Knit Simple Fall 2018: A Review

Knit Simple has released its Fall 2018 issue. Let's take a look at it, shall we? (Please note that, at least as of this writing, for some reason only nine of the 21 designs below have pattern pages on Ravelry, and that I can only link to the ones that are available.)

Pattern #1, Colorwork Yoke Pullover. The yoke and sleeve detail are fine, but I would add some shaping and edging to the necklines, cuffs, and hem.

Pattern #2, Ribbed Yoke Sweater. Again, I like the yoke, but I'd be adding waist shaping and edge finishing.

Pattern #3, Tricolor Pullover. Not bad. The color blocking has a fun, sporty look, and the edges are finished.

Pattern #4, Triangle Shawl. An attractive and not-so-simple shawl. There's some nice stitchwork in this.

Pattern #5, Gradient Shawl. Nice! This designer has taken the gradient effect steps beyond simple bands of colour.

Pattern #6, Garter and Lace Shawl. Very pretty traditional lace-edged shawl.

Pattern #7. This one would be an excellent stash buster. I'm guessing that the log cabin images on the wall behind the bed are supposed to reference the log cabin design of this afghan. (Nice touch, photo stylists!)

Pattern #8, Striped Log Cabin Afghan & Pillows. Very sharp and contemporary.

Pattern #9. This one has an appealing, smart effect too.

Pattern #10. Good-looking, wearable cowl.

Pattern #11. A handsome cabled scarf.

Pattern #12. I like the lattice pattern bands. I wish I could see rest of the sweater better to get an idea of what the shaping and edge finishing are like.

Pattern #13. A nice pair of mitts. I'm glad to see that, with all Knit Simple's efforts to keep their patterns accessible for beginner knitters, they haven't forsworn the cable.

Pattern #14, Headband. Wearable and attractive and cosy on the ears.

Pattern #15. Very decent basic cap.

Pattern #16. Your basic striped child's sweater. The attractiveness of this one will rest on the colourway.

Pattern #17. The combination of colour blocks and stripes is fun, and the shaping is good.

Pattern #18. Another basic striped kid's sweater, this time a cardigan. There are happier colourways for this design than this one.

Pattern #19. Cute Peruvian-style hat and mitts set. I like the fun colour palette of this one.

Pattern #20. Cute set, but I'm not sure I'm on board with the fringe going up the *side* of the scarf. It looks like the knitter didn't weave their colour change ends in.

Pattern #21, Leaf Pattern Cowl, Hat & Mitts. This set was designed by Nicky Epstein, who can always be relied upon to bring the whimsy. I like the combination of the leaf motifs and the autumnal gradient colours.

Interweave Knits Gifts 2018: A Review

Today we're going to have a look at Interweave Knits Gifts 2018. Hey, as I'm sure you're all saying to yourselves, there's still time to knit a few gifts for the upcoming holiday season!

Belvedere the French Bulldog. This is quite a cute dog, with its little turtleneck and beret, but it also gives me the feeling it might ask me out for a croissant and a café au lait.

Blue Spruce Mittens. Love the Latvian-style pattern on these, and the shape is good too.

Candlelight Mittens. Not such a fan of these. The pattern has a busy look to it. But then the colourway and the "Princess Leia Goes Urban" styling isn't doing it any favours.

Changing Diamonds Hat and Mittens. Nice set!

Dear Snow Cowl. Charming! I do love an adult-appropriate design that incorporates playful motifs like moose and snowflakes. Why should children get all the fun stuff?

Egret Hat and Mitts Set. Lovely. The Sanquhar patterning is beautiful.

Fraser Fir Mittens. These are so-so. I like the idea of evergreen-themed mittens, but this particular pattern isn't all that pleasing.

Frozen Pond Corner. Nice-looking cowl. But those devices in the centre band look like... rolling pins.

See? And don't those tiered shapes in the blue bands look like wedding cakes? Is this a slightly mixed metaphor baking-themed design or is it some sort of Rorschach test indicating that I am in need of my lunch and its attendant dessert?

Garnet Wrap. A very handsome wrap. I can't help thinking that, if made a little wider, this would make a beautiful afghan too.

Geo-Snow Shawl. I like the contemporary, geometric look of this lace. It has the look of a perfect marriage between contemporary and traditional aesthetics.

Herringbone Trail Cowl. An attractive, "go with nearly anything" cowl.

Homestead Wrap. Beautiful, although something this large and bulky is much more likely to be used as an afghan than a wrap.

Lassen Peak Hat. Nice hat. The pom pom serves a functional purpose of gathering the slouchy length of a hat to a point to give it shape.

Lavender Sprig Hat. Very pretty.

Liam the Llama. This is definitely a no drama llama. This is, rather, a llama who will sit about passively, watching you through half-lidded eyes and merely uttering the occasional, "'Sup?" and "Sweet!" and helping itself to your weed when you aren't looking.

Long Johns Hat and Mittens Set. Very nice set! I'm enjoying playing with various possible colour schemes for it.

Murray the Musk Ox. Murray looks like the kind of musk ox who'll resort to head butts when he doesn't get his way. And don't even think about talking about making anything out of musk ox yarn in his hearing.

North Star Flip-Top Mittens. Not bad. Though those loops on the top of the mitten cap, which are designed to button them securely in place when the gloves are in convertible mode, would be a pain when the caps are in use.

Rose Hip Mittens. Very pretty. Love the subtle, warm colourway.

Silent Night Cowl. Classic cabled cowl.

Trash Panda. This doesn't look so much like a raccoon as it does some other indefinable species in a bandit mask. And I'm familiar with the species, given what a pest raccoons are in Toronto. They seem to especially love hanging around my house, where they creep me out and drive my cat mental by sitting just outside the windows and staring in at me by the hour, or, worse, make frantic efforts to get into the house by shredding my window screens.

Warren Cap. Pretty and wearable.

Granny Hap Shawl. This one doesn't appeal. I don't think granny chic is ever going to be a thing, however hard as its purveyors try, and the afghan ripple is an irretrievably dated, homely effect for me.

Woodstove Hat. Another classic cap.

XOXO Mitts. Very smart!

Vogue Knitting Fall 2018: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released their Fall 2018 issue preview. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

#01, Fair Isle Shawl. What a variety of fun, beautiful motifs. I'd love to see this one expanded into an afghan.

#02, Fair Isle Hat. Doing this one in an atypical colourway really sets it apart from the usual fair isle hat.

#03, Fair Isle Pullover. A very attractive, classic piece.

#04, Three-Piece Rose Pattern Set. I would find the sight of all three of these pieces a little overwhelming in real life, and those mittens are more than a little oven mitt-y in shape, but of course there's no need to make/wear all three of these pieces and the sweater and the hat are certainly good examples of design. I also like the idea of making these items in two neutrals and a bright contrast colour.

#05, Leaf Motif Pullover. Nice, but I would fix the dropped shoulders and lengthen the sleeves.

#06, Mosaic Wrap. This is another one that would be quite lovely as an afghan as well as a wrap.

#07, Lace Stripe Shawl. Nice!

#08, Offset Triangle Shawl. A fun, contemporary piece.

#09, Tassel Yoke Pullover. Cute sweater. I'm giving the tassels serious side eye, but I think they'd work on a very young wearer. The 25+ crowd should probably leave them off.

#10, Graphic Yoke Pullover. Fun and colourful.

#11, Twisted Yoke Pullover. Beautiful. The yoke is interesting and eye-catching, and the edges have such a finished look.

#12, A-Line Tunic. Another lovely item. I'd be inclined to lengthen this one and turn it into a dress.

#13, Yoke Patterned Pullover. Fun yoke, but the sizing could certainly do with some neatening up.

#14, Yoke Patterned Cardigan. A lovely, classic piece. Although, Vogue Knitting copyeditors, just to be tiresomely pedantic for a minute, this pattern and the last pattern should have been titled "Patterned Yoke Pullover" and "Patterned Yoke Cardigan". These designs aren't patterned with yokes.

#15, Asymmetric Triangle Shawl. A very handsome, polished wrap that looks good however it's worn.

#16, Lace Shawl. Very pretty piece of lace work.

#17, Crossed Stitch Jacket. Not bad at all. This one would make a distinctive outfit out of a plain, neutral top and bottom. The pattern blurb says this design was inspired by the Chanel jacket, and I can definitely see the influence.

#18, Tuck Stitch Dress. Love this one, which would be a surprisingly useful, versatile piece given that it looks equally good worn on its own or worn as a jumper over a turtleneck. The mini-skirt length wouldn't work on everyone, but can be easily lengthened for a wearer who feels she's beyond her mini-skirt years, or just doesn't like minis.

#19, Bell Sleeved Pullover. Alas, I am destined to never wear this, as it's the sort of thing that makes me look terribly dumpy as it's not a style for well-endowed women, but it would be quite cute and smart on the right person.

#20, Shawl-Collared Pullover. This one's an Isaac Mizrahi design from 1998, but honestly Vogue Knitting has so many patterns in their vault that they could have chosen better than such a schlumpy, undistinguished number.