Interweave Knits Winter 2019: A Review

Interweave Knits has released their Winter 2019 issue -- and it's science-themed! Let's have a look at it.

Periodic Pullover. This design, which is based on the periodic table of elements, is okay but I'm not too taken with it. The table looks a bit on the rough and ready side.

Rhizome Pullover. Very pretty. The pattern "depicts subterranean stems and root structures", which makes for one graceful-looking scroll pattern.

O-Chem Tunic. Nice! The hexagonal cable pattern, which is "inspired by organic chemistry compounds", is very attractive, the shaping is good, and I do like a cowl neck.

Atomic Pullover. Another cabled pattern, this time based on atomic orbitals, that's attractive in the same vein as the previous one.

Asteroid B 612 Scarf. Nice stitchwork in this scarf, which was inspired by the scarf worn by the little boy in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince. I'm not so crazy about the deep ribbed hem on the end of the scarf, which makes this model look as though he has a sleeve wrapped around his neck.

Star Cradle Wrap. This, which was inspired by the Pillars of Creation photo captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, is quite a fabulous piece, though I'd be more inclined to leave it on the couch than to wear it.

Saturn's Rings Pullover. Extending the yoke pattern down to the midsection was a nice touch, giving this an original, contemporary look.

Chrysalis Pullover. This is different, and it is an interesting and carefully finished design, but I can't help thinking it has a slightly too lumpy, bulky look.

Crystal Pullover. Lovely. Great shaping and neckline, and the yoke detailing is eye-catching and attractive.

DNA Pullover. An attractive cabled sweater for double helix fans.

STEM Cardigan. Beautiful cables, and this looks beautifully soft and warm even if I'm not entirely sold on the way the front sits.

Celia Cardigan. This wouldn't ordinarily be my type of thing, but I'm find myself liking it. It has such a 1918 vibe, while being perfectly contemporary.

Sediment Pullover. The designer of this one was inspired by the "geological layers of sediment in rock formations" but while I admit that it does evoke that, it's also the perfect "nerdy yet cute" striped sweater.

Arge Humeralis Pullover. This is one of those rare designs in which a dropped shoulder and a foreshortened sleeve actually work. This has a funky yet attractive look to it.

Solidago Hat and Cowl Set. I'm not sure about the split shaping of the cowl, but I suppose it looks okay -- and would sit better under a coat than the usual style of cowl -- and I like the set on the whole.

Dionaea Muscipula Cardigan. Attractive and distinctive.

Laboratory Pullover. This is one of the nicest men's pullovers I've seen in a while. It's definitely a new take on the "stripe across the chest" design so ubiquitous in men's sweater design.

Unified Field Cowl. This cowl is okay. It will look better worn double around the neck rather than in the singlefold, "deflated inner tube" style, but then we couldn't see it as well.

Pom Pom Quarterly Winter 2018: A Review

Pom Pom Quarterly has released their Winter 2018 issue. Shall we have a look at it?

Arbor Vitae. Cute sweater. I'm not normally a big fan of fringe, but these tassels give an otherwise ordinary cable detail sweater a piquant air.

Ataraxia. I appreciate where this designer was going with the detailed, waistcoat-y type look, and I like the design on the whole, but I'm side-eyeing that peplum and thinking it just isn't working visually. I'd shorten it to a few inches.

Christabel. Such an appealing little cardi. I love how the model's expression is all, "Damn straight I'm rocking the hell out of this cute thing."

Galewood. These mitts have a different: they're held in place via a middle finger loop rather than shaped to have individual finger holes. It'll stay in place well enough, and I rather like the effect. They're like spats for the hands.

Nightingale. Here we have the cover look, and its twisting, curving cables are really kind of fabulous, making me think of the dense growth of the kind of magical forest one reads about in fairy tales.

Nimue. Not too sure about this one. The batwing sleeves do give it a certain schlumpy look. However, I must admit it has some nice detailing and it looks pretty good here, styled over a dress without any competing horizontal lines.





Nonesuch. I'm not entirely pleased with how this sweater sits in the front, but it's passable, and the back looks terrific.

Osmunda. There's... too much going on here. This pudding is not only over-egged, it seems to be coming down with the small pox.

Sojourner. This wrap is really lovely. The stitchwork, the use of two similar shades, the luxurious, silken drape of it.... There are sixteen photos of this shawl on its Ravelry page, which is much more than usual for a Ravelry pattern page. It's as though the photographer couldn't stop taking photos of it, and I don't blame them.

Willowwood. I like the contrasting arches effect on this sweater, and I am withholding judgement on the pom poms, but I just can't get on board with the shaping. The foreshortened arms and cropped, baggy shape of the body is not working even on this professional model.

Piecework 2018: A Review

Interweave has released its Piecework 2018 issue. Let's have a look at the few but lovely patterns within it.

Festival Lace Mitts. Fit for a bride.

Tea Rose Scarf. Such pretty lace. I see this one worn as an accessory over a summer-weight cocktail dress.

A Little Women Lace Fichu. For the past several days I've been working my way through the first season of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Three of the characters, who are known collectively as the Weird Sisters, are often shown dressed in very simple, fitted dresses with lace collars and cuffs, a look that I suspect is going to become iconic in short order. It's certainly led me to think that knitted or crocheted collars is a look that deserves to come back in a big way. So I'm here for this fichu, which I can imagine adding an interesting new dimension to the right outfit.

Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 64: A Review

Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine has released issue 64 of their magazine. Let's have a look at it.

Abbotts. This one's an unholy hybrid of a vest and a wrap, and it actually works surprisingly well and would be a pretty wearable way to add a warm layer to an outfit.

Alizarin. Some great texture in this coat, and I like the scalloped edges.

Beacon. The cowl in this product shot is a separate piece from the cardigan. They look pretty good worn together and with the cowl doubled, but the cowl doesn't look good worn single fold (admittedly cowls don't usually look good that way), and I can't get a sense of how the sweater looks by itself from the available photos.

Butlers. Nice cabled mitts.

Carise. Nice chartwork, but I'd reshape this one as cropped and wide is a difficult shape to wear.

Carmine. I rather like this one with its striking pattern and blanket fringe, and it looks ever so warm and comfortable. I would fix the dropped shoulders, though I'd leave the armholes larger as this needs to fit over other things in a roomy fit. This is a coat that will go with a limited number of outfits, but look what it does for a plain t-shirt and jeans.

Carnelian. This doesn't sit particularly well.

Chota. I'd shorten the proportions of this one, both regarding total length and the length of the v-neckline, as it has a dowdy look as is. Nice stitchwork though.

Cinnabar. Beautiful and inventive pattern, and the lines are good.

Claret. What a striking, attractive pattern.

Falu. Classic cabled wrap.

Folly. The adapted chartwork from the Carise design above makes for a nice-looking cowl.

Fowberry. I'd fix the dropped shoulders on this one, and perhaps add a cuff or a band of the body stitchwork to the sleeves to pull this look together a bit more.

Garnet. I'd reshape this one to look more like it was designed for the human form. There are batwing designs that work, but this doesn't happen to be one of them.

Gazebo. The shape is good and the star motif is very pretty. I'd expect no less given that this is a Kaffe Fassett design.

Hensting. A classic, wearable piece.

Houghton. The bobbles make for a fun, modern look to this cowl.

Juliaca. Very lovely stitchwork in this one. I'd lengthen this as cropped sweaters look awful on me, but some women can carry off the cropped length so your yarnage may vary depending on whom the intended wearer is.

Lightfoot. I tend to see bobbles as something that should be employed sparingly. This jacket would make me feel as though I'd been encased in bubble wrap.

Magenta. Love the stitchwork and the lines are good.

Maroon. Very pretty. That floral pattern is just so sweet.

Marshwood. I like some parts of this, such as the beautifully pattern used through the body and sleeves, but this one isn't quite pulling together as a whole. I think it would work better with a more analogous colour scheme. Putting dissimilar patterns and colours that don't really work together tends to result in a visually conflicted piece.

Mayfield. Nice wrap with some very pleasing stitchwork.

Pennybridge. I can't get past the feeling that this sweater was slashed open down the front and then badly tacked together again.

Perinone. This is the cover look, but of course the waist-up version on the cover doesn't do justice to the entirety of the design. This full-length wrap is not only lovely but brings the drama as few knitted items do, and it drapes and hangs well even in the photos where the model isn't twirling.

Popham. Not bad. The sleeve detail is interesting and the shape is good. I would like a more finished-looking cuff, and I wish I could see the neckline.

Pucallpa. A lovely, even elegant, wrap. The stitchwork is attractive and the alpaca yarn looks luxuriously soft and warm.

Redwood. I don't mind the cable and seed stitch detail on the sleeve, but I'm finding the waist cable an awkward look.

Rosewood. As I look at this, I can't help concluding that there are more graceful and attractive ways to design the tie a front-tie sweater. This woman has the look of an awkwardly wrapped present.

Rosso. Pretty and looks like it would feel luxurious and special to wear.

Rust. I must say, this design is as close to elegant as variegated ripples will ever get. It actually looks like a stylish wrap rather than like an afghan with pretensions.

Sangria. Love this one. I think you couldn't help but notice this one if someone wearing it walked by you on the street.

Tarma. This one hangs awkwardly in both the product shots that are available for it, which is not a good sign.

Teesdale. Interesting combination of patterns.

Venetian. Classic lace scarf.

Vermillion. Love the colours and the stitchwork in this crocheted scarf, but I might scale down the size of it a little. This model looks a little overwhelmed by it, and remember models tend to be quite tall and have long necks.

Woodbine. This is a fun, lively scarf. I'd put a fringe on it to make it look a bit more polished.