Knit Simple Spring & Summer 2018: A Review

Knit Simple has released their Spring and Summer 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Pattern #1. The classic tennis sweater. This one's been in style for a century or so and seems likely to remain so for another century.

Pattern #2. Cute sailboat-themed bag. I'd line this one and put some sort of sturdier handles on it.

Pattern #3. The Breton stripe is another "can't miss" summer classic.

Pattern #4. This design isn't for the faint of heart, perhaps, but this isn't a bad bikini. The shaping is good, the stripes are sporty, and being that it's crocheted it should actually hold its shape reasonably well when wet.

Pattern #5. This dress is cute and beachy on the whole, but those straps and armhole trims do look a little skimpy in comparison to the stripe pattern. I'd widen them a touch.

Pattern #6. Cute and nautical. For the little wannabe naval officer or castaway in your life.

Pattern #7. This is another classic -- the little girl's sailor dress -- but it could stand a few improvements. I'd make that sad little tie into a proper bow, and improve upon that choppy-looking line of red on the collar by using some other method of knitting it in place, such as garter stitch edging or applied I-cord.

Pattern #8. I think this hat might make me feel as though I was dressed as a certain someone who knows how to have a lot of good fun that is funny. It's not a bad hat at all, but I think I'd do it in another colourway or play with the stripe pattern a little to make it look a little less Dr. Seuss-ish.

Pattern #9. This cloud pattern baby blanket is totally cute, and a remarkably effective look for such a simple design.

Pattern #10. The cloud theme isn't working nearly so well in this pullover. The clouds look like random bleach stains.

Pattern #11. We have here a crib mobile with clouds, moons, stars... and... mice with angel wings. Cute mobile, though I am finding the inclusion of angel mice a little random.

Pattern #12. For your baby on its more grizzly days.

Pattern #13. More weirdly random clouds.

Pattern #14. Some cloud pillows. I rather like the white garter stitch cloud, and might make a sun or rainbow pillow to go with it. The smug gray cloud looks like it just rained on someone's parade.

Pattern #15. Not a bad afghan. I rather like the pinwheel-like motif.

Pattern #16. A plain but wearable pair of socks.

Pattern #17. These are pretty basic but fine. I feel like I can't assess them properly because they're not on a pair of feet and I don't know how they fit.

Pattern #18. A nice lacy pattern on these.

Pattern #19. I think I would stop short of putting all those dangly little crocheted circles on the edge of this crocheted wrap, as they would drive me stark raving mad. The wrap is plenty detailed and interesting enough without it.

Pattern #20. Not a bad crocheted wrap. The colourway is good. But I can't help thinking it would be a nicer-looking piece if it were, er, knitted.

Pattern #21. I think every little girl I've ever known would be beside herself with delight to get such a beautiful, ethereal pair of fairy wings.

Knitscene Summer 2018: A Review

Knitscene has released its Summer 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it.

Paca Bag. This is a nice-looking and well-constructed bag. I like the sturdy handle and the design's fresh take on a Peruvian bag aesthetic -- and check out those cute little alpaca motifs. I'd line it to help it keep its shape. As you can see, the bottom is sagging, and there probably isn't even anything in it.

Accented Socks. A smart-looking pair of socks.

Boardwalk Top. Quite like this one, which is polished, interesting, and wearable.

Coastal Dress. What I initially thought might be a bit of yellow in this dress's design was actually the model's bikini showing through it. This dress will make a cute beach cover-up but might not be so good for street wear due to its translucency. To be fair, the name and the styling indicate it's being positioned exactly that way.

Cube Socks. If Pablo Picasso had been a knitter, he might have knitted some fun socks just like these.

Driftwood Vest. I like the lacework in this piece, but the vest has a skimpy, extraneous look. It's not doing anything at all for the model's cute romper, and I can't quite imagine it adding anything much to any other outfit.

Escape Bag. I like the body of the bag, and I appreciate how well it's been lined and reinforced, but this style of strap, which we saw in the Puget Tote in last week's review of Knit.Wear Spring + Summer 2018, doesn't work with this bag -- the style, colour, and texture of the strap are all at odds with the bag. I can't see tote handles working either, given that drawstring top, so I'd turn this one into a backpack by adding straps and a top flap.

Jigsaw Top. Not bad. I can't help but feel there are better colourways for this top. That's not to say these colours don't work together, because they do, but a more subtle blend of colours could give the design more visual depth.

Pyrra Shawl. I like the combination of a traditional-style lace pattern and a contemporary-style stripe.

Ripple Tank. This isn't bad. I'm not a fan of dropped stitches or mullet hems, but both work fine here given that this tank is being used as a cover-up.

Sandbar Tank. This a fetching little piece. The tasselled ties at the shoulders are a nice touch. It's a young look, but then Knitscene is aimed at a young demographic. The bottom hem is ribbed, so this piece can be worn tucked in or left out.

Sandy Cardigan. This a nice airy cardigan that has a lovely lace pattern and that sits with the grace of a shawl.





Seashell Tank. The lacework on the front of this tank is FABULOUS, but I'm not so crazy about the back. I think I'd omit the lacing (and reshape the back accordingly), finish the back hem with the same edging as the front, and add a picot edging to the neckline and armholes.

Slide Pullover. Fresh and attractive colour blocking. It would be fun to pick out a colourway for this one.

Stacking Scarf. I kind of like the concept of this scarf, but can't help but feel it needed something other than a stretch of plain stockinette in the centre of it.





Tide Pool Top. This halter top design is spare and plain, but then it's supposed to be. It's really a perfect thing of its kind.

Tonquin Top. This is a nice-looking wrap, and it's reversible so the wearer won't have to struggle to keep it right side out.

Waves Tank. Another little beach coverup. I'd do something different with the edging on the neckline and armholes, as the neckline looks unfinished and the picot edging on the armholes looks a bit tatty. A simple rib would be fine. The lace on the hem is pretty.

Windows of Moss Stitch Socks. Quite like these. The moss stitch pattern and the simple contrast stripe and toe are all the detail these socks need, and the yarns chosen for this sample work together so well.

Knitty Spring + Summer 2018: A Review

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

Collab. This cowl is so named because it was a collaboration between three of Knitty's technical editors. It has a pretty lace pattern and the gradient colourway is fun (but good luck finding a yarn that's at all similar -- it was hand-dyed and spun by one of the editors who worked on the project).

Charmayne Shawl. A pleasant little shawl.

Arashi. Lovely lacework in this one.

Cliff Walk. I like the contemporary vibe of the stripes in this one, though not the drab colourway.

Legetta Legetto. This is a beautiful piece of work, and it hangs so well.

Marigold. Nice socks. That's an interesting lace pattern.

Escape Reality. These are fun, and they'd be a great way to use up odds and ends of yarn.

Thriambus. Nice cabled ankle socks.

Pip. This item came into being when the designer was asked to design something with a cotton self-striping yarn. She came up with a pattern that is admirably suited for such a yarn, with a horizontally striped yoke and vertically striped body. The shaping is good, and the stitchwork is attractive.

Mila. I think this one would make me feel like I was wearing a beach bag. Maybe I'd like it better if the colour combination was more attractive.

April Showers. I'm not a fan of the open front cardigan -- they always look like they just don't fit, and I don't find it a flattering look -- but that said, this is a cute and well-constructed piece.

Clafoutis. I like the top part of this piece, but find myself unable to like the lower part of it. Those dropped stitch and unseamed panels have a tattered, bedraggled look.

Sea Turtle Stack. These little turtles are unqualifiably cute.