Vogue Knitting Holiday 2019: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released their Holiday 2019 issue. Let's have a look at the glam holiday-style knits in it, shall we?

Pattern #01, Victoriana. This sweater is designed to evoke women's sweaters of the 1890s, and I must agree that it is a nice update of that style, with its elongated cuffs and slightly puffed sleeves, while being completely contemporary and wearable.

Pattern #02, Marilla. Not so thrilled with this one. The slight colour change between the body of the sweater isn't working for me -- the effect is neither interesting nor effective, and just looks like it doesn't match. This would be a design to change up with a different yarn choice, because I bet it could be a good look with the right two contrast or complementary yarns.

Pattern #03, Oceana. I quite like the overall pattern of this -- it's bold and fun -- but I would scale it way the hell down fit-wise.

Pattern #04, Wallaby. Well... um... the neckband works. The dwarfed sleeves and front pouch don't, and the overal look is dull and bunchy.

Pattern #05, Gibson Girl. As someone with a love of Edwardiana, I applaud this issue's design direction. I don't think I could wear a puffed sleeve sweater because I'm someone who needs to downplay my upper half, but I certainly like looking at this piece, and those sleeves wouldn't be a pain to wear because of their neat-fitting cuffs.

Pattern #06, Rhombus. This is a fresh and contemporary take on the diamond pattern.

Pattern #07, Parallelogram. This is quite smart, but it is a cropped length, which isn't the easiest length for most women, and one would really have to break out one's design skills if one wanted to lengthen it.

Pattern #08, Quadrilateral. This designer has cleverly turned the "wrong side" into a design feature with a strategic use of the floats. The result is a reversible scarf that can be used to showcase two different looks. I'm impressed, and will be keeping this technique in mind for the argyle tam and cowl set I have on my 2020 project list.

Pattern #09, Losange. Very smart, and also wearable.

Pattern #10, Argyle. This is a nice update on the classic argyle vest. It would be a fun project for which to pick out a colourway, but I would advise staying away from a yellow and black combo for this one, as it would make one feel a little too Charlie Brown-ish.

Pattern #11, Openwork Shawl. This shawl is more about completing one's look than about warmth and practicality. It is going to catch on everything.

Pattern #12, Pull Jacinthe. Lovely. This design would be a good candidate for a luxury yarn, as it is pretty enough to be worn to a casual evening event.

Pattern #13, Fleur de Glycine. This one is both lovely and visually interesting, and has a fresh, contemporary feel. I just found myself spending several minutes straight looking at it, as the lines curved and undulated before my eyes.

Pattern #14, Iris Éthéré. Very pretty. I like the combination of the angora, the lace, and the beads, which has such a luxurious look, and also that the beads were used sparingly.

Pattern #15, Veste la Pivione. This is pretty, and as I consider the pattern further than its immediate impression, what suprises me is how wearable this piece is. It could work over a simple dress or top and trousers outfit, and be dressed up or down.

Pattern #16, Cramosie. This is lovely, and I would totally wear it myself. I would neaten up the fit a little, though.

Pattern #17, Châle de Lavande. A very handsome wrap. The stitchwork is beautiful.





Pattern #18, Pétale de Rose. Ordinarily if I were to review a one-sleeved wrap in seashell colours with a fringe of scale-like "petal stitch", I might be inclined to make jokes about mutant mermaids, some of which occur to me immediately, but in this case I just can't. "One-sleeved wrap" is a weird concept, but this designer has executed it with such incredible artistry that I can only gaze at the result in awe. The stitchwork is beautiful, the yarn is lovely, and this is actually an amazingly wearable piece because when the wrap's end is thrown over the sleeved shoulder as it is in the second photo, the silhouette is quite classic. Wow.

Mock Plaid Pullover. This is Vogue Knitting's "from the archives" pattern for this issue. It originally appeared in Vogue Knitting Fall/Winter 1985 issue. It has also been reprinted in a book of collected "classic" Vogue Knitting patterns. I find it hard to get behind, let alone in, a sweater capable of housing several people, but to each their own, I suppose.

Vogue Knitting Fall 2019: A Review

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

#1, Oversized Pullover. I'm always a hard sell on any clothing design that fits like a house, as I don't think it's a flattering look on anyone and personally I can't bear the bulk and weight and awkwardness of very oversized clothing, though some people find that sort of thing cozy. So, while the black and white contrast of this sweater is sharp and the cables are lovely, I can't help thinking it would be a more attractive and wearable sweater if it were a standard fit with raised shoulders, or, if one wanted to go oversized, merely one size up from one's regular size, as opposed to three or four.

#2, Yoke Pullover. No complaints here. This one's a lovely classic look.

#3, Hat & Cowl. A nice-looking set. It would be fun to pick out a colourway for this one.

#4, Mosaic Turtleneck. This is a striking, contemporary look.

#5, Tilework Top. And this one is even more eye-catching. Very mod!

#6, Mitered Tunic. This is a new take on the gradient effect: mitred squares in a neutral frame. I like it, though I would neaten up the fit a little.

#7, Lace Pullover. Very pretty, but I would fix those dropped shoulders.

#8, Bell Sleeve Pullover. Beautiful stitchwork, and the bell sleeves and old rose colour work with the romantic effect of the lace.

#9, Cable and Lace Pullover. The asymmetrical panel gives a classic lace pullover a modern twist.

#10, Stranded Yoke Pullover. This is such a fun, attractive, wearable piece.

#11, Brioche Pullover. I'd fix the dropped shoulders and make the sleeves neater fitting. The exaggerated neckline of this sweater is all it needs.

#12, Pleated Tunic. This is super cute. Nice shaping and detailing, and it sits so well.

#13, Simple Pullover & Scarf. I'm not sure how practical a short-sleeved sweater and scarf set is, unless the wearer is someone who takes a chill specifically in the neck region while their arms somehow stay warm. There are such people (i.e., a girl I knew in high school who refused to alter her 1980s mullet hairstyle well into the 1990s despite the urging of all her friends, because as she put it, her "neck would get cold").

#14, Yoke Pattern Pullover. Beautiful. The yoke and lines are pleasing, and there's nothing quite like a mohair silk blend yarn.

#15, Lace Stripe Pullover. This is fetching. I like the neat shape and colour and the hint of skin showing beneath.

#16, Boxy Pullover. I'd call this shapeless rather than boxy, and those abbreviated sleeves look simply absurd.

#17, Tawny. This is... okay. I'd make this one just one size too large, as a relaxed fit will work well with this casual style.

#18, Zebra Pullover. For the zebra enthusiast in your life! This is a well-rendered design for what it is, even though the zebra looks a little fiercer and more pinched in the muzzle than zebras usually look.

#19, Crewneck Pullover. This one is a "from the archives" Perry Ellis design, which was originally published in Vogue Knitting Fall/Winter 1983. It has aged very well, and though I'm not one for animal skin motifs, if I were to wear one, this would probably be my pick.

Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2019: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released its Early Fall 2019 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Pattern #01, V-Neck Tunic. This oversized Shaker knit vest is taking me back to circa 1986, when items like this were very in style. Except back then it would have been made in some bright colour: aqua, hot pink, or electric blue.

Pattern #02, Geometric Pullover. Nice shaping and design. It would be fun to pick out a colourway for this one.

Pattern #03, Yoked Pullover. Love this one, which has great shaping and a striking and attractive yoke design.

Pattern #04, V-Neck Vest. Nice shaping and stitchwork in this one, but I'm not sure I'm on board with the yarn choice, or with the pairing of this vest with the rest of the model's look, great as that dress and jewelry would be on its own.

Pattern #05, V-Neck Cardigan. I like the lines of v-shaped contrast stitches on this one. To a casual glance, it has the look of single large stitches, which is rather meta.

Pattern #06, Cropped Cardigan. A cute cropped cardigan for those who can pull off a cropped length. If you (or the intended wearer) can't, well, it can always be lengthened.

Pattern #07, Gradient Cardigan. This one, which is knit of two strands of laceweight, turns three colours of yarn into a perfect gradient colourway by combining two strands of the adjoining colours to create a bridging colour. It's a great technique to use if you can't find a satisfactory gradient colourway -- they can be hard to put together.

Pattern #08, Multipatterned Cardigan. I'm not crazy about this one, but I think the problem is mostly the "sunburned taco" colourway. I have a bit of a weakness for these "sampler" type designs, which are such a great chance to flex one's knitting muscles.

Pattern #09, Chevron Cardigan. Classic, wearable cardigan with some nice stitchwork.

Pattern #10, Cropped Cardigan. The only thing I don't like about this one is the cropped shaped (admittedly, I'm biased, as I cannot wear cropped tops of any sort). Otherwise it's lovely, with such a polished, crisp look, and the stitchwork is fantastic.

Pattern #11, Fair Isle Yoke Pullover. I like the concept of embroidering designs from the yoke on the body of a sweater, but I'm not convinced that the particular yoke and embroidered devices employed here work well together.

Pattern #12, Lace Scarf. What a lovely piece of work.

Pattern #13, Textured Wrap. Great texture and a very handsome look overall.

Pattern #14, Gradient Wrap. Another beautiful wrap. This one was done with a single variegated yarn.

Pattern #15, Lace Wrap. Simple and pretty.

Pattern #16, Brioche Cowl. This one's so striking you could build an entire outfit around it.

Pattern #17, Two-Tone Pullover. This is a Kaffe Fassett design, and as hesitant as I am to critique a Fassett design (I mean, who do I think I am, really?), I can't sign off on those choppy-looking sleeves. I'd cast on extra stitches when I got to the armholes and knit the sleeves of a piece with the body, eliminating both the dropped shoulder seam and the checkerboard pattern.

Pattern #18, Amber Leafy Coat. Wow, this is simply a fabulous piece of design. I can't help feeling I'd like to change the shape since the A-line silhouette is not my friend, but there are those rare designs that shouldn't be altered, and this is one of them.

Pattern #19, Cliffs of Moher Sweater. My goodness, you couldn't not notice this one if you saw it on anyone. The combination of Celtic designs and texture and a rainbow yoke is fun and fresh and lovely. And wonder of wonders, this pattern is available for free!

Pattern #20, Celtic Flame Coat. This is another amazing piece of design. The Ravelry pattern page for this pattern describes it as "show stopping" and I don't disagree. But I think if I were making it I might be inclined to skip the stripes and the gradient colours and make the coat in a solid colour with a contrast Celtic device colour. Just the stitchwork and the Celtic designs are enough to carry this piece. And this pattern is available for free!

Pattern #21, Colorwork Vest. This is one from the archives, a Kaffe Fassett design from the Vogue Knitting Holiday 1986 issue. Even with all the fashion fluctuations of the last 33 years, I don't believe there's been a year since this was published that it wouldn't have been wearable just as it is.