Noro Magazine Issue 13: A Review

Noro Magazine has released their thirteenth, or Fall 2018, issue. Let's have a look at it. Please note that for some reason this issue lists 11 pattern pages on Ravelry, and even of those 11, five don't have pictures on their pattern pages, and one (#03, Textured Rib Raglan) has two pattern pages, so I will only be able to provide Ravelry links to ten of the 36 patterns in this review.

#01, Leaf Afghan. This is an interesting and unusual concept.

#02, Mosaic Poncho. Lovely and eye-catching.

#03, Textured Rib Raglan. This is attractive and wearable enough.

#04, Ribbed Batwing Pullover. This one has interesting lines. I'd like to see it from some other angles before I really sign off on it, but it looks like it might just prove a unique and attractive piece.

#05, Rhombus Panel Vest. This is very seventies, but it's wearable.

#06, Striped Cardigan. Very pretty.

#07, Diamond Rib Hat. A classic striped and cabled cap.

#08, Fingerless Mitts. A decent pair of mitts. I find the soft, grayish shades of this yarn appealing.

#09, Cowl. Love the yarn used on this one.

#10, Pillows. The play of colour in these two pillows makes them, because technically speaking they couldn't be more basic.

#11, Eyelet Triangle Shawl. Pretty!

#12, Shawl. Lovely.

#13, Steeked Poncho. Not bad as to design, but I think I'd use some other colour than brown for this project, as the brown yarn gives this poncho an unfortunate resemblance to the poo emoji.

#14, Plaid Ruana. Gorgeous stitchwork in this one, though it does look rather heavy for a wrap. I'd be inclined to leave this one on the couch.

#15, Fringed Poncho. This is not bad for a poncho, and the stitchwork is excellent.

#16, Chevron Wrap. Rather pretty.

#17, Big Granny Afghan. The colours on this one make it attractive.

#18, Granny Quilt Afghan. I quite like this triangle block concept for an afghan. It's a refreshing change from the usual squares, and the resulting scalloped border is kind of cool.

#19, Buttonhole Scarf. Passable. I'd fringe this one.

#20, Circle Scarf. I'd fringe this one too. Scarves need to look like scarves, not like swatches randomly wrapped around their wearer's neck.

#21, Chrysanthemum Shawl. This looks more like an afghan than a shawl, though it would make a nice afghan.

#22, Flower Blossom Purse. This one's way too kitschy for my taste.

#23, Block Texture Pullover. Not bad. It could do with some waist-shaping and a finished hemline.

#24, Cable Yoked Pullover. Pretty.

#25, Textured Pullover. Fix those dropped shoulders and neaten up the shape and this would be a decent pullover.

#26, Short Row Sweater. I really love the directional panels in the front, which is an interesting concept that works especially beautifully with this yarn. I would fix the dropped shoulders.

#27, Oversized Textured Pullover. There's oversized and there's sloppy. Guess which one this is. And the shoulder seam is halfway down the sleeve, sigh. Tidy this one up and it would be a perfectly attractive turtleneck.

#28, Oversized Cable Top. Again, too big and too dropped as to the shoulder, but otherwise fine.

#29, Beach Tote. Rather a nice little Boho-type bag.

#30, Granny Squares Purse. I don't think there's anything that be done with the granny square that can make it not dated and cheesy when used in clothing and accessories.

#31, Tunic. Basic empire-waisted cardi that would look better in another yarn.

#32, Sweater. This must be the yarn I loved so much in #09, Cowl, and I still love it, but I would definitely neaten up the fit of this one.

#33, Collared Cardigan. Not a bad-looking casual-type jacket.

#34, Waistcoat. Dumpy and frumpy.

#35, Long Sweater and Cowl. I wouldn't call this a "long sweater and cowl". I'd call it a caftan and then I'd ravel it out.

#36, Jacket. I'm not a fan of these unstructured, drape-front style cardigans, but this one isn't a bad piece of its kind.

Knitscene Winter 2018: A Review

Knitscene has released their Winter 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Lake Geneva Sweater. Plain but wearable. This one will require an interesting and/or beautiful to keep it from being too basic.

Shimla Sweater. I hated the "cold shoulder" look when it first came out, but I think I'm actually coming around on it. The other day I actually caught myself looking at a Vogue Pattern two-piece outfit design with shoulder cut-outs on their website and thinking, "Maybe this spring....?" I don't mind this sweater. It's actually quite fetching. I would however change the construction to get rid of that sleeve seam and to continue the ribbing all along the length of the sleeves. To accomplish this, I would knit the sleeves at the same time as I did the shoulders by casting on enough extra stitches for it.

Suncadia Sweater. Nice, and I like that contemporary block chain effect, but I would shorten the sleeves and make them a tapered, rather than a flared, cuff.

Great Falls Sweater. Nice piece with an attractive cable effect.

Seabrook Sweater. I like this sheer sweater, but styling it is going to be a bit tricky. I think the thing to do is wear an underlayer that's just slightly shorter than the sweater and to leave it untucked in order to avoid creating any horizontal lines underneath this piece, because all I see when I look at this photo is that distracting waistline colour change.

Meadowlark Garden Sweater. I like this tunic quite a lot on the whole, but I would definitely fix the mullet hem.

Benson Top. Not bad. I think I'd go with more interesting yarn or more interesting buttons, as this one could do with a little oomph.

Celadon Raglan. I rather like this one, though I think I'd like it better if the shoulder cut-outs were a little smaller.

Wiltshire Headband. Your basic headband.

Pocono Cocoon. I'm not entirely sure what this is, but I don't think I care for it. It looks like an unfortunate shawl-sweater hybrid.

Wiltshire Vest. Here we have a shawl with armholes. It has such a sloppy look.

Bricktown Hat. Standard cabled hat.

Ouray Pullover. Standard roomy bulky turtleneck.

Empire Bluff Cowl. This cowl really stands out visually. Nice work.

Millcroft Shawl. Love the crisp, attractive stripes on this shawl.

Willow Winds Hat. Nice little cabled cap.

Longwood Scarf. The snowflake-like detail on the end of this otherwise perfectly simple garter stitch scarf really turns it into something special.

Morehead Pullover. Not a bad tweedy-looking sweater. Though I believe I do detect a hint of mullet hem.

Black Forest Cowl. This little cowl has a rather sharp, contemporary appeal.

Black Forest Hat. I also very much like the hat version of the cowl above.

Knitting Traditions 2018: A Review

Today we're going to have a look at the Knitting Traditions 2018 issue.

Ann Veronica Cardigan. I like the lace, but the front edges of this design don't sit all that well.

Ballet Russes Wrap. Lovely!

Bias Lines Top. This top has a handkerchief hem, which is a vintage design feature that is apparently enjoying a resurgence at the moment. I'm all for the reinterpretation of charming design styles of the past, but I do note that handkerchief hems haven't typically sat at the hips. This isn't going to be the most figure-flattering design on most women, but I must admit it's an interesting piece that drapes well because of its bias construction.

Coco's Wrap. Classic little lace shawl.

Collecting Bag. This cute and quite modern bag is a nod to the Girl Guides and their history of collecting natural specimens.

Directoire Top. An attractive and very wearable pullover.

Journey's End Plaid. This simple plaid scarf design, which is another piece inspired by the Girl Guides, is rather smart, and is knitted from real Girl Guides. (No, not really, but I couldn't resist a Wednesday Addams shout-out.)

Mackintosh Leaves Jewelry Set. I've never been able to get on board with jewelry knitted from yarn, because no matter how good the design of it is, it never looks like jewelry. Knit this set with wire and beads and you'll have something that doesn't look like something your child brought home from arts and crafts camp.

Queen's Cross Church Capelet. With its wrought-iron like cabling and meticulous detailing, this is one fab piece.

Schiaparelli's Shawl. This one's fun and sporty.

Sheep Station Cardigan. Good shaping and I like the combination of texture and lace.

Sporty Sailor Top. I love the sailor top style, and I like this piece on the whole, but I'm finding myself looking at that lacing and thinking how rough and ready it looks. I'd be inclined to make a proper placket and buttons instead, or nix it entirely and simply affix a bow where the two sides of the collar meet.

Suffragette's Coat. This one has some very attractive detailing, but I'm not thrilled with how the front edges sit.

Traveler's Sweater. Nice, but I think I'd want to walk around in this one backwards so that everyone could see the more attractive back. Also, I lust after that pleated tartan skirt.

Tree Line Henley. Oooh, pretty! And it's kind of neat that this one almost tricks the eye into thinking these are two layered pieces.

Twists and Turns Wrap. The zig zag lace is nice, but I can't say I care for the edging. It has such a crude look to it.

Wings & Keys Cowl. Very attractive design. The keys, bees, and butterflies motifs are a reference to science beginning to unlock nature's secrets. My first thought was that the keys were actually sperm and that the sperm, butterflies, and bees referenced the facts of life.