Twist Collective May 2018: A Review

In today's post we're going to have a look at Twist Collective's May issue.

Sway. This unstructured, minimalist piece is not my kind of design, but I have to admit that that it seems to hang fairly well (important, because how much time is the wearer going to spend clutching it about herself?) and that the play of colour is visually interesting.

Gloxinia. A fabulous piece of lacework.

Petrina. A simple summer or layering piece with just enough detail to make it interesting.

Chilston. Another exquisite lace shawl.

Esplanade. This one is fun and smart and sporty, and very wearable.

Montpelier. Another beautiful shawl, with a modern twist in its stripe pattern. I'm not too thrilled with this colour palette (I think it's the yellow, which I'd replace with damn near any other colour), but that's easily corrected.

Prickly Pear. This has an unfinished and ill-fitting look. Finishing the edges would help it sit better at the bottom, and it could probably do with some waist-shaping.

Harlow. I particularly like this one. The stitchwork on the front has an Art Deco-like appeal.

Allium. Not bad. I think this is one I'd do in a more interesting yarn.

MacGregor. Nice piece. I like all the detail around the edges and up the sides. I think I'd fix those dropped shoulders though, which would both make the shoulders more flattering and neaten up the fit a bit.

Delphic Grove. The stitchwork in this wrap is gorgeous, and it drapes beautifully.

Bette. This one's a simple, wearable piece, though I think I'd neaten up the fit a bit. The edgings and the back buttoned style give it a bit of interest.

Talaitha. A fourth beautiful shawl. This one reminds me of an Edwardian chemise, probably because of the combination of white and eyelets.

Sunapee. This well-shaped and nicely detailed, and the split lace sleeves are interesting, though I'm not sure how wearable they'd prove. For me at least -- the one time I made a dress with split cap sleeves, I wound up stitching them together because I couldn't stand them flapping limply about and showing the wrong side of the fabric. These are split on the bottom, don't show their wrong side, and seem to hang pretty well, so I think they are pretty workable.

Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2018: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released its Spring/Summer 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it. Unfortunately I won't be able to link to the Ravelry page for each design as I normally do, because as of this writing, only two of the patterns have Ravelry pages.

Pattern #1. This has some impressive stitchwork in it, but the lines of it are not all that flattering or practical.

Pattern #2. Some quite distinctive detailing on this. I'm not sure I care for the rolled effect on the armhole though, or the way the v-neck is finished. I'd be inclined to edge them both with garter stitch to match the bottom hem edging.

Pattern #3. A very nice lacy pullover for summer. I'm imagining this one in a selection of bright, fresh colours or pure white, as this dull oatmeal is doing the design no favours.

Pattern #4. This has a slightly askew, frumpy look. Fixing the dropped shoulders might help somewhat.

Pattern #5. The combination of the romantic, almost Edwardian front with the daring bared back really works, and the varied, yet beautifully integrated stitchwork in this is fantastic.

Pattern #6. This isn't bad. The pattern is attractive, and the little scarf effect is an interesting contemporary touch.

Pattern #7. Really eye-catching and attractive play of colour and pattern here. I'd want to keep going and make an afghan of this. Which is not to say, as I sometimes do, that this wrap would look better on a couch. It's so cool it would work both on a person and on a couch.

Pattern #8. A rather clever and sporty tee.

Pattern #9. A simple tank with its interest lying in the fact that it's knitted in a plush yarn. It would look better if it were slightly neater fitting.

Pattern #10. A very simple yet fetching piece.

Pattern #11. I'm not a big fan of the slit sleeve, but I must admit these sit well and it wouldn't be the same piece if the sleeves were made whole. I would make the body a little longer and slightly neater fitting.

Pattern #12, Cable Tank. This is one of those designs that grew on me as I looked at it. I like the laddering at the sides and the simple cable detailing. I suspect most women won't care to wear such a deep neckline, especially when this is a piece that will require a strapless bra, but that's easily corrected.

Pattern #13. Oooh, this shaped ribbed sleeveless dress is simple and flattering and classic. I would totally wear this.

Pattern #14. A well-shaped mesh tunic. Though the "what a bee threw up after overdosing on a lilac bush"-coloured yarn wasn't a particularly happy choice.

Pattern #15. A lovely wrap. The detail on the edging is fantastic.

Pattern #16. Another very attractive wrap.

Pattern #17, Garter and Lace Shawl. And here's the cover item. Such lovely contemporary-style lacework.

Interweave Knits Summer 2018: A Review

Interweave Knits has released their Summer 2018 issue. Let's have a look at all the summery patterns within.

Arizona Tee. I like the contemporary style lacework in this one, which would make a good cover up for the beach, or an interesting piece to layer over a sundress.

Arkansas River Pullover. An attractive, classic cowl-neck pullover.

Bent's Fort Cardigan. The stitchwork on this is great, and the back is fabulous, but I can't say I care for the ragged-looking way it hangs in the front.

Buena Vista Stole. An attractive piece of lacework.

Candencia Poncho. The cabled stitchwork in this is nice, but I'm not crazy about the way it hangs. The model has adopted a different elaborately casual pose in every single one of the product shots on this design's Ravelry page, and the effect still isn't great.

Desert Nights Cardigan. Good shaping, and an interesting and attractive mosaic pattern.

Flagstaff Tee. A decent-looking vest.

Four Corners Cardigan. Ooh, I quite like this one. The combination of the warm, muted, desert-like colourway and the Southwestern design is appealing.





Indigo Trader Cardigan. Not bad. I like the bold design on the back. This does have a hem that curves down from the front to a larger back, but I think that works better than squared-off mullet hems.






Moab Stole. Another nice stole with lovely stitchwork.

Mojave Top. I don't think this piece is quite working here -- the styling isn't doing this piece any favours -- but I could see it working over a camisole or tank top. The shaping is decent and the lacework is attractive.

Salida Cardigan. A very decent piece. I think I might choose to work those shoulder patches in a less high-contrast colourway.





Taos Tee. This is one of those pieces that tend to only work on tall models. I like the lace detailing in the sleeves, neckline, and back, but if the intended wearer is average height or less, I'd shorten both the sleeves and the length and close up most of that waist-high slit.

Tucson Pullover. This is one of those designs that I didn't think I was going to like at first glance but that grow on me as I look at them. The colourway and the design are offbeat and eye-catching, and the shape is good.

Whitehorn Shawl. Very much like this one. The various stripes give this wrap a different interesting look in each of the various way it's styled on the design's Ravelry page.

Winona Poncho. The wavy lace pattern is attractive, but I don't think I'd be able to tolerate something that had this many loose ends and was so likely to snag on absolutely everything for even an hour of wear. This looks like something the cat dragged in, frankly.