Showing posts with label magazine reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label magazine reviews. Show all posts

Monday 14 January 2019

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.

Tuesday 1 January 2019

Knitty Winter 2018: A Review


Knitty has released its Winter 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it.





Isosceles. This one's quite sharp, with both graphic chartwork and textural interest. I like the use of an accent colour at the cuffs and hem too, but I think I'd omit the accent colour edging at the neckline.





Yoru. Love the detail on this one. The designer comments in the pattern how she admires the Japanese aesthetic of refined simplicity, and I think she's achieved that sort of delicate balance in this design.





Kiernan. This one has dropped shoulders, a mullet hem, and is a cropped length, which regular readers of this blog will know are not among my favourite things. I have to admit this woman, who is the designer, is kind of rocking the look, but I'd fix all those things and make a plain ol' turtleneck with ribbed sleeves in what looks like a lusciously warm and cozy yarn.





Paper Crane. The combination of an asymmetrical shape and a gradient yarn make for an offbeat, contemporary vibe that's not quite to my taste but is a rather fun and interesting look nonetheless.





Grayson. A polished and attractive wrap.





Opposites Attract. The combination of the bobbles and the swirls of colour make for a look a twenty-first century court jester might wear.





Glass Island. A fun, smart cowl to wear with a solid colour coat.





Black Lodge. Oooh, is this one ever striking. The combination of two gradient yarns and a chevron design really packs a punch.





Kilim. I like the woven rug-like effect of this design, especially in the cranberry and green colourway.





When You Are Gone. Love the "sail" motifs on the hat, and the line of colour at the edge, but not the yellow detail at the crown, which has something of the effect of a spider sitting at the back of the hat.





Programmer's Headgear. Even as someone who doesn't know how to code (but has done her share of tagging), I find this fun.





Braineater. For the cephalopod lover in your life who doesn't mind looking like a screencap from one of the more gruesome X-Files episodes! More seriously, this is a fun concept, and it's well-executed.





Spinal Twist. Not bad. The play of texture and colour make this cowl satisfying to look at.





Tufts. This one's a bit rough and ready for my liking.





Fingers Crossed. This is a handsome pair of mitts.





Go Big or Go Gnome. Very cute and a lot of fun, though I can't help wishing those gnomes had a little more detail. I'm not entirely sure I would have figured out that they were gnome motifs without being told.





Intermingle. Very handsome pair of cabled socks. I've dated a number of men to whom I've felt less attracted.

Friday 23 November 2018

Knitscene Accents: A Review


Today on The Knitting Needle and the Damage Done, we're going to have a look at Knitscene Accents, which is a new spin-off title from the ever-prolific Interweave Press.





Vitality Wrap. Excellent textural interest in this one.





Turning Corners Wrap. Seriously cool mosaic effect in this one.





Breaker Cowl. Nice piece.





Rutted Hat. Wearable neutral piece.





Snowy Peaks Hat. Traditional fair isle hat.





Mixed Bag Cowl. This one's a little rough and ready for my liking. The yarn and the button choice are kind of pleasing at least.





Periphery Shawl. This one has a certain panache.





Midnight Cap. Classic cabled cap.





Pigments Cowl. This one's fabulous. I love that it's not only reversible but striped on the one side and fair isle on the other -- two great looks in one cowl.





Vagarious Hat. I like the pop art feel of this one.





Medleys Shawl. This one's a veritable kaleidoscope of stripes.





Blazing Leaves Mitt. Very pretty. This is one of those patterns that I really enjoy imagining in a variety colour schemes.





Trifecta Shawl. This is a fun and inventive colourblock effect.





Yellow Brick Shawl. An attractive textural effect.





Mottles Hat. This one has a fun look to it, and it appears more complex and time-consuming a knit than it is, because the designer used a variegated yarn to add all the colourful stitches that you see.





Ring-Tailed Bandit Hat. Very cute theme. This would be a good hat for us Torontonians, as we struggle to peacefully co-habit with our large trash panda population. Although I almost feel as though the hat should also feature torn window screens and stressed housecats.





Splash Cowl. This one would be a good way to use up some odds and ends of yarn.





Facile Cowl. Basic but wearable.





Heartbeat Mitts. For the cardiologist or ECG technician in your life!





Bubbly Mitts. Cute mitts!