Noro Magazine Issue 10: A Review

Noro Magazine has released Issue 10. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Pattern 1, Boxy Pullover. Love the colours, but would neaten up the fit to make this a Pullover rather than a Boxy Pullover.

Pattern 2, Basketweave Tee. Like the pattern above, I'd fix the drop shoulders, add waist shaping, and make this standard fit. Boxy fits simply aren't flattering on most women. As you can see, even this professional model isn't able to carry this one off.

Pattern 3, Marled Stripe T-Shirt. A nice-looking casual piece.

Pattern 4, Cabled Tee. I like this one on the whole, but would do that front panel in a seed stitch instead of mesh in order to avoid letting the whole world know what bra I was wearing underneath.

Pattern 5, Colorblock Tee. I'm not crazy about the combination of the cabled effect with the gradient moss stitch. It makes this sweater look like the result of a head-on collision between two different designs.

Pattern 6, Side Slit Tee. I rather like this one, and I even think the dropped shoulders work pretty well because the shaping is so good, but I think I might shorten the sleeves a trifle.

Pattern 7, Openwork Cowl. This is kind of fun, but it would make me feel like I was wearing some sort of artsy scarf hanger.

Pattern 8, Pleat and Eyelet Scarf. This looks a little too much like the kind of scrap yarn project that one makes up as one goes along. While drinking.

Pattern 9, Buttonhole Cowl. I'm quite liking this one with its fun and effective combination of colour and texture.

Pattern 10, Garter and Lace Cowl. This one also has too much of a scrap yarn project feel, though this one at least looks as though it was made by a sober person.

Pattern 11, Dimensional Tuck Stitch Cowl. Very pretty. The colours and the tucked effect work well together.

Pattern 12, Crochet Wave Poncho. Even a beautiful yarn and intricate stitchwork can't save a design that has the shape and hang of a Hefty bag.

Pattern 13, Rhombus Poncho. For the late bloomer who needs the world to know she is emerging from chrysalis, and therefore needs a chrysalis from which to emerge.

Pattern 14, Easy Striped Wrap. I would modify this by renaming it "Easy Striped Throw" and placing it on a couch.

Pattern 15, Chevron Jacket. This one almost works. I'd help it complete its transition from afghan to jacket by making the sleeves more fitted and adding front closures.

Pattern 16, Swingy Poncho. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you may know that I hold that items meant to be worn by a human being should not look like afghans. To this I must now add that clothes should also not look like curtain valances from a 1940s bordello.

Pattern 17, Lacy Ruana. This one also belongs on a couch.

Pattern 18, Chevron Throw. The design is fine, though I can't say I care for the colour palette.

Pattern 19, Modular Afghan. Fresh and pretty.

Pattern 20, Patchwork Afghan. This design deserved better than to be rendered in a "Barbie's Dream House Meets Mudslide and Oil Slick" colour palette.

Pattern 21, Patchwork Pillow. This pillow is done in such happy colours that they make me smile when I look at it.

Pattern 22, Origami Pouch. This is a rather nice-looking tote. I would line it with fabric and probably also some sort of interlining to keep it from sagging all to hell.

Pattern 23, Sleeveless Jacket. This design looks too unfinished and crude to be really attractive.

Pattern 24, Short Sleeve Jacket. Very pretty. Love the colour, the subtle lace pattern, and the cute, stylish shape.

Pattern 25, Dolman Sleeve Jacket. This has promise but it doesn't hang well at all.

Pattern 26, Sleeveless Top with Pockets. I'd add waist shaping to this one, and do something a little different with the pockets, such as adding little button flaps, instead of going with the bow shape and the eyelet detail on each one, which isn't working.

Pattern 27, Sleeveless Top. This is pretty. And I would neaten up the fit a little, but only because that's my personal preference. This loose-fitting top does look good as is.

Pattern 28, Cross Stitch Top. Interesting texture but I'm not sure the shape is so good, though it's hard to tell from this side angle photo.

Pattern 29, Vee Neck Pullover. Pretty, though I would make this a little more fitted and add waist shaping.

Pattern 30, Broomstick Lace Shawl. An attractive wrap with a very cool and interesting texture.

Rib Magazine, Issue 1: A Review

Podcasters Eric (from the Sticks + Twine Podcast) and Devone (from the Handmade and Woolen Podcast) have just launched a new knitting magazine called Rib, and guess what... it's written specifically for men who knit and those who knit for them in what may be a knitting magazine first. Vogue Knitting has done at least one special issue for men, but to the best of my knowledge there aren't any English language knitting magazine titles that offer only patterns for men. It'll be interesting to see what design direction the magazine takes, and how it does in sales. Let's have a look at the first issue.

Dragonmoss. This is a handsome, non-fussy piece that I can easily imagine the bachelors of my acquaintance being happy to have on their couches, even though in some cases part of the pillow's job would be to hide the beer stains and broken springs.

Lakeshore Boulevard Pullover. I'm liking this one, which offers a modern take on the traditional gansey pattern.

Metropolitan Hat & Cowl. An attractive and wearable set. I like the lattice stitchwork on both hat and cowl.

Patina Pullover. This pullover couldn't be plainer, but as always with a simple pattern, using a beautiful and/or interesting yarn will give it all the interest it needs.

Stalactite Scarf. This one combines some clever stitchwork with a very cool, interesting yarn.

Urban Aran Mitts. A very nice-looking and wearable pair of mitts.

I'd say this magazine is off to a promising start with its six solid designs, though I am hoping in future issues we'll see more colour and daring in the designs.

Vogue Knitting Late Winter 2017: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released their Late Winter 2017 issue. Let's have a look at it....

Pattern #1, Textured Poncho. Very loose-fitting numbers like this one are not usually my thing, but I have to admit this one works pretty well because of the careful shaping and detailing and interesting texture. The colourway used here really isn't to my taste, but I am enjoying imagining this piece done in lots of beautiful palettes.

Pattern #2, Raglan Turtleneck. A basic pattern like this one can be the way to go when you have an interesting or especially beautiful yarn to showcase. I'd recommend scaling down the length of this sweater to suit the intended wearer's height if she isn't model-tall.

Pattern #3, Cabled Front Pullover. I like this one on the whole, but I'm not sure that stripe of white on the bottom is working. I find it distracting.

Pattern #4, Color Block Pullover. Sometimes colour blocking works and sometimes it looks as though the knitter simply ran out of one colour of yarn. I'm inclined to think this is one of the latter cases, though the two yarns used do work together very well, which helps a lot.

Pattern #5, Striped Pullover. What a gorgeous play of colour.

Pattern #6, Man's Hoodie. Nice piece. The self-striping yarn makes for a more interesting take on the too-standard "stripe across the chest" men's sweater.

Pattern #7, Cable Front Pullover. Perfectly shaped and very wearable cabled piece.

Pattern #8, Broderie Anglaise Shawl. Interesting texture.

Pattern #9, Cabled Shawl. Beautiful wrap.

Pattern #10, Maruna Hat. Cute hat. I don't know if I'd go with the pom pom, personally, but certainly it will suit some women and is a fun touch.

Pattern #11, Long-line Scarf. A handsome and polished scarf.

Pattern #12, Over-Knee Socks. This a wonderfully comfortable-looking pair of knee socks, but the combination of pumps and pom poms is not one we'll often see anywhere but on a professional model in a magazine shoot.

Pattern #13, Cabled Sleeve Scarf. Nice cablework, but the open tube style of this scarf would make me feel like I had a pair of longjohns tied around my neck.

Pattern #13, Pom Pom Hat. Another classic hat topped with a furry pom pom.

Pattern #14, Cowichan-Style Pullover. This is nice on the whole, but I would have put a little more effort into that collar, which looks somewhat unfinished.

Pattern #15, Cowichan Style Socks. Oooh, I covet these for both their attractive Cowichan-inspired design as well as their very evident warmth and comfiness.

Pattern #17, Bouclé Open Vest, and Pattern #18, Bouclé Pullover. I'm afraid I'm one of those hidebound, narrow-minded knitters who will never be lured away from her belief that sweaters should not look as though they were knitted out of bathmat.

Pattern #18, Heartbeat Wrap. This piece is interesting, polished, and wearable. Love the gradient effect and the sharp graphic appeal.

Pattern #19, Floral Vest. A lovely piece on the whole, but I don't know how much I like that blurred effect on the bottom. It looks as though the colours ran in the wash.

Pattern #20, Striped Turtleneck. A simple but very sharp piece.

Pattern #21. This one just plain messes with my head. It's like a knitted Rorschach test. I see car mats and rivulets of slush, which I suppose says I'm Canadian ad it's mid-winter, and I'm relieved that my psychological profile is no worse.

Pattern #22, Gradient Graphic Wrap. This one's a little too afghan-y to work as a wrap.

Pattern #23, Lace Cowl. Gorgeous.