Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2016: A Review

The Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2016 issue preview pictures are out! Let's have a look at them.

Pattern #1. Some lovely stitchwork in this cowl, and the yarn used here looks especially luscious.

Pattern #2. Good lines and interesting detail.

Pattern #3. Not thrilled with all those loose stitches in this scarf, which remind me of runs in stockings.

Pattern #4. Very pretty pinwheel effect in this wrap.

Pattern #5. This afghan has a vintage-y feel to it, but in a good way.

Pattern #6. Very much like this capelet. It has a polished, sophisticated look that would go to the office as well as most other places.

Pattern #7. This one's really eyecatching. You can't not notice it.

Pattern #8. This v-neck is as basic as it gets, but the shaping is so good that all it needs is a beautiful yarn.

Pattern #9. This pullover would ordinarily not be my kind of thing (note the dropped shoulders), but I think it's working. The texture is interesting, it drapes well, and it has an elegantly relaxed and understated look to it.

Pattern #10. This three-quarter length jacket looks unfinished. The pockets look rough and crooked at the bottom, and there's no visual interest or any particular style to the garment.

Pattern #11. Another unfinished-looking piece. Adding some sort of band to those front edges would have helped.

Pattern #12. Not a bad look. The exaggerated length of it gives it interest, though this will also be a difficult piece for a short woman to carry off. But then it could be scaled down a little for the vertically challenged.

Pattern #13. Another basic piece with good lines. These pieces are a great way to showcase a beautiful or interesting yarn.

Pattern #14. This Peruvian-style cap is a little roughly constructed and busy for my tastes, but it is also kind of fun and the colour scheme has a fresh feel to it.

Pattern #15. This one is a little too architectural for an item that's to be worn. These motifs would be better suited to throw cushion or afghan design.

Pattern #16. Very pretty, and the subtle colourway is lovely.

Pattern #17. The graphics look better suited to a child than an adult, and the colour scheme is giving me retina burn.

Pattern #18. Very nice!

Pattern #19. The stitchwork leaves me with a confused feeling, like it's an advanced Rorschach ink blot test, but I must admit that the black and white makes this piece striking.

Pattern #20. Quite like the vest, with its good shaping and unique detail, though the way it's styled here does nothing for it.

Pattern #21. Attractive and polished.

Pattern #22. This is not only a lovely and versatile piece, but it looks as though it would be a pure pleasure to wear it. I want to put this on and never take it off.

Pattern #23. Bulky, shapeless, and crudely put together. How did this get in here?

Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2016: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released their Spring/Summer issue for 2016. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Pattern #1, Lace Turtleneck. This is quite gorgeous. Though I for one would live in terror of snagging it on something.

Pattern #2, Leaf Lace Tank. Pretty, but I would go for a contrast colour camisole underneath, for, as we all know, "nude tone underwear" is practically never a match to anyone's skin tone and simply looks drearily utilitarian.

Pattern #3, Leaf Motif Wrap. I'm not usually a big fan of openwork designs, but I like this one. The holes are well-shaped and look like a pattern rather than just holes.

Pattern #4, Lace Jacket. Some beautiful lacework in this, and good shaping.

Pattern #5, Open Front Cardigan. This one would be a good way to dress up a simple, monochrome outfit.

Pattern #6, Sampler Jacket. The play of colour in this jacket is impressively artistic and painterly.

Pattern #7, Cocoon Cardigan. The shape of this one is a bit different -- it's a longer version of a shrug. I think it works, though I might reserve it for wear over relatively fitted outfits.

Pattern #8, Ribbed Arm Warmers. I quite like these, though the thought of wearing such things in summer makes me want to curl up and die.

Pattern #9, Cropped Lace Poncho. The real benefit of this one is that if you find you didn't bring enough enviro bags to the grocery store, you can just take this piece off and put your produce in it.

Pattern #10, Lace Wrap. This is quite lovely, though the psychedelic yarn choice, while a cool effect in itself, is making my eyes go out of focus.

Pattern #11, Graystone Harbor Shawl. Love the lacework in this one.

Pattern #12, Two-Colour Triangle Shawl. This one is actually quite cool, an artful mix of traditional lace and contemporary style. I think I'd want to go with a more interesting colour choice, though.

Pattern #13, A-Line Tunic. Not bad. I'd want to buy a few tops in complementary colours and patterns for wear underneath it in order to make the most of the front openwork panel.

Pattern #14, Knotted Cowl. The stitchwork is really good, and I can see this piece looking stylish on the right person and on the right outfit, but those knotted fringes would make me feel like I was wearing a macramé plant holder.

Pattern #15, Banded Lace Pullover. Can't say I care for the solid chest-level band on this. It looks too obviously like a bra. I'd go all the way with this one and make the whole thing in a lace pattern.

Pattern #16, Cross Stitch Vest. I don't think I've ever seen an effect quite like the "cross stitch" openwork stitch in this vest. I like the look, which gives the vest some interest and makes it summery.

Pattern #17, Lace Tunic. Some nice stitchwork in this, but I'd want to neaten up the fit and shorten those sleeves.

Pattern #18, Eyelet Pullover. Pretty lace summer sweater.

Pattern #19, Lace Tank. Love both the delicate lacework and the subtly coloured yarn used here.

Pattern #20, Lacy Poncho. The real benefit of this one is that if the wearer ever gets tired of it, she can hang it up over her kitchen window.

Pattern #21, Cap-Sleeve Top. Pretty, and the lacework is nice, but I don't think I could resist adding some ribbing or a crocheted edging at the neckline, armholes, and hemline to make it look a little more finished.

Pattern #22, Retro Intimates. These are a lovely nod to lingerie of the past, and the model does look fetching, but they're not terribly practical, as the bra would offer little support to women who need support, and knitted underwear would be too thick to be wearable under very many outfits. But then perhaps it's intended to be worn on, er, special occasions, and for a maximum of five minutes.

Vogue Knitting Early Spring 2016: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released its Early Spring 2016 issue. Let's have a look at it.

Pattern #1, Crew Neck Pullover. I rather like this slight twist on the classic Breton stripe sweater.

Pattern #2, Striped Shell. Nice piece. The colourway works well, the lines are good, and vertical stripes are definitely an underexplored theme in knitwear design.

Pattern #3, Pocketed Tunic. The stripes on this one are giving me that "do not adjust your TV set" feeling, and the dropped shoulders combined with the bracelet length sleeves make the arms look stumpy.

Pattern #4, Graphic Top. This one has the look of 1930s sportswear, and I love me some 1930s sportswear.

Pattern #5, Striped Romper. There isn't a full shot of this one, and I was trying to suss out what it was exactly when I noticed the name. This is... an adult romper... which means there is... something... lurking south of the photo frame that VK hasn't seen fit to show us. That does not bode well, especially when I consider that knitted shorts don't tend to be a good idea (i.e., bags, sags). I'm not thrilled with what I can see, as it looks a bit crudely designed and unfinished.

Pattern #6, Shades Blue Wrap. This has a rather nice contemporary feel, though I'd be more inclined to put it on a couch than to wear it.

Pattern #7, Crocheted Bag. I see this one going to bingo games and shuffleboard tournaments.

Pattern #8, Crocheted Bucket Hat. This hat will accompany the crocheted bag above to the aforementioned bingo games and shuffleboard tournaments, and possibly be further accessorized with a pair of wraparound shades.

Pattern #9, Lace Coverup. This is one of those items that can look dramatic if styled way over the right outfit, and "seventies arts and craft camp counsellor" otherwise. Also, it's going to catch on everything like crazy.

Pattern #10, Star-Motif Maxi Dress. I like the lace overlay over a fabric sheath concept, but not this particular execution of it. I think it's the fact that this crocheted overlay looks so stiff and tablecloth-y.

Pattern #11, Dropstitch Openwork Wrap. This looks so rough and charmless up close.

Pattern #12, Eyelet Lace Tunic. This coverup is making me wish I hadn't just finished sewing myself a new printed cotton beach dress. Which does not look half as fetching as this well-shaped, carefully finished piece. Sigh.

Pattern #13, Open Waves Top. Not such a fan of this one, but then I don't tend to like openwork pieces. They lead to mesh-patterned sunburns, for one thing.

Pattern #14, Net Poncho. I see the respective wearers of this net poncho and the lace coverup above getting together at a arts camp staff party to share their best string art tips. Kidding! Well, partly kidding anyway. Again, like the lace wrap, it's a piece that can look good when skilfully styled, and frumpy and kooky when not.

Pattern #15, Floppy Sun Hat. VK is definitely on a seventies kick in this issue. I'd have liked to have seen this one on the model because I have my suspicions that this hat is a little too large and too floppy for visibility -- for both wearer and observers.

Pattern #16, Cable and Lace Duster. Rather a nice cover up. Though this piece also has the stumpy arm problem.

Pattern #17, Deep V-Neck Duster. Beautiful lacework in this one.

Pattern #18, Lacy Cardi. Nice piece, but I can't fathom why all those loose threads were left hanging from the centre of the diamonds in the lacework. It doesn't look like something that could be accidental, but it's not well advised as a design decision because it makes the piece look rag tag.

Pattern #19, Deep Rib Tank. Nice little basic tank, though that empire line will not be flattering on well-endowed women.

Pattern #20, Sleeveless Shell. Not a bad basic piece. If you're making this for someone who isn't particularly tall, you might wish to shorten it somewhat.

Pattern #21, Textured Vest. I wish the designer had done something a little more interesting with the texture, but this isn't a bad little top for summer.

Pattern #22, Cable Tank. This has good lines but I do wish the designer had something to finish off the neckline and armhole edges.

Pattern #23, Striped Stitch Tank. Quite like this one. It has an interesting and effective shape, construction, and texture, though again, it has an unfinished-looking neckline and armholes.

Pattern #24, Eyelet Top. This one is very simple but so well shaped and finished that it'll be the perfect way to showcase a beautiful, good quality yarn.