Knit.Wear Spring/Summer 2018: A Review

Knit.Wear has released its Spring/Summer 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Adriatic Dolman. I'm not a big fan of the dolman or "batwing" sleeve, but this is very decent example of the style.

Aegean Stole. I'm really liking the geometric lace motifs on this one.

Andaman Top. Love the lacework on this, but not so much the sandwich board style.





Beaufort Pullover. Love the hem, side, and cuff detailing on this one. I'd recommend working this pattern in one piece on a circular needle to the armholes to get rid of that side seam.

Benedict Pullover. Love the texture on this one, but I'd neaten up the fit.

Caspian Top. Very decent piece. I'm liking the stitchwork and particularly the cables.

Charles Pullover. A classic turtleneck. Oh how I wish that I had enough neck to wear turtlenecks like this one.





Clematis Cardigan. Good stitchwork, decent shaping, and it sits well.

Frederick Cardigan. An attractively classic cardigan.

Honeysuckle Tee. Here's what I like about this design: the lace detailing and the concept of a back pleat. Here's what I don't like about it: the frumpy shape and the poor execution of the back pleat. That ridge above the pleat where the underlying lace panel begins looks terrible.

Hyacinth Pullover. This pattern looks as though it's been torn from the pages of a seventies-era homemaking magazine, and possibly has a brown rice casserole recipe on the other side.

Ionian Top. This is one of those cases where I like the concept of a design but don't think it got the execution it deserved. I like the idea of the butterfly openwork on the back, but it looks too much like holes and dropped stitches for my liking.





James Cardigan. I'm loving the geometric cablework on this one. I will say though, that for a spring/summer issue, the designs in this issue look pretty fall/winter.

Moonflower Dolman. I'm rather liking this one on the whole, as the sideways stockinette and lace pattern and modest batwing work together well, but I would have extended the lace and stockinette pattern right to the cuff rather than using the garter ridge pattern for the lower sleeve. It looks a little tacked on and out of step with the rest of the sweater as is.

Portico Tank. The cut and details are good, but I think this piece didn't get the styling it deserved, as it should be worn by itself, not as a layering piece over something else. I'd also make it in a more interesting yarn to give a little extra oomph.

Puget Tote. Oooh, I really love this bag, which is the epitome of polished contemporary style.

Spanish Moss Lace. A very elegant wrap with beautiful lace and fabulous drape.

Timor Tee. Not a bad design. It has some nice detailing at the yoke and sides, and this item was styled properly, as it is a very decent layering piece.

Weddell Top. I really like the stitchwork and shaping of this little top. I'm not such a fan of the cropped length, but it would be easy to lengthen this piece if desired. I'd also make it in a crisp, fun colour rather than in this rather drab one. Come on Knit.Wear, this is your spring and summer issue. What are you, dead inside?

Wisteria Stole. A beautiful lace wrap.

Creative Knitting Summer 2018: A Review

Creative Knitting has released their Summer 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it.

Donna Pullover. Some really interesting stitchwork in this -- note how the cables in the sidepanels on the front are diagonal. The dull oatmeal colour of this yarn does not do this pattern justice.

Maureen Pullover. Quite pretty and wearable.

Sandra Cardigan. I can't quite get past the "beach blanket with sleeves" vibe of this one.

Wendy Cardigan. Not bad. It sits well and has decent shaping.

Angela Tee. I'm liking the lace on the bottom, and the neckline, but that front pleat does not do this design any favours -- it gives the shape a dowdy look.

Cecilia Headwrap/Shawl. This shawl is as simple as it gets. The fun variegated yarn used on this sample can pretty much carry it, but I'd still pick a design with a little telling detail rather than this one.

Sylvia Shawl. Beautiful lacework in this one, and that is one gorgeous yarn. It's Hedgehog Fibres Silk/Merino Lace, and it looks beautifully soft and luscious.

Yvonne Vest. Not bad. Wrap style designs tend to be tricky to get right, but this one sits pretty well.

Baby Turtleback. Adorable. Sometimes a non-knitted embellishment, such as the chiffon ribbon used here, adds a lot to a design.

Cotton Candy. This is one I wouldn't do in a variegated yarn, as it makes difficult to see and appreciate the lacework in the skirt and gives the outfit a busy, fussy look.

My Only Sunshine. This has a crude, unattractive look. The only nice thing I can about this one is that I like the idea of a child's jumper with an accompanying knitted toy for the pocket.

Bertram Tank. Not bad. I like the chevron pattern in the body. I would add some sort of edging to the neck and armhole edges as they look a little unfinished as is.

Cyril Ruana. Big drapey wraps like this are not normally my thing, but there's no denying this is an impressively high-impact piece.

Joanna Shawl. There are more carefully finished striped shawl patterns out there. I'd go with one of them rather than this one.

Nigel Shawl. A fun and attractive mitred square shawl.

Interweave Knits Spring 2018: A Review

Interweave Knits has released its Spring 2018 issue, and it's a very solid effort from them. Let's have a look at it.

Bergen Peak Pullover. Very much like this one. I might make that cabled yoke a little shorter in order to raise the Fair Isle bands, as this sweater has a slightly top-heavy, disproportionate look as is.

Bronson Rock Pullover. I'm loving the gansey stitchwork on the body of this. I'm not sure I'm sold on the contrast sleeve effect, though. I think I might use two colours that worked together better, such as a solid yarn for the body and a coordinating variegated yarn for the sleeves, and/or work the collar in the sleeve colour.

Clear Creek Cardigan. Classic cabled cardigan.

Compass Rose Pullover. This one garnered an, "Oooh, love that!" from me when I first saw it. The chart work on the front and back is very strikingly attractive, the shaping is good, and the ribbed detail at the sides and neck gives the sweater a finished look. This design would have been my pick for the cover design, rather than the classic but comparatively dull cardigan above.

Dual Sport Pullover. Not a bad contemporary take on the classic chevron design.

Elk Meadow Pullover. Very nice! This would be a fun sweater to pick out the colourway for, because one could go for a subtle, muted look as has been done here, or something crisp or bold.

Evergreen Mountain Pullover. Some beautiful stitchwork in the front of this pullover. It does have a mullet hem, but that's easily fixed if you feel the way I do about mullet hems.

Genesee Mountain Poncho. Fantastic stitchwork in this capelet, and it sits so well. Very nice work!

Kittredge Wrapper. I'm not a fan of this one, which has a sloppy, unfinished look.

Open Road Vest. This would be quite a useful piece for spring and summer because it can be either layered or worn alone. This design makes good use of a nubby yarn.

Saddleback Mountain Cardigan. Love the colorwork design of this one, which has the look of an Arts & Crafts wallpaper. I'm liking the flat, wide collar too -- it's something a bit fresher and more contemporary than the expected shawl collar or narrow bands.





Scoot Jacket. This jacket sits quite well in the back but quite poorly in the front.

Squaw Mountain Pullover. Far be it from me to claim to know the mind of a man, but I think most men would be perfectly happy with this pullover, which is perfectly attractive and wearable.

Straightaway Cardigan. Very much like the combination garter stitch and brioche stitch used here, but I can't help wanting to fix the dropped shoulders and neaten up the fit on this cardigan.

Throttle Moto Jacket. Motorcycle jacket-like styles often don't translate too well into knitwear because yarn is far softer, drapier medium than leather, but this designer has managed to rise to the challenge and create a linen stitch piece that both sits well and has a rather smart and very unique tweedy look.

Torque Hat. The hat design is good, but I can't say I think that leather snap detail works. The leather snap looks as though it wandered off the model's jacket during a photo shoot break, got stuck on her hat, and couldn't get back where it belong again. I'd use some other kind of buckle or snap closure.