Knit Simple Holiday 2014: A Review

Knit Simple has released their Holiday 2014 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

For a dead simple scarf, this isn't bad. The colourway is good and the stripework gives it some interest. I'd add a fringe in both colours though, to make it look a little more finished.

These half gloves look to be on the rough side. I am especially not liking the the seaming of two colours on the right one.

These mittens are very cute. I like the idea of reversing the stripes.

Not a bad striped afghan. I think I'd crochet an edging around it rather than working a blanket stitch around it, though.

This little bag is just going to sag out of shape the minute you put something in it and pick it up. The handles look terrible.

I'd call this pencil case "Potholders Go to School".

This purse wouldn't be a bad thing for a little girl, but I would want to track down better flower patterns than those, or go with some other sort of decoration, such as beading.

These half gloves are ever so cute. Love the little hearts set into the ribbing.

Nice simple yet polished cabled scarf.

I wish I could see more of this scarf, but what I can see does look lovely.

This cowl is just too big and bulky to be really attractive.

This cardigan doesn't sit well or appear to be well-shaped.

Very basic tank, but it seems to be adequate as a design and as a piece of clothing. You'll want to select a special yarn for this one in order to give it some visual interest.

Lovely shawl. It'll be warmer and far less likely to snag than all those beautiful lace shawl patterns out there.

Lovely, comfortable-looking cushions.

This sweater concept has some promise, but I don't think it quite got where it needed to go design-wise. The colour blocking just looks a little askew and off-balance.





All I can say about these turbans is that if you're into doing Sunset Boulevard cosplay in your basement in the middle of the night, they'd be perfect. If you're into dressing as Norma Desmond as a group activity, the other cosplayers might laugh at you.

Pretty little baby blanket. The yarn used here was a really good choice — this would look too plain in a solid colour.

Simple little hat. It's attractive enough, and would be a quick, easy knit.

Nice, simple little sweater.

Cute little hat for the little future apiculturist in your life.

This frog hat appears to need surgery to correct its strabismus.

Very cute ladybug hat. It's amazing how cute ladybugs are. I don't see any other kind of beetle or insect appearing on children's clothing. Must be the polka dots.

Oh dear God. The only acceptable explanation I can possibly think of for this one is that it's some kind of coded map for finding the Easter eggs in a few months' time and is not intended for actual wear. Otherwise... if you make this ugly piece of crap for your child, and expect her to wear it, I hope you've been stashing money away in a therapy fund as well as in her college fund.

This owl hat isn't appealing to me. I think the problem is that it's a little too abstract and needed a little more realistic detailing (and sizing of the eyes) to work.

Not a bad panda hat.

This is the cover design, and it's not without a certain charm, but it does have a little too much crap sitting on it. I'd be inclined to embroider flowers and butterflies on the hat, rather than to make them as separate items and stitch them on as has been done here.

An...okay...crocheted fox hat. I think I'd look further than this design, though. I bet Ravelry has something cuter for your Fox & the Hound fan.

I think the decorations on this hat are supposed to be nuts, but they don't look convincingly like them. Please don't send your child off to school in a hat that appears to be decorated with turds. As you might have heard, schoolyard humour is not especially known for its kindness.





These pom poms do look cute in these pretty photos, but I'm not sold on them as home decor items. I can't see them working anywhere but in a child's room, or as decorations for low-budget, crafty-type wedding or party decorations. The bookmark idea isn't bad, but again I'd only make a pom pom bookmark for a child.

Decent-looking colourwork cap.

Creative Knitting Winter 2014: A Review

Creative Knitting has released their Winter 2014 issue. Let's have a look at all its creative offerings, shall we?

The Cadet Cardi. This is really simple and a bit on the shapeless side, but it's not unattractive and it's certainly wearable. The yarn choice does a lot for it.

Cambridge Cap & Scarf. This is a nice set except for the squared ends of the scarf, which just look strange and club-like. I'd go with a standard end and fringe.

Happy Cheer cardigan. Another plain little piece, but it's serviceable enough.

Jumping Bean hoodie. A third very basic piece. One thing to remember here is that these are items for children, and that those little twerps grow so quickly and are so hard on their clothes that there really isn't much point in making wearable works of art for them to wear to school and out in the backyard or park. So some of the things one makes for them can, and actually should, be simple, sturdy little pieces like this.

Tiptoe Slippers. I've seen this style of slippers before, and I can't say I care for it. It looks amateurish and slapped together. And can anyone tell me whether they actually stay on?

Fan the Flames cowl. Lovely, lacy piece. The yarn used here is beautiful.

Artful Splendor scarf. This is a bit on the rough-looking side, but it works for casual wear. The play of colour and texture give it a lot of visual interest.

Blizzard Hat. Simple little hat in a cheery colour.

Bobbles Beyond Compare scarf. Not a bad piece for a casual look.

Eminence Shawl. This is quite an elegant and polished piece that one could wear anywhere from running errands to a ballet performance.

French Mauve Mitts. Quite like these. They have great texture and look carefully finished and fitted.

Quartz Pullover. I like the overall concept of this one, but it does need some tweaking. I'd raise those slightly dropped shoulders and make those tiered sleeve cuffs fitted rather than flared. A close-fitting tiered sleeve would look less gimmicky and, even better, not get into the wearer's food.

Radiant Tweed Cardi. Not a bad Chanel-esque tweed-like jacket. I suspect it's a little boxy as to fit, but then those Chanel-style jackets are.

Droplets hat. This is a Franklin Habit pattern, and as is usual with his designs it's both whimsical and finished to a truly professional degree.

Echo cardigan. Note to designers: if you make a sad, baggy garment, the solution is to start over rather than attempting to distract beholders by adding a roll of crap around the neck.

Happy Fluff hat. This isn't a bad little cap, though if it is intended to be worn by a person who is over 30 you may want to omit the pom pom.

Poudre Pullover. Oooh, love this one so much I might just get myself a man to knit it for. That is one really fresh and ingenious use of striped yarn and stripes.

Wrapsody shawl. Lovely. I'm not too thrilled with the turtleneck styling of the aqua one, but after peering at the two inset photos, it looks like there are other, better options for how to wear this piece.

Atherston cowl. This is really kind of cute. I was trying to come up with some crack about how it's the perfect piece for those who are always feeling a terrible draft on their necks, and I suddenly flashed back to a time when my younger sister and I were in our early nineties high school days and a friend of hers refused to alter her 80's mullet hair do despite the urging of all her friends "because her neck would get cold". If you know anyone who is refusing to change a bad hairstyle for the same reason, by all means make them an Atherston cowl. Friends don't let friends wear mullets.

Bartlett Cowl. Not very enthused about this one. Both design and colour scheme look a little crude.

Elland cowl. This one is quite pretty.

Hayle Cowl. They haven't given us a very good look at this one (I can see more of the inside than the outside), but it looks fussy and tacky.

Lauren Capelet. I would be in love with this one if it weren't for that ribbing around the inside edge. It looks stretched out and jarringly inelegant compared to the rest of the piece. I'd be inclined to finish that edge off with something else, such as some smaller scallops.

Badin Lake Hat. I am honestly wondering if this was made out of stitched together potholders.

Fontana wrap. As I've said in many a former review, shawls should not look like afghans.

Holiday Flair purse. Yeah, no. Yarn-crafted evening bags, like yarn-crafted jewelry, almost always look too crude and homemade to work, though it's possible to knit them out of materials other than yarn, such as fine gauge wire. But then this pattern wouldn't be elegant if made in any material. It looks like a toilet paper cosy someone upcycled into a tampon case.

Junaleska Vest. This vest looks (and hangs) like it was made out of a bathmat and a towel. Seriously, designers, the modern bathroom is a fine thing, but it is not the place for crafting. Just do your business and get back to your work room or area.