Vogue Knitting Fall 2016: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released their Fall 2016 preview photos. Let's have a look at them, shall we?

Pattern #1. Classic fair isle pattern, and this cape sits and drapes very well.

Pattern #2. Very smart take on the classic fair isle yoke sweater. I'd totally wear this myself.

Pattern #3. I like the fair isle pattern, and I know one must knit fair isle scarves in a tube so as not to have a wrong side, but finishing this scarf off with ribbed cuffs makes it look like the wearer tied a couple of extra sleeves around her neck.

Pattern #4. I like the fair isle pattern and the mitts, but the neck and sleeve shaping of this vest looks dowdy to me.

Pattern #5. Nice piece. I like the modern feeling combination of a fair isle front with a tartan back.

Pattern #6. Beautiful design, and the colour palette is fantastic.

Pattern #7. A very handsome cowl.

Pattern #8. Very pretty. I love the subtle shades of blue combined with that very pale pink.

Pattern #9. That's a pretty fabulous cushion.

Pattern #10. That middle section looks like a mistake. I think the problem was that it needed a more definite divider from the rest of the vest than a single hacky-looking garter stitch row.

Pattern #11. A polished, contemporary piece. I'd love to see this one done in colour blocks.

Pattern #12. Nice. A subtle but interesting pattern that will look well with many outfits and coats.

Pattern #13. I wasn't sure how I felt about the back slit at first, but I think it works. Given that the edges are well finished and the rest of the sweater is well-shaped and has good stitchwork, the overall look is that of a modern, feminine version of the tail coat, which is a great design direction, especially considering that one of the alternative paths is "mud flaps".

Pattern #14. Classic cabled sweater, updated with a sectional look.

Pattern #15. Beautiful stitchwork in this.

Pattern #16. Oooh, lovely. So flattering and polished.

Pattern #17. This one is very boxy and will be hard for most women to carry off.

Pattern #18. This one could have used a more finished-looking neckline to go with the sleeve cuffs and hem.

Pattern #19. Not bad, but I would raise those dropped shoulders.

Pattern #20. Very Gap-ish.

Pattern #21. Classic man's pullover.

Pattern #22. Some great texture in this one.

Pattern #23. Classic hat, though I don't know how many men would want that pom pom on there.

The Muses of Creativity and other knitting fables

Tessa's new sweater design also doubled as a bean bag chair.

Sometimes Willow and Cleo liked to get dressed up in their sleek, post-modern designs and move about and head butt each other in a sinuous, cat-like way.

On one of his stealth missions to earth, Arlnxxoq had accidentally stumbled onto a fashion runway, where he tried desperately and futilely to signal his home planet, unaware that he was being simultaneously acclaimed as the latest fashion sensation.

Being president of the Canadian chapter of the KISS fan club was a big and sometimes frustratingly complex responsibility, but Brad always had his knitting to help him stay calm and brainstorm solutions.

Nyssa thought her new "Melted Crayons" fashion line had turned out well.

The Dexter family decided that since the family therapy didn't seem to be helping they'd save themselves some money by coming up with their own methods of fostering togetherness and resolving difficulties, such as spending every Friday night in their animal masks, worn backwards, meowing, barking, roaring, and trumpeting at one another to express their innermost feelings. And they were happy with the results, because Backwards Mask Night built such a bond that they were able to present a united front when their neighbours began to complain.

When Joletta realized she didn't have enough free time to properly commune with the Muses of Creativity out in the garden, the Muses suggested that she drop out of her knitting club and began to create her own knitwear by glue gunning crap all over her sweaters.

Torrance was thrilled with his new raving outfit. His psychedelic yarn and shoes would make him stand out in any crowd of ravers.

May was thrilled with her steampunk bridal outfit, though as her mother pointed out, she didn't look it.

Riva had been hired to create costumes and sets for a new extreme knitting themed version of The Wizard of Oz that had been tentatively titled The Oz., and she was rather proud of how her Scarecrow costume had turned out.

Twist Collection Fall 2016: A Review

Twist Collective has released its Fall 2016 issue! Let's have a look at it.

Rumford. A classic with some nice stitchwork.

Carrick. I wouldn't wear this because I don't care to add more bulk to my chest area given that it's plenty bulky already, but I have to admit the exaggerated size of the cable isn't a bad effect.

Coax. Not bad. The ripple effect is not a favourite look of mine, so that's making me tepid on this one. I think a more subtle colourway might do more for this one.

Windvine. Love this one. The intricate cables and the shaping are perfect.

Byway. A very decent piece. The way the cables turn under the pockets is an original and effective touch.

Sangria. A smart and useful little cardi.

Proscenium. I like this one, with its relaxed, country feel. The side buttons are a different touch.

Wickford. Very attractive cardigan. That collar sits so well and the cable detailing is good.

Carnelian. The sleeve detailing on this one is excellent but the body looks shapeless and bulky by contrast. The design has a certain "eighties-era Shaker knit decided to morph into something better but changed its mind 40% of the way into the process" feel to it.

Sinua. Very pretty cable and lace stitchwork on this one.

Echinacea. Nice set. I very much like the stylized floral design.

Bibelot. I do like a theme knit that's cute and whimsical in an adult way. The devices here look a little steampunk-ish.

Lithograph. The hem's very attractive but those lines criss-crossing the body look more than a little straggly.

Dulcia. Another nice little cardi.

Svaritifoss. I'm loving this "lace over stockinette" effect and would love to see the technique explored further.

Saplings. I love a good tree-themed knit, and these mittens are as good an example of that design category as I've seen. The designer has used the shape of the mitten to define the tree, and it works beautifully.

Eyebright. A lovely little wrap.

Naturalist. Classic ganseys. Adding a contrast colour at the cuffs, neckband, and waistbands isn't a bad way to freshen up the look.

Efflore. Nice set. I love the stylized leaf outline.

Smoky Lake. Classic double-breasted cardigan. About which my only complaint is the one I usually make about double-breasted patterns: that it looks great when buttoned up, and bad when worn open.

Pavers. Very nice set. The unusual double-line cable effect gives it interest and sophistication.

Mosey. A good-looking design in both the the male and the female version. The endless variations possible with cables never fails to amaze me. There's always a way to freshen up this centuries-old knitting technique.

Antrea. Nice set. I'm liking the dimensional effect created by the combination of cables and ribs.

Peak Alpaca: A Video

"I vote we use 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain' for a theme song."





In Peak Alpaca, an animated short by Anna Hrachovec, a sheep and two alpacas embark on an epic journey to get some forbidden fruit.