Pom Pom Quarterly Issue 15: A Review

Pom Pom Quarterly has released its Issue 15. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Avalon Ballroom scarf. What absolutely gorgeous stitchwork.

Callas bolero. This is one of those items that doesn't hang well even on a professional model, which augurs poorly for any average woman who tries it on.

Carlu pullover. Strikingly pretty. I rather like the added touch of the buttoned cuffs, especially when they're colour-coordinated to the contrast colour at the neckline.

Cicely pullover. I love the slit neckline and decorative beads on this one, which gives it a slightly dressy evening feel to the design without making it something that can't be worn at any time of day. The length does feel a little off proportionally -- even this model isn't quite working that wide waistband and cropped length. If you don't have a waist you care to show off and/or feel your upper body can't handle the visual foreshortening, I'd make the sweater a little longer and decrease the height of the ribbing by several inches.

Deco City shawl. Nice little wrap with an unusual linear lace pattern. I also admire Pom Pom for committing to the deco theme in the photo shoot (as well as throughout the entire issue). They went to the trouble of finding an art deco-esque couch and styling the model in a very late twenties way.

Hulanicki socks. Nicely and even smartly patterned.

Suffragette hat. This is one of those patterns that didn't quite get where it deserved to go. I quite like the rhythmic effect of the welts that circle this cloche, but the side slit isn't a happy effect. It makes the hat look unfinished, or even as though it burst open, sending flying whatever cool finishing ornament had been added to that side.

Theda cowl. Nice piece on the whole, though that edging does look a little unfinished.

Turnberry pullover. This is one really distinctive and gorgeous piece of stitchwork. I think this one might have supplanted a pattern I had picked out for a cotton sweater I intend to make myself this coming spring. I will be making these sleeves full length though. Those bracelet-length sleeves usually don't look right to me.

Wilding. You know, I'm actually kind of on board with the cut outs (cut the sleeves back to the wrists and give this sweater a better shape and more interesting texture, and it'll be a rather sexy look), but not in combination with the built-in gloves. It makes the sleeves look as though they were trying to make a run for it and pulled a "didn't do it, wasn't there, can't prove a thing, we're really gloves" when someone noticed the bare skin at the top of the arms.

Bergère de France 180: A Review, part deux

Let's have a look at the second half of the patterns in Bergère de France 180, the first part of the review having been posted this past Wednesday.

Pattern #21, Striped Beanie. Basic hat. The yarn choice works pretty well with it.

Pattern #22, Snood. Another very simple pattern.

Pattern #23, Fair Isle Beanie. Fairly effective stitchwork on this.

Pattern #24, Cape. 'Tis the season not to dress your child in a Christmas tree skirt. Actually, why don't we keep the spirit of that season all year round and avoid the whole night visits from the three ghosts of hideous capes fiasco, especially when the Ghost of Hideous Capes Past is going to be wearing something from the 1970s that reeks of mildew and pot?

Pattern #25, Roll Edge Sweater. Another basic pattern, but this is something that most young boys would find quite unobjectionable.

Pattern #26, Fingerless Gloves. Er, people will pay money for a "design" that required this little effort? It makes you think.

Pattern #27, Fair Isle Bobble Beanie. I rather like this one. The colour scheme really pops.

Pattern #28, Beanie. There are way cuter and better designed hats out there than this low level effort.

Pattern #29, Three Tone Bobble Beanie. Fairly simple piece but the right colour scheme (which this one is not) could make it look rather cute.

Pattern #30, Snood and Bracelet. If you're not going to put more effort into making your child's accessories than this, just take her to Claire's.

Pattern #31, Fingerless Gloves. These do have some slight appeal, though they still look rather slapped together and crude.

Pattern #32, Legwarmers. For the parents who feel their daughter isn't getting enough of that character-building bullying. I'm glad this child model's face doesn't show in any of the legwarmer shots. Even her feet look embarrassed.

Pattern #33, Large Snood. This is rather appealing. The stripes and the colour scheme are effective. I think I'd leave the tassels off if it were intended for a boy, though.

Pattern #34, Slippers. These don't look too bad overall but that is one ridiculous way of constructing the anklet. Those flaps on the front look like envelopes and remind me of Mark Twain's epigram, "Why do you sit there like a letter with no address?"

Pattern #35, Cable Cover. Er, no. I'm not even sure encasing electrical cords in yarn is safe.

Pattern #36, Fancy Rib Cushion Cover. Not a bad-looking simple stitch, but you probably don't need a pattern for it.






Pattern #37, Garter Stitch Cushion Cover, and Pattern #38, Seed Stitch Cushion Cover. And you definitely do not need a pattern for these.

Pattern #39, Panda Sweater. You've got to give Bergère de France some credit for trying to give a panda sweater some edge.

Pattern #40, Stag's Head Sweater. I would have named this pattern the Mutant Alien Head Sweater.

Bergère de France 180: A Review, part un

Bergère de France has released issue number 180, which is a collection of fall and winter designs for children aged 2 to 12. Let's have a look at the first twenty patterns in it, shall we? Part deux of the review will be posted this Friday.

Pattern #1, Bodywarmer. Just to remind everyone, bathmats belong on the bathroom floor, not on your child.

Pattern #2, Sweater with Yoke. This is nice on the whole, though that yoke does look more than a little like a braided rag rug.

Pattern #3, Button-Neck Sweater. Decent basic design.

Pattern #4, Long Sweater. Nice texture on this one, and it would look cute over a pair of leggings.

Pattern #5, High Neck Sweater. This is a very decent piece of graphic design, and the idea of pulling out an accent colour with matching buttons is a nice idea.

Pattern #6, Fair Isle Hoodie. Not a bad look, though the fair isle pattern looks like a hieroglyphics version of the Rorschach ink blot test. I see palm trees and pyramids. What do you see in that pattern?

Pattern #7, Shawl Collar Jacket. Nice classic jacket.

Pattern #8, Sleeveless Bodywarmer. Rather a cute little jacket. I'd refine the shape of it somewhat, though. I don't like fitted clothes on children, but I also don't see the appeal of dressing kids in trapezoids.

Pattern #9, Sweater with Fair Isle Collar. Really like the added touch of a fair isle collar and pocket on this otherwise plain sweater. It's really quite an original look.

Pattern #10, Loose Fit Hoodie. I think most kids would find this so large and heavy as to be cumbersome.

Pattern #11, Furry Look Jacket. Again, people, friends don't let friends dress their children in bathmats.

Pattern #12, High Neck Collar. There are better designed cowls than this one.

Pattern #13, Short Sleeved Tunic. I can't say I've ever liked the short-sleeved sweater over a long-sleeved top look, and yet one wouldn't dress a child in a sweater this warm and leave her arms bare. I'd make this one with long sleeves.

Pattern #14, Hooded Jacket. Not a bad jacket, though those pockets look a little off. I think the problem is that they need to be a few inches bigger to make them proportional to the rest of the item.

Pattern #15, Cardigan. This one's rather too blah and featureless. Making it in a brighter, more attractive colour would help a lot.

Pattern #16, Hooded Coat. I like this coat, but I don't like the tassels on it. A more interesting button choice would be a better way to step up the look a little.

Pattern #17, Shawl Collar Herringbone Sweater. Nice piece.

Pattern #18, Jacket with Removable Hood. Not a bad look. It has something of the classic pea coat's appeal.

Pattern #19, Fair Isle Bobble Beanie. Nice simple little hat.

Pattern #20, Fair Isle Sweater. Interesting varied pattern on this, though it does deserve a more interesting colourway.