Cast On Spring 2018: A Review

In today's post we're going to have a look at Cast On's Spring 2018 issue.

Baby Bear Sweater. This has some good stitchwork, and I like the contrast buttons. I'd add a garter stitch trim to the hem and cuffs to make it look a little more finished.

Bead Stitch Blouse. Very attractive piece. The shaping is good and the lacy stitchwork is really beautiful.

Delia Baby Dress. This little dress has the look of a late Edwardian ladies dress -- can't you imagine one of the ladies of Downton Abbey wearing something similar? -- and yet it's quite wearable for a toddler of our day. This is so lovely I wish I knew a baby girl to make it for.





Dragon Cape. I think this piece is one I'd enjoy seeing on someone at, say, a fantasy conference as a part of some sort of Game of Thrones cosplay, but it would look odd in real life. The dragon illusion is inventive, and the dragon clasps are fabulous, but the cape has an awkwardly proportioned look, the join between the black yoke and the body of the garment looks rough, and the hem looks unfinished.

Draped Top. Oooh, I rather like this one, which has such great lines and hangs so beautifully. The scalloped hem and ruching at the neckline give it all the detail it needs. It is a little long. I'd be inclined to either shorten it to hip length or go all out and make a dress out of it that can be worn over a chemise-style underlayer.

Drummie Bees and Snowflakes. This isn't a bad pattern, but the gradient colourway isn't quite working.

Fleck Stitched Vest. Useful layering piece.

Illusion Argyle Scarf. This is a fun and contemporary take on the argyle scarf. I'd add a fringe to the ends.

Lace Butterfly Halter. The straps of this look a little too on the thin and insubstantial side for my liking. I'd make them at least a little thicker. They look like I-cord. I'd consider braiding three I-cords together to make the straps, or perhaps crocheting the I-cord into a thicker chain.

Little Dancer Ruched Jumper. I quite like this one, but I can't help feeling it would look better with sleeves in a stockinette and ruched stitch to match the skirt. That's not to say it isn't perfectly wearable and attractive as is, and happily I do know two little girls who are of an age to wear it.

Little Rosebud Aran. I'd fix the awkward-looking dropped shoulders and go with a ribbing at the neckline which, if made deep enough, would also eliminate the problematic cable ends at the centre front.

Mayfair Cardigan. A really lovely piece.

Peek-a-Boo Skirt and Top. This would be a cute little ensemble for a little girl (it is also sized to adult's extra small and small). I'd do it in a fun colour as this one's a little blah.

Physician's Sweater. This design, which incorporates the DNA strand and the caduceus, is elegantly rendered, but I can't help feeling that it's a little too gimmicky to appeal to an actual physician as clothing. As an editor, it amuses me to imagine a version of this sweater with a delete mark on it, but I wouldn't wear it.

Rose Gold Hoodie. This has a rather shapeless, flimsy look.

Springtime Illusion Washcloths. These look a little rough and ready to me, but then I'm a hard sell on knitted dishcloths as I can't bear using them. But I know lots of people do love knitted dishcloths, and as the pattern descriptions says, this would be a good way to practice illusion knitting.

Summer Shoulder Shawl. An attractive little wrap.

Turicum Shawl. This is a fun, contemporary piece.

Two-Color Cable Top. Nice design. I don't happen to think the colours used here does much for it, but it would be fun to come up with one's own colourway for this one.

Whirlwind Barn Quilt Hat. According to the designer of this hat, "[o]ver the past few years, large painted quilt squares have appeared on barns, houses, and commercial buildings in northern Vermont. Barn Quilt Trails are rapidly developing and can now be found in many parts of the country." That does sound like a fun direction for an outdoor art installation, and reminds me of a news item I read some years back in which a woman painted her car to look like a giant crazy quilt using bottles of nail polish. Quilting is such an art that there's certainly no reason why the quilting aesthetic should be confined to just one medium. This hat was inspired by Vermont's quilt square art, and it's an attractive and wearable piece.

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.