Vogue Knitting Late Winter 2019: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released their Late Winter 2019 issue! Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Pattern #01, Mosaic Hat. Decent-looking hat with a band of mosaic.

Pattern #02, Mosaic Yoke Cardigan. A very polished, attractive piece.

Pattern #03, Mosaic V-Neck Cardigan. This one has some very smart detailing in its mosaic yoke and contrast piping and buttons, though I am not so sure it would hang so well through the body on a non-professional model in real life.

Pattern #04, Wrap. My goodness, this one is unqualifiably fabulous. Design, palette, drape... everything about it is perfect.

Pattern #05, Garter Mosaic Cowl. Handsome! This colour scheme works together so beautifully.

Pattern #06, Circular Wrap. This one is quite an amazing piece of design. I don't think anyone could wear it without comment.

Pattern #07, Beret. Gorgeous, intricate stitchwork.

Pattern #08, Leopard Print Pullover. A good and well-shaped interpretation of the classic leopard-print look.

Pattern #09, Gloriana Cardigan. This one is has a "Queen Elizabeth I goes gothic and then takes a turn as a Klondike dance hall girl" feel to it. It's remarkable as a technical accomplishment, even if I don't know how wearable it is.

Pattern #10, Faerie Shrug. This one's a little twee for my tastes, but there's no denying it's a delicately pretty little confection of an evening wrap.

Pattern #11, Lilian & Rose 3-Piece Set. This one is definitely over the twee line. It looks like a costume from a stage production of Midsummer Night's Dream, in which the actor is about to do a particularly sweaty interpretative "flower dance".

Pattern #12, Boxy Fair Isle Pullover. I'd neaten up the fit on this one, but there's no denying that's a very attractive fair isle pattern.

Pattern #13, Hound's Tooth Cowl. This is a fun update of the classic houndstooth scarf. The addition of the fringe works really well.

Pattern #14, V-Neck Cable Cardigan. Nice use of a honeycomb pattern in what would otherwise be a rather staid cabled cardigan.

Pattern #15, Plaid Pullover. Like the bold, fresh design quite a lot, but there are better colourways for this one.

Pattern #16, Diamond Yoke Pullover. This one is amazingly effective and striking for such a simple pattern.

Pattern #17, Lace Cardigan. I spent several minutes staring at this design while I tried to decide if I liked it or not, but I think I'm going to come down on the "like" side of the question. The texture is nice, the contrast trim and belt give it a polished air, and the folding shawl collar is unusual but interesting, and it seems to sit well.

Pattern #18, Mohair Shawl. This shawl has quite a lot going on in it.... Three different "art" yarns! Glitter! Sequins! Several lace patterns! Bobbles! Garter stripes! And fringe! This could so easily have been a mess, but I actually think it works together pretty well on the whole, probably because its colour palette is limited to a well-integrated pink and gray, and it even has a certain contemporary verve. This is a piece to pair with a simple outfit, as it's a statement in itself.

Pattern #19, Striped Pullover. I'm not a friend of the mullet hem, but in this case I think it works. It's elongated enough that it looks like a design feature rather than a mistake, and the rest of the design has twists and turns (i.e., the back cable detail, the gradient colours, the stripes) that seem to naturally flow into an asymmetrical shape.

Pattern #20, Yoked Pullover. Nice! The pattern is very well worked out, and I'm sure this would look beautiful in a dark, warm colourway too, but what I possibly like best is the contrast of the fresh, bright contrast colours against the white. So summery!

Pattern #21, Lace and Stripe Pullover. Not bad. I'm not a fan of mesh, but I must admit that the combination of the mesh and the bright stripes is a fun summer look.

Pattern #22, Color Block Pullover. I didn't like this one at first glance, but once I'd spent a little more time taking in the details, I realized that it was the colourway I was reacting to, because the design is fine.

Pattern #23, Animal Skin Motif Pullover. This pattern is from the Vogue Knitting Winter 1989/1990 issue. It's a classic shape, the neck sits well, and while animal skin prints and patterns may rise and fall some in terms of popularity/use by designers, it's never really out of style.

Vogue Knitting Winter 2018/2019: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released their Winter 2018/2019 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Pattern #1, Cabled Poncho. I like this design better than most poncho designs, probably because it has shape and detail and almost passes for a sweater.

Pattern #2, Peplum Pullover. I like the fit and flare -- and the beautiful cables -- of this one.

Pattern #3, Cabled Pullover. Not bad, though I would fix those dropped shoulders.

Pattern #4, Diamond Poncho. A handsome piece. Its diagonal lines give it a certain smartness.

Pattern #5, Cabled Cardigan. Nice detailing on this one, and the shape is good too.

Pattern #6, Cable Front Cardigan. Classic cardigan.

Pattern #7, Argyle Vest. A simple, wearable take on the classic argyle vest.

Pattern #8, Cubix Shawl. This one could be a great stash buster, and it's visually interesting.

Pattern #9, Flicker Poncho. This one is a little too afghan-y for me as to its stitchwork, though I must admit its shape is good and it sits well.

Pattern #10, Brioche Shawl. A rather appealing contemporary wrap.

Pattern #11, Two-Color Pullover. This one's a little rough and ready for my tastes, but I suppose it would be wearable enough if one just fixed the dropped shoulders, and it would be fun to play with the colour choices on this one -- this dull light gray and ivory combination doesn't do much for it.

Pattern #12, Heart Pullover. This one looks like a dog sweater knit large rather than something that really belongs on a grown woman.

Pattern #13, Sleeveless A-line Dress. This one looks like some sort of orphanage uniform cosplay. That's due to the styling, but I don't quite know what could have been done with this piece. It's almost irretrievably sack-like, and making it in plain ivory didn't help.

Pattern #14, Striped Pulled Over & Scarf. I'm digging the concept of a striped sweater with a coordinating colour blocked scarf.

Pattern #15, Oversized Shawl. Not bad, but this is one of those wraps that I can't help but feel would look best left on a couch.

Pattern #16, Winter Lake Stole. Such beautiful lacework.

Pattern #17, Hylla Cardigan. I'm not a fan of the dolman sleeve, but I actually rather like this one. It looks quite good from the back, if not quite as good from the side. I think I'd nix the ridge between the ribbing and the stitch used through the body as it stands out too much and not in a good way.

Pattern #18, Offset Triangle Shawl. Not bad at all. I rather like the unusual colour combination, and the interesting stripes and stitchwork combined with minimal finishing.

Pattern 19, Argyle Turtleneck. Oh, I remember this Adrienne Vittadini design, which originally appeared in Vogue Kniting's Winter 1996/97 issue, a rather battered copy of which sits on my pattern library shelf. It's a smart, wearable piece. I haven't made it yet, but that doesn't mean I won't.

Pattern 20, Striped Jacket. I rather like this one, though the drape front cardigan is ordinarily not my thing. The stripe combination works so beautifully and the design hangs pretty well.

Vogue Knitting Holiday 2018: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released their Holiday 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it.

#1 Brioche Striped Pullover. This is a creative and interesting new take on the striped sweater.

#2 Brioche Rib Cardigan. Great brioche stitchwork in this, and the shaping is passable.

#3 Two-Color Brioche Shawl. Beautiful! I love the two-tone effect and the stitchwork and the shape... and well, everything about it, really.

#04 Tuck Stitch Cowl. I like the tweedy, varied effect of this one.

#5 Two-Color Brioche Raglan Pullover. Not bad. I think there are happier colourways for this one.

#6 Balaclava. I'm afraid I'll never be able to get on board with the balaclava. It has such unfortunate associations: the Crimean War, convenience store robberies, prophylactics (not that condoms are to be classed with the first two items as a bad thing, but they aren't exactly known or valued for their aesthetic).

#7 Ridge-Pattern Hood. Cowls that can function as cowls are a far more attractive option than the balaclava. This pattern was originally published in 1986, and looks ahead of its time given that it can be worn as either a hood or a cowl, and knitted cowls were unknown back then.

#8 Ribbed Hood. The pom poms on this give it a court jester look.

#9 Deep Raglan Pullover. I'd neaten up the fit a bit.

#10 Lace Trim Swing Pullover. I know this is supposed to be a swing style, but I'd alter it to fit through the torso and hips. The swing silhouette is a difficult one to carry off.

#11 Dolman Long Cardigan. This is going to be unflattering on most women. It isn't even working on this professional model.

#12 Drop Shoulder Pullover. Normally I advise fixing drop shoulders, but in this case where the dropped shoulders are the titular and almost only distinguishing feature of the design, I advise going with another pattern.

#13 Triangle Fusion Shawl. A simple wrap with just enough technical detail that it looks polished.

#14 Striped Raglan Pullover. I really am liking the look of brioche stripes that's been a theme in this issue. And in this case I also love the colourway.

#15 String of Pearls Pullover. This is something different -- perhaps unsurprisingly, as it's from Nicky Epstein, who is known for her whimsical designs. I find myself liking it. It's more of a poncho than a pullover, though with better lines than is usual for a poncho, and the colourway and the inverted stripes and the "string of pearls" stitchwork all play together so well for an eye-catching look. But I would suggest making it with a cowl rather than a flat collar.

#16 Hat and Cowl Set. An attractive and wearable set. The stitchwork is good, and the narrow edging in a contrast colour adds so much.

#17 Yoke Cowl. This is such a smart, attractive cowl I can't help wishing the designer had kept going until it was a sweater.

#18 Arc Wrap. Love the sophisticated polish of this one.

#19 Coat Cowl. This cowl looks really good with a coat over it... and really awkward without it.

#20 Brioche Striped Cardi. I remember when this design was originally published in Vogue Knitting's Winter 1992/1993, and I have the issue in my knitting pattern library. I liked it then and I like it now.