Knit Simple Winter 2018: A Review

Today we're going to have a look at Knit Simple's Winter 2018 issue.

Pattern #1, Quilted Block Cowl. What an attractive combination of colour and texture. Of course you'll need this particular self-striping yarn to recreate the look.

Pattern #2, Headband. Basic.

Pattern #3, Slouchy Hat. Not bad. Could be slouchier.

Pattern #4, Pillow. In case you need any more knitting motivation.

Pattern #5, Mittens. I don't think I'd fold up the cuff on these mittens, as they look a little too short in proportion to the rest of the mitten that way.

Pattern #6, Striped Scarf. I like it, but I think it needs fringes or some other finishing touch at the ends.

Pattern #7, Crescent Shawl. Nice shawl, though that dull colour doesn't do it any favours.

Pattern #8, Slipper Socks. These are warm and comfortable-looking, and the shaping is good.

Pattern #9, Teapot Cozy. That's a pretty yarn, but I'd like to see it used to make something with a little more style.

Pattern #10, V-Neck Poncho. I normally don't like cropped length pieces, but the length does work here, as this piece would be frumpy at a hip length. As is, it's a rather nice little topper with a shawl collar that sits impressively well.

Pattern #11, Fingerless Mitts. Very decent little mitts.

Pattern #12, Twisted Rib Hat. Some very attractive stitchwork in this one.

Pattern #13, A-Line Dress. A cute child's dress.

Pattern #14, Blanket. That's an unusually smart-looking baby blanket.

Pattern #15, Hooded Jacket. I kind of wish this jacket had a little more finish to it, but it would be a useful piece and a good stash busting project.

Pattern #16, Sweater Set. Cute!

Pattern #17, Lapghan. Looking at this I keep thinking how the edges of that little lap afghan is going to let cold air in every time its user shifts position, which probably means I'm more the afghan type than the "lapghan" type.

Pattern #18, Cowl. This one's a bit rough for my taste but it's serviceable enough.

Pattern #19, Long Scarf. Decent basic scarf.

Pattern #20, Pom Pom Hats. Not a bad-looking easy hat. I do like the furry pom poms that have come on the market in recent years. They add a lot to a simple knitted cap.

Pattern #21, Roll-Neck Pullover. So frumpy and unflattering. Even the poor model's all, "Look, I'm doing my best here, but I'm a model, not a fairy godmother."

Pattern #22, Turtleneck Pullover. A decent piece. That's a rather inventive stripe effect.

Pattern #23, Floral Granny Square Afghan. This looks like something I'd see in a thrift store... and walk quickly past.

Pattern #24, Granny Square Bag. I'm pretty sure that if I made this bag, it would turn on me, changing my name to Betty, sewing pinch pleats in my trousers, and dyeing my hair blue in my sleep.

Pattern #25, Pom Pom Hat and Mittens. Cute set.

Pattern #26, Scarf. I rather like the concept of a patterned end on a solid colour scarf.

Pattern #27, Cowl. Nice cowl. Though I can't figure out whether that motif is supposed to be people or trees, and it's beginning to bug me.

Pattern #28, Blanket. People or trees? OR ARE THEY TREE PEOPLE?

Vogue Knitting Winter 2018/2019: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released their Winter 2018/2019 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Pattern #1, Cabled Poncho. I like this design better than most poncho designs, probably because it has shape and detail and almost passes for a sweater.

Pattern #2, Peplum Pullover. I like the fit and flare -- and the beautiful cables -- of this one.

Pattern #3, Cabled Pullover. Not bad, though I would fix those dropped shoulders.

Pattern #4, Diamond Poncho. A handsome piece. Its diagonal lines give it a certain smartness.

Pattern #5, Cabled Cardigan. Nice detailing on this one, and the shape is good too.

Pattern #6, Cable Front Cardigan. Classic cardigan.

Pattern #7, Argyle Vest. A simple, wearable take on the classic argyle vest.

Pattern #8, Cubix Shawl. This one could be a great stash buster, and it's visually interesting.

Pattern #9, Flicker Poncho. This one is a little too afghan-y for me as to its stitchwork, though I must admit its shape is good and it sits well.

Pattern #10, Brioche Shawl. A rather appealing contemporary wrap.

Pattern #11, Two-Color Pullover. This one's a little rough and ready for my tastes, but I suppose it would be wearable enough if one just fixed the dropped shoulders, and it would be fun to play with the colour choices on this one -- this dull light gray and ivory combination doesn't do much for it.

Pattern #12, Heart Pullover. This one looks like a dog sweater knit large rather than something that really belongs on a grown woman.

Pattern #13, Sleeveless A-line Dress. This one looks like some sort of orphanage uniform cosplay. That's due to the styling, but I don't quite know what could have been done with this piece. It's almost irretrievably sack-like, and making it in plain ivory didn't help.

Pattern #14, Striped Pulled Over & Scarf. I'm digging the concept of a striped sweater with a coordinating colour blocked scarf.

Pattern #15, Oversized Shawl. Not bad, but this is one of those wraps that I can't help but feel would look best left on a couch.

Pattern #16, Winter Lake Stole. Such beautiful lacework.

Pattern #17, Hylla Cardigan. I'm not a fan of the dolman sleeve, but I actually rather like this one. It looks quite good from the back, if not quite as good from the side. I think I'd nix the ridge between the ribbing and the stitch used through the body as it stands out too much and not in a good way.

Pattern #18, Offset Triangle Shawl. Not bad at all. I rather like the unusual colour combination, and the interesting stripes and stitchwork combined with minimal finishing.

Pattern 19, Argyle Turtleneck. Oh, I remember this Adrienne Vittadini design, which originally appeared in Vogue Kniting's Winter 1996/97 issue, a rather battered copy of which sits on my pattern library shelf. It's a smart, wearable piece. I haven't made it yet, but that doesn't mean I won't.

Pattern 20, Striped Jacket. I rather like this one, though the drape front cardigan is ordinarily not my thing. The stripe combination works so beautifully and the design hangs pretty well.

Knitty Winter 2018: A Review

Knitty has released its Winter 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it.

Isosceles. This one's quite sharp, with both graphic chartwork and textural interest. I like the use of an accent colour at the cuffs and hem too, but I think I'd omit the accent colour edging at the neckline.

Yoru. Love the detail on this one. The designer comments in the pattern how she admires the Japanese aesthetic of refined simplicity, and I think she's achieved that sort of delicate balance in this design.

Kiernan. This one has dropped shoulders, a mullet hem, and is a cropped length, which regular readers of this blog will know are not among my favourite things. I have to admit this woman, who is the designer, is kind of rocking the look, but I'd fix all those things and make a plain ol' turtleneck with ribbed sleeves in what looks like a lusciously warm and cozy yarn.

Paper Crane. The combination of an asymmetrical shape and a gradient yarn make for an offbeat, contemporary vibe that's not quite to my taste but is a rather fun and interesting look nonetheless.

Grayson. A polished and attractive wrap.

Opposites Attract. The combination of the bobbles and the swirls of colour make for a look a twenty-first century court jester might wear.

Glass Island. A fun, smart cowl to wear with a solid colour coat.

Black Lodge. Oooh, is this one ever striking. The combination of two gradient yarns and a chevron design really packs a punch.

Kilim. I like the woven rug-like effect of this design, especially in the cranberry and green colourway.

When You Are Gone. Love the "sail" motifs on the hat, and the line of colour at the edge, but not the yellow detail at the crown, which has something of the effect of a spider sitting at the back of the hat.

Programmer's Headgear. Even as someone who doesn't know how to code (but has done her share of tagging), I find this fun.

Braineater. For the cephalopod lover in your life who doesn't mind looking like a screencap from one of the more gruesome X-Files episodes! More seriously, this is a fun concept, and it's well-executed.

Spinal Twist. Not bad. The play of texture and colour make this cowl satisfying to look at.

Tufts. This one's a bit rough and ready for my liking.

Fingers Crossed. This is a handsome pair of mitts.

Go Big or Go Gnome. Very cute and a lot of fun, though I can't help wishing those gnomes had a little more detail. I'm not entirely sure I would have figured out that they were gnome motifs without being told.

Intermingle. Very handsome pair of cabled socks. I've dated a number of men to whom I've felt less attracted.