Cast On Winter 2019-2020: A Review

Today we're going to have a look at designs in the Winter 2019-2020 issue of Cast On.

Buttoned Up Rib Pillow. This is a machine knitting pattern, though it could easily be made manually. While I like the tartan stripe and the beaded and ribboned lace flap in themselves, I'm finding the combination of all these elements a little too fussy, but of course one could always omit whatever detail(s) one thought was too much.

Cable Panel Skirt. Knitted skirts have a most unfortunate tendency to be dowdy, and I'm afraid this one might be one such. I'd want to see this design on an actual person before I ventured to make it.

Calypso's Crescent. This is pretty enough, though there are more interesting and sophisticated colour choices for it.

Caret Tunic. Not bad for a warm, comfortable, "live in while around home during winter" sweater, but I'm not sure I care for those very long side vents, and I suspect the presence of a mullet hem.

Color Joy Mittens. These would be good stash busters.

Davos. A classic and very attractive turtleneck. That collar sits well and the shaping is good.

Entrelac Neck Pillow. This looks the kind of awkward little misfit cushion all the other sofa throw cushions would make fun of and ostracize.

Faux Pleat Skirt. This skirt has really nice lines and hangs so well. It deserved more elegant buttons than these.

Keyholes Scarf. I rather like the design, but the colourway is more than a little retina-searing.

Lily Armenian Sweater. The combination of triangles/argyle-like patterns and lilies is such an odd mish-mash of motifs that the resulting sweater just looks a bit bizarre.

Lily of the Valley. Not bad. I think it would need to be worn over a top if made in wool, unless one knitted it in cotton for summer.

Muscle T-shirt. This designed to be a form-fitting top for men, but I can't quite imagine any of the men I know being willing to wear such a thing. Admittedly, there is a sad lack of fashion-forward and ripped men in my life.

Pleated Lace Cardigan. Very attractive piece. That back pleat detail is quite striking.

Quinn. This is a combination of brioche and entrelac technique, so if you like a technical challenge and the fun out of picking out an interesting colourway, this could be the project for you.

Reversible Knitweave Placemat Set. These look like they came from a trendy homewares store and will give your table that expensive artsy bohemian look.

S'mores Cowl. Lovely -- both the design and that soft, subtle colourway are pleasing.

Slip Stitch "Cable" Hat. Nice! I like the polished look of the slipped stitch band, which is a cut above the typical ribbing.

Square Buttoned Entrelac Pillow. I don't care for this -- it has such a crude, slapped-together look -- but I might as well admit I'm not a fan of entrelac in general, because it does have a strong tendency to look that way.

Super Bingo Top. This pullover is pretty blah and shapeless. To be fair, it would probably look a bit better on a model it actually fit, but it's hardly anything to write home about.

Tessera Cowl. Attractive and even somewhat eye-catching.

Triangular Shawl. This is quite an exquisite piece of work, and looks like something that belongs on one of the Brontë heroines. I don't think I could make it work with my wardrobe, but I'm sure there are women out there who love a little flavour of mid-Victoriana in their accessories. Pro-tip: if you should make this for yourself and meet up with a Rochester or a Heathcliff while wearing it, keep looking. You can do better.

Knit Simple Winter 2019: A Review

Today we're going to have a look at Knit Simple's Winter 2019 issue.

Pattern #1, Cowl/Snood. I've no quarrel with this classic, useful piece.

Pattern #2, Hat with Ties. This style of hat, which is really more of a hood, tends to be difficult for anyone but the young to carry off, but it's certainly practical enough, and I like the texture.

Pattern #3, Zippered Hoodie. A minimalist classic. This hoodie is really a perfect thing of its kind.

Pattern #4, Hooded Cowl. Balaclavas never do quite work in terms of style. They're like the rubber prophylactic of hats: undeniably practical, but not aesthetic.

Pattern #5, Pullover Hoodie. Not bad. The hood does look better down than up though.

Pattern #6, Hoodie Shell. This would be a useful layering piece that could work styled in a number of different ways.

Pattern #7, Yoke Pullover. This is fairly attractive and eye-catching, and would probably be a good starter fair isle project.

Pattern #8, Cardigan. A classic cardigan with a good shape and an appealing texture.

Pattern #9, Cable and Ribbed Hat. Classic cabled cap.

Pattern #10, Scarf. Love the stitchwork on this scarf.

Pattern #11, Socks. These socks are handsome and even a little distinguished. I almost want to ask them out.

Pattern #12, Fingerless Mitts. Pretty basic. But then basic is sometimes what you need and/or want.

Pattern #13, Blanket. Basic but attractive and useful enough in its way.

Pattern #14, Mitered Square Pillow. These are pretty smart, and would be a good way to begin to learn mitering.

Pattern #15, Pillow. I'm inclined to think these need a more interesting colourway.

Pattern #16, Sporty Afghan. This is actually rather visually striking, and it would be fun to pick out a colourway for it.

Pattern #17, Wide Poncho. Nice texture, and I like the overall concept, but I'd be inclined to neaten up the fit on this one. Yes, this is a style that does call for an oversized fit, but my rule of thumb for oversized fits is to go one size larger, not three. Very oversized fits tend to look sloppy and frumpy.

Pattern #18, Fringed Shawl. Classic, timeless shawl.

Pattern #19, Poncho. I'm no friend of the poncho, but even I have to admit that the styling here kind of works. I think I'd still feel as though I were wearing an afghan though.

Pattern #20, Cropped Poncho. I can get on board with this poncho, which I consider to be more of a capelet. It's neat fitting, has a certain smartness, and won't get in your food or caught in a car door.

Pattern #21, Capelet. There's no denying this is super cute.

Pattern #22, Kid's Hat, and pattern #23, Kid's Pullover. This set is rather pretty. I'd just fix the dropped shoulders.

Pattern #24, Kid's Socks. Classic two-tone socks.

Pattern #25, Kid's Mittens. Basic striped mittens.

Pattern #26, Blanket. Not bad. I think the gradient colourway could be better -- but then it can be hard to get the subtle shifts of colour one needs for a gradient knit.

Pattern #27, Hat & Cardigan. Not thrilled with either of these -- the jacket has a rather frumpy, unfinished look, and that hat isn't terribly flattering.

Pattern #28, Kid's Poncho. This is a cute, comfortable, practical piece for a child, which will both give her the freedom to run and play and keep her warm.

Vogue Knitting Winter 2019/2020: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released its Winter 2019/2020 issue! Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Pattern #1, Swathe. A very nice textured wrap. It amuses me that the styling is so very 1986 -- though if this were actually 1986, the model's sweater and hair would have been big enough for three women.

Pattern #2, Java. That is... a lot of hat. But I have no quibbles with the design of the hat other than that, so it may be the perfect thing for someone who likes to go big or go bareheaded.

Pattern #3, Warp/Weft. A simple, useful, bulky cowl in bamboo stitch.

Pattern #4, Scalene. Bulky, drapey ponchos are not my bag (see what I did there?) at all, but I must admit this is well done for what it is, even if I can't help think wistfully how much better it would look on a couch. I love the colour scheme and the rhythmic triangle pattern.

Pattern #5, Klein Reversible Wrap. Basic but useable.

Pattern #6, The Sophisticate. This reminds me of long, open-front cardigan my mother used to wear around the house back in the early eighties: it also had handy pockets, and 3/4 length sleeves that wouldn't get into the food whenever my mother was working in the kitchen. This is quite a wearable, practical item that can be styled in a variety of ways, though I will say I can't help wincing a little at the absurdly short sleeves. I would raise the dropped shoulders a little.

Pattern #7, The Grandfather. This one's a bit too utilitarian for me -- it reminds me of a Mao jacket. I think maybe this design is one that calls for an interesting and/or especially beautiful yarn, as it needs a little oomph.

Pattern #8, The Multitasker. I'd fix the dropped shoulders, and I think there are better colourway choices for this pattern, but otherwise this design is quite wearable, and could be a good stash buster.

Pattern #9, The Gradient. I'd raise the dropped shoulder and neaten up the fit a little on this one, but otherwise it's a polished, contemporary, appealing piece.

Pattern #10, Folkloric Sweater. Well, this is something different. I like it -- it's not only very eyecatching, but keeps me staring at it, checking out all the details.

Pattern #11, Tendril. Lovely, and the cable pattern is fantastic.

Pattern #12, Echo. A classic lace wrap.

Pattern #13, Arbor. Another wonderful little cabled capelet. I mean, just feast your eyes on that intricate cable pattern.

Pattern #14, Nouveau. The Ravelry page notes for this design compares it to Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s famous florals. I don't disagree, and it is certainly a beautiful piece, but it would have me terrified that it was going to catch on everything.

Pattern #15, Corolla. This is a lovely little jacket, though I would fix those dropped shoulders.

Pattern #16, Herald. A very attractive pullover. Despite this being a winter issue, Vogue Knitting does seem to be looking towards spring with some of their designs.

Pattern #17, Topiary. What a sweet little cardi.

Pattern #18, The Cable Guy. This is a "from the archives" pattern, which Vogue Knitting first published in 1962, reprinted in 1985, and is running again in this issue. Despite all the sweeping changes in fashion since 1962, I don't suppose there's been a year since it was originally published in which it would have looked dated. Such is the staying power of a classic cabled pullover.