Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2017: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released their Early Fall 2017 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Pattern #1, Open Stitch Wrap. This one's a little rough around the edges for my liking.

Pattern #2, Chevron Stitch Wrap. A nice blanket scarf. The texture keeps it interesting.

Pattern #3, Slip Stitch Stripe Wrap. This one's a bit rough and chunky for my tastes, and does anyone else see a wall of little people all standing on one another's shoulders when they look at the stitchwork?

Pattern #4, Diamond Textured Wrap. Some excellent stitchwork in this.

Pattern #5, Shetland Twist Wrap. Beautifully intricate cables.

Pattern #6, Textured Wrap. This sampler style piece isn't quite pulling together visually, even though it's monochrome. I'd pick two or even three of those stitch patterns and repeat them rather than having each section in a different stitch.

Pattern #7, Cabled Raglan Pullover. Classic piece with good shaping.





Pattern #8, Kimono-Style Cardigan. The back of this piece looks fantastic. I'm not so thrilled with the front, but then I don't much like open front cardigans. I'd be inclined to turn this one into a pullover.

Pattern #9, Cable Detail Cardigan. This isn't bad, although it's a little on the rough and unfinished-looking side for my liking.

Pattern #10, Dipped Hem Pullover. Nice, classic piece.

Pattern #11, Diagonal Stitch Pullover. Excellent shaping and stitchwork.

Pattern #12, Eyelet Raglan Hoodie. I'm not usually a fan of mesh, but I do like this mesh pattern, with its twisty, almost lace-like look. The shaping and detailing are pretty good too.

Pattern #13, Strata Hat. Nice hat, but I don't know if I'm fully on board with those ear flaps, though I must admit those earflaps are as nicely designed as earflaps could be. The hat has the look of a helmet from a Narnian series illustration. This isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Pattern #14, Lace Pattern Cardigan. I must admit this piece overcomes my usual objections to loose, drapey cardigans. It sits very well, the lace is beautiful, and the effect is romantic and contemporary at the same time.

Pattern #15, Striped Ruana. The stripes and colourwork are irresistible. I would expect no less, as this is a Kaffe Fassett design.

Pattern #16, Striped Boat Neck Top. Such a fun, eye-catching piece.

Pattern #17, Fitted Mock Neck Tee. This is a fun piece too, although I don't think the colourway is working all that well.

Pattern #18, Fringed Vest. This one has that "floormat from the mudroom" look.

Pattern #19, Swing Hem Tunic. I'd be inclined to make this one a little longer, to turn it into a dress, and to rework the colour scheme.

Pattern #20, Bias Stripe Pullover. With its bad shape and unfinished edges, this sweater looks more like a design in progress than a completed piece of work.

Pattern #21, Fibonacci Fade Vest. Love the colour scheme, and this vest sits quite well.

Pattern #22, Striped Dress. This is wearable, fun, modern and even cool, but I do keep hearing the words, "Please do not adjust your television set," whenever I look at it.

Pattern #23, Lace Up V-Neck Pullover. This is okay, as the shaping is good and the colour scheme is well-worked out, but those dangling drawstring cords would drive me crazy.

Pattern #24, Striped Raglan Pullover. This is a reprinted pattern that originally appeared in Vogue Knitting's Spring Summer 1989 issue. It's okay, but it's not the pattern I would have selected from that issue to re-release (I checked, and yes, I do indeed have the issue), and although the VK editors have suggested substitute yarns to use to recreate the colour scheme shown here, I'd rework the colours.

I like the idea of crocheting decorative buttons, but these look a little kitschy.

Love of Knitting Fall 2017: A Review

Love of Knitting has released its Fall 2017 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Ashwood Hoodie. Lovely. I like this so much I am thinking of using this pattern to make the brown hoodie I want to make next year (my current brown hoodie being on its last fibres), although I did want a design with a zipper, and I don't know how well a zipper would look in this one. But I'm favouriting it for now anyway.

Bloomsbury Mitts. Nice detailing and shaping on these.

Chequers Brioche Scarf. I'm really liking this one. It's creative, it's attractive, it has style, and it's the kind of thing even the most sartorially unadventurous man wouldn't mind wearing.

Cotswold Capelet. This is rather a cute, fetching little piece, but I can't say I care for that bit of twisted baling wire the designer has used for a front fastener. However, there are lots of clasps out there so you can easily substitute one more to your liking if you also don't happen to like this one.

Delabole Cardigan. This is a nice piece with a good shape and some good detailing, and which I would not wear over a collarless blouse buttoned to the neck. The effect is way too prim.

Guernsey Shawl. What a beautiful piece. The stitchwork is excellent.

High Street Jacket. This isn't bad, but I've seen much more interesting fitted cardigans.

King's Road Cowl. I like this one. It sits well, and that's a beautifully and richly coloured yarn.

Mitre Square Tote. I'm liking this shoulder bag, if not the drab colours it's been done in. The slouchy shape works well at this size and with those handles.

Nottingham Lace Cardigan. Good shaping and some pretty lace detailing.

Red Moss Pullover. Not bad. I think I might go with a variegated yarn for this one. The design has a slight flatness in a solid shade.

River Blackwater Scarf. Love the stitchwork in this one.

Sherwood Forest Pullover. I'm really liking this one. The detailing at the neck, hem, and cuffs is attractive, and the colour palette works together beautifully.

Shetlandesque Stole. Another handsome scarf.

Terrapina Achilles. This is so cute, and it would be fun to pick out a colourway for it.

Thames Path Socks. This is a presentable and practical pair of hiking socks. The ribbed band around the foot is intended to help keep the socks from bunching up inside one's hiking boots.

Tweed Water Vest. This is not a bad piece. The idea of a turtleneck vest is a bit off-beat, but I think it works, and the cabling is beautifully worked out.

Creative Knitting Autumn 2017: A Review

Creative Knitting has released their Autumn 2017 issue. Let's have a look at it.

Boothbay Set Cover-Up. This is one of those designs from the "depressed and exhausted homeschooling mom of seven" category. I think I'd like it better if it weren't in such a blah tone and were layered over something more fitted.

Boothbay Set Top. This is one of those designs from the "depressed and exhausted homeschooling mom of seven who has baby spit up on her sweater and is too overwhelmed to care" category. I know that's more than a little unfair, as I have a bias against this sort of loose, empire-waisted top because they make me look horribly dumpy. When I'm making the effort to be more objective, I find that this could be a useful, comfortable piece for women with figures more suited to it. And again, it would help to not make the piece in yarn the colour of dirty oatmeal.

Crème Brûlée. This is much more my idea of a wearable, loose, comfortable sweater than the previous two. It's attractive, it has eye-catching detail and construction, and it's loose-fitting without making the wearer look swamped in excess material.

Ellie Top. This is quite pretty and classic, but I would fix the dropped shoulders.

Ipanema. The blurb for this piece says, "Always a flattering garment, this wraparound cardigan will highlight the natural waistline of the wearer, as well as accentuate the bustline." I can't say I agree with any of that. Wrap sweaters and dresses have an undeserved reputation in the fashion world for being easy to wear and flattering. I haven't had a wrap piece yet that worked for me -- the cut or the fit is always off, and it's an aggravating chore to keep the thing in place so that there aren't too many of my goods in the shop window. This wrap cardigan doesn't appear to even be working on the model. It looks bulky and sits poorly, and the bottom and sleeve edges look unfinished.

Make Me Blush. I rather like this one -- that's some nice detailing on the cuffs -- but I would neaten up the fit a little.

Black and Blocked. This has an unflattering shape and an unfinished, saggy look.

Block Party. This is rather sharp and well-shaped, though I think I'd skip the white trim on the edges of the sleeves, or perhaps take it in the other direction and stripe the cuff with the three colours.

Dancette. The blurb for this one says, "Shimmery yarn adds style and elegance to this sleek clutch worked in intarsia cable panels." I can't say that this clutch comes across as stylish, elegant, or sleek to me. It looks more like a small throw pillow I'd put on the couch than like an evening bag I'd carry when wearing black gloves and pearls. If I were going to knit an evening bag, I'd use a fine silk yarn and not include too much bulky detail, rather than knit something that makes me look as though my date had to pry me away from the couch for the evening.

Fun, Chunky & Fast Hat & Infinity Cowl. The name for this set is one I can agree with. This is a fun, smart set.

Graphic Houndstooth. Nice piece! I'm enjoying mentally playing with possible colour schemes.

Striped Asymmetry. I rather like this one, which has a pleasing visual flow. Another colourway would do more for it.

Nobis Wrap. Beautiful lacework.

Linear Elements. I like the contemporary, graphic vibe of this one.

Nebula. I like the gradient effect of this scarf, but those edges look too raw for my liking.

Playful Orchid. A fun and interesting piece.