Knitty Spring & Summer 2017: A Review

Knitty has released their Spring & Summer 2017 issue. Let's begin our look at it with this pattern (which is also their issue cover shot), the Dingle hat. It's fun and pretty and I love the beautifully worked-out gradient colour scheme.

Stripdot. These have a slightly rough, crude look that's not very appealing.

Borrowed. This is a fabulous piece of work. Such gorgeous lacework, and I like that the designer did interesting directional work with it.

Amalgam. The Amalgam is designed to be wearable as a capelet and as a skirt, though as it is only 15" long it seems more likely to be used solely as a capelet. But then my opinion on this may have been coloured by the chronic skirt length argument that's been going on between me and my mother since I started buying my own clothes in 1987 and that, like the "I should have gone to teacher's college" argument, shows no sign of letting up. I do quite like this as a capelet. The mosaic strip is attractive and effectively blends the contrast colours together.

Brightstairs. This is... okay. I was going to recommend going with another colour scheme, but I think this might be a piece that needs a bright, offbeat colourway, as the design itself is offbeat.

Bakanasu. This piece has some really gorgeous stitchwork and it does appear to sit well, but I am having a hard time getting past the combination of acid yellow and eggplant yarn.

Checked Raglan. Not a bad piece. It has some nice detailing and shaping and good lines.

Thysania. The designer of this piece writes that "Thysania is a hybrid of a shawl and a cardigan, or an oversized shrug" and that she challenged herself to make a piece in the shrug style that was flattering on her. This is a difficult style to make work, and I think she succeeded. This sits and drapes really well. The stitchwork is interesting too.

Airelle. Nice little summer top with good lines. I'm imagining it in a variety of fun, fresh colour schemes.

Recital. This is one of those elegantly simple pieces that can be worn with practically everything in a woman's wardrobe and for most occasions for year after year -- until it falls apart from long, hard, quiet service. Draped necklines are hard to get just right, and this one works well.

Lycka. Not a bad little summer top. I'd make it a few inches longer, as it looks a little awkward and cropped as is.

Maryjane. The shape and the design isn't bad, but I don't know if I'd go with the yarn used here. It's a hemp yarn, and it doesn't drape well and gives the piece a stiff, boxy look.

Blurred Lines. This piece was custom-designed for Mindy Kaling's character on The Mindy Project. It has a certain "classic menswear meets one of the Peanuts Gang" vibe, and I can imagine it working if styled in the right way, which is to say, not the way it's styled here.

Creative Knitting Summer 2017: A Review

Creative Knitting has released its Spring 2017 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Azure Kimono. This isn't a bad little topper for summer. It sits well and is nicely finished.

Palladium Scarf. I'm not liking how crumpled up this looks. The edges are rolling because that's inevitable given the stitchwork, of course, but the effect is that of a piece that needs finishing and blocking.

Sapphire Dreams. Very cute little skirt with what looks like elastic stitchwork that should keep it from getting baggy. Most women would probably prefer it to be longer on them than it is on the model, but it could easily be lengthened.

Summer Skies Shrug. This is an accomplished piece, but I can't help wincing at the thought of how easily it would catch on everything.

Wrap it Up. Love the stitchwork in this one. It's a statement accessory at this width, but can always be knitted in a narrower width for those who don't feel they have the panache or the desire to carry this piece off.

Graphic Arts. This is a smart little piece that sits very well.

Knit Meets Crochet Tote. The crocheted bag has a decent shape, but I'm not liking those knitted handles, which look awkward and clunky.

Arrowhead Necklace. This one just screams, "MY KID MADE THIS AT CRAFT CAMP AND I HAVE TO WEAR IT AT LEAST ONCE OR I'LL FEEL LIKE A TERRIBLE MOTHER DON'T EVEN START WITH ME."

Make Your Mug Happy. These also have that "made at craft camp" look, but at least in this case they don't have to be used in public.

Supersize Pincushion. I want to like this knitting needle pincushion idea but I'm not sure how workable it is. This cushion won't hold very many needles, and if the needles aren't balanced just so, the cushion will fall over sideways, needles and all.

Island Winds. This isn't bad, though I have my suspicions as to how good it looks from the front view when the model isn't manually adding waist shaping by pinching the waist in with her hand.

Lace Cable Cover-Up. A well-shaped, classic piece.

Simply Sweet. Oooh, nice detailing, pretty lacework, and great shaping -- the set of those shoulder straps is quite foxy. You could have fun with the colour palette or make it all in one colour.

Summer Breeze Tank. Love the lace diamonds at the sides, but I'm not sure I'm sold on the shaping over all.

One Step Sideways Stole. Very pretty lacework, and the gradient yarn used makes it fun.

Love of Knitting Spring 2017: A Review

Love of Knitting has released their Spring 2017 issue. Let's have a look at it.

Bargello Socks. These are fun. I like that the designer took those stripes several extra steps by doing them a variety of ways.

Breezy Lace Tee. Very useful and wearable summer top.

Colorlines Throw. I'm loving this one, with its contemporary vibe and unusual but masterful colour combination.

Elephant Safari Children's Vest. Very cute.

Holmes Shawl. A lovely little piece with some quietly impressive stitchwork.

Interrupted Stripes Sweater. This looks sloppy, unfinished, and in general as though the "interrupted" in the design's name refers to the designer's efforts to finish this pattern.

Ironwood Shawl. A simple and attractive little wrap.

Painted Wrap. I quite like this unassuming but visually pleasing lace pattern.

Pearls Hat. Nice piece, and it would be a good way to use up some odds and ends of yarn.

Planting Cardigan. I like this piece over all, but I'm never much of a fan of cardigans designed to lie open in the front, as they generally look too small and/or unflattering.

Raving Stripes Pullover. I love this one. The flattering shape and and eye-catching striped yoke and cuffs add up to a striking look.

Shift Change Cowl. Oooh, pretty. Love the colours and the stitchwork.

Shoreline Shawl. Nice piece. It seems to drape well, and I'm loving the Celtic cabled border.

Spring Day Raglan. Way too sloppy and unfinished for my liking.

Spring Henley. Classic, handsome piece.

Springtime Mobile. So cute. That is an especially nicely rendered set of little toy animals.

Tuscany Wrap-Cardi. Not a bad little piece, and it would give the wearer a chance to show off a favourite shawl pin.

Valley V-neck Pullover. This is a smart little piece. I note that the neckband is not very well done -- it's puckering at the vee and is pulling the stripe up in the centre -- but if you are careful to make sure to pick up neither too few nor too many neckband stitches when you make your version, your project won't have that flaw.

Vines Swatch Cloth. Nice stitch.

Warm Stripes Set. The mitts are fine, but the legwarmers look a little too much like a scrap yarn project knitted on the fly.