandered out on the street

Pattern #13, Striped Raglan Pullover. I'd want to neaten up the shaping of this, but it's pretty and pleasing enough.

Pattern #14, V-Neck Pullover. This looks like a scrap yarn sweater that the knitter made up as she or he went along, all the more so because the stripe across the front is being pulled out of shape by the ribbing at the neck. The yarns chosen for this piece do work together quite well, so there's that.

Pattern #15, Crew-Neck Pullover. This is very "eighties-era yarn company knitting pattern freebie pamphlet".

Pattern #16, Open-Front Cardigan. This is very "seventies-era Carly Simon concert wear".

Pattern #17, Waterfall Cardigan. This is very "upcycled thrift shop bathrobe".

Pattern #18, Colorblock Pullover. This is very "little-used Sesame Street character named C. Squared who is obsessed with pointing out the difference between squares and rectangles to children".

Pattern #19, Fair Isle Toque. Nice classic cap.

Pattern #20, Fringed Vest. For those days when you can't decide between business-like houndstooth or sherpa-style fringes and shapelessness.

Pattern #21, Graphic Sweater. How sharp is this terrific little piece?

Pattern #22, Round-Neck Sweater. I'm not really buying the visible colour changes as part of the design in this one. It just looks amateurish.

Pattern #23, Textured Pullover. This looks pretty good here, though I'm not crazy about the full side view aspect of it (shown in the other picture Vogue Knitting has of it on the preview page). The tapering side inserts don't look all that well-shaped.

Pattern #24, Kimono-Style Pullover. I just can't get on board with house-sized sweaters. They don't look good on anyone, even professional models.

Pattern #25, Winged Triangle Shawl. This is very Games of Thrones in the best possible way, i.e., in a cool emblematic way, not in a medieval-style brutality and misogyny way.

Pattern #26, Segmented Shawl. I'm finding this one has such visual buzz that it's bothering my eyes. The lace part of the shawl looks great, but the chain-stitched style panels are too over the top.

Pattern #27, Semi-Circular Knit Shawl. I've finding this one a little busy side too, though at least I can look straight at it without my eyes twitching. I'm not saying it's a bad design, mind you. It has a certain architectural appeal. As a matter of fact it looks so like a belfry in the black side version (shown on the right) that I keep expecting to see bats come flying out from under it.

Pattern #28, Double Knit Beanie. Cleverly designed reversible number.

Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2015: A Review

The preview pictures of Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2015 is up. Let's have a look at them, shall we?

Pattern #1, Shoulder Cowl. Simple but pretty and wearable. This would be a good pattern to showcase a beautiful yarn in your favourite colour.

Pattern #2, Fair Isle Hat. I think I'd like to see this one in a more defined colourway. The pattern looks more muddled than muted here.

Pattern #3, Tubular Scarf. Nice, but I'd make this a bit longer. That sample is an awkward length that won't stay put.

Pattern #4, Relaxed Cardigan Top. This design seems like a nice compromise between a shawl and a sweater. It sits well and will stay in place.

Pattern #5, Open Front Cardigan. This isn't a bad little cardi, but I do have my reservations about its proportions. It looks as though it was designed not to meet in the front, which generally makes a sweater look skimpy and/or too small.

Pattern #6, Two-Color Raglan Pullover. A bit basic for my taste, and the cropped length and lack of waist shaping aren't helping.

Pattern #7, Fair Isle Vest. Like this piece. The colourway is subtle and muted without being muddled.

Pattern #8, Cabled Wrist Warmers. Attractive and useful.

Pattern #9, Oversized Cowl. Good piece. It's very effectively styled here on this classic navy blue pea coat and on a model who can rock the red.

Pattern #10, Brioche Rib. This isn't bad. I'd leave the pom pom off if the intended wearer is over 25.

Pattern #11, Cocoon Coat. This coat looks very sharp here, but I would like to see it on a non-model who isn't striking a carefully angled pose, because I have my suspicions about how well it would play in a more realistic viewing.

Pattern #12, Square Scarf. Beautiful piece, though I think I would be tempted to let my couch wear it.

Pattern #13, Fur Jacket. This one has a bit of a "headless Muppet" look to it, and even the model can't lend it much style or grace.

Pattern #14, Cabled Pullover. Classic cabled design. Add waist shaping if it doesn't have any (and it doesn't appear to) to help counteract the bulky effect.

Pattern #15, Breton Pullover. An impeccable classic.

Pattern #16, Pullover with V-Inset. This isn't terrible or without interest, but there is a certain off-putting roughness to its stitchwork.

Pattern #17, Crew Neck Pullover. This reminds me of a stitch sampler. And it's a good, carefully finished piece, but I would be inclined to knit the front and the back in the same stitch to keep the look simpler and cleaner.

Pattern #18, Lightweight Pullover. Can't say I care much for this one. All those holes aren't pulling together thematically. And the dropped shoulders, lack of waist shaping, and oversized fit aren't helping.

Pattern #19, V-Neck Cardi. Nice little cardigan for summer wear.

Pattern #20, Boat-Neck Pullover. Quite like the stitchwork employed here, which has a very sharp overall effect. I'd raise the drop shoulders and neaten up the fit a bit though.

Pattern #21, Belted Cardigan. This has some good features — the sleeves and the upper back look terrific — but I'm not liking the shape, which will be difficult for a non-model to carry off, and that limp little collar just looks sad.

Pattern #22, Ballet-Neck Cardigan. Very appealing, wearable piece with good shaping and just the right amount of detail. Any woman would look good in this sweater as long as it fit her well.

Pattern #23, Multi-Directional Cardigan. I'm loving what I can see here (that lace across the back and sleeves looks fantastic), though I do have reservations about the sit of the front collar and whatever's happening in the lower front, which we can't see, though the back view shows that the sweater gets longer in the front.

Pattern #24, Fringed Cardigan. I'm a very hard sell on draped front cardigans, but this one sits so well and has such great texture and shaping that I have to applaud its designer.

Pattern #25, Deep V-Neck Cardigan. This one's nice on the whole, but I would run the buttons all the way to the bottom and alter the neckline. The sweater looks too unfinished this way.