Interweave Knits Spring 2020: A Review

Interweave Knits has released its Spring & Summer 2020 issue with 13 designs in it that we can all knit now to calm our nerves, and put away for that happy if unspecified day when we all get to leave our homes again, and go somewhere where there are other people.

On a less facetious note, I'll just comment here that making/preparing clothing for oneself has always seemed to me to be an act of faith and hope: we plan and purchase and make things to wear because we presume we'll have the opportunity and need to wear them, that we'll be alive and well enough to have places to go and things to accomplish and people to see by the time the items are ready. So let's have the faith to look at these designs, and to dream of the things we might make with them, shall we? And, of course, also the critical ability to pass on/alter any design that won't truly work for us. Even a pandemic isn't going to make me lose my head and sign off on dropped shoulder designs.

Andes Mitts. These are presentable. Given the open texture, they seem more decorative than practical (i.e., warm, snag-resistant).

Arctic Headband. Heh, I actually initially thought this design was a hat in spite of its name when I saw the product shot in thumbnail. I suppose matching the yarn colour of this headband to your original hair colour would be one way to make your dark roots work for you. To get back on track in terms of an actual review of this pattern, this is quite a nice-looking, flattering piece.

Canopy Tee. This is rather nice top in that "barely there layering piece for summer" vein. I like the lacework in the front, with its Art Deco feel.

Castile Cardigan. Not bad. I love the stitchwork in this, but don't love the dropped shoulders, which make the sleeves look stumpy.

Devonshire Beanie. Cute hat.

Gilt Lace Cardigan. This is a sweet little summer cardigan.

Heartwood Cardigan. Another pretty light cardigan for warmer weather. I like that there's a corresponding lace panel on the back, and the little notches in the cuffs.

Íslenska Shawl. Interesting lacework, but I think this shawl needed more shaping to make it less afghan-like.





Kent Lamb Pullover. Very wearable and attractive. The hem "cables over a garter stitch" detail is a nice design twist. I'd nix the "side vent and slight mullet" touch.

Paihamu Hat. Nice cap, and that yarn looks so luscious I can almost feel it through the screen, which is not surprising given that it's a possum/silk/cashmere blend.

Sandness Cardigan. This looks like one of those cardigans that are a total comfort wear. That's an attractive cable pattern. I would raise the dropped shoulders somewhat, though just to the bottom of the cabled section, as raising it clear to the shoulder would not be possible on this design.

Sprigs Top. A very decent piece. The lacework is pretty.

Stratus Shawl. Very handsome shawl! The lacework is beautiful, and the three-tone look gives what would otherwise be a traditional piece a cool, contemporary vibe.

Knitscene Spring 2020: A Review

Knitscene has released its Spring 2020 issue. Let's take a look at it, shall we?

Alongside Slouch. Not a bad-looking minimalist slouch cap.

Arced Shawl. This one might have gone too far in the afghan direction, but its shaping keeps it wearable -- it seems to drape well. And it also looks as though it would be cozier than many of the shawl designs I see.

Arrows Shawl. Simple, pretty, and wearable.

Crosswise Top. Not a bad little top. The combination of mesh, heel stitch, and bubble-shaped elbow sleeves makes for a different look. I don't care for the way the wearer's bra straps show through the mesh, but then strapless bras and tank tops exist for a reason.

Currents Shawl. What lovely stitchwork.

Darts Pullover. I have quite a strong inclination for this kind of sweater design. This design is so simple overall that it will go with jeans or a skirt and can be worn nearly anywhere, while having just enough detail to make it visually interesting. The happy owner of this sweater will be able to wear it until it's worn out. But I would fix the dropped shoulders.

Ellipsoidal Shawl. Another beautiful piece of stitchwork.

Garter Grooves Cardigan. This cardi sits so poorly that it's frumpy even on this professional model.

Gauzy Tee. I kind of love this, which would be such an airy, pretty, casual piece for nice spring days. I would neaten up the fit though.

Herbage Tee. This top is very pretty and wearable, and probably almost universally flattering.





Netted Tank Top. Rather like the contemporary, casual vibe of this one.

Peaks & Valleys Shawl. This issue is really batting a thousand on its shawls.

Sidelong Tee. The overall design is fine. I'd neaten up the fit.

Swingy Top. Not bad, but I think I'd definitely go with the Herbage Tee in preference to this design, as its shape is easier to carry off and I like that the lacework appears at both the bottom and sleeve hems. The sleeves of this one look a little plain compared to the bottom hem.

Trilateral Cowl. Attractive contemporary-style pattern, and it sits well.

Trilogies Hat & Cowl. This one would be an excellent stash buster, and it's a nice-looking and wearable set.

Interweave Crochet Winter 2020: A Review

Today marks a slight departure for the site. I have never reviewed a crochet magazine before, but have been asked a number of times over the years to consider doing so. I have finally come to the point of deciding I will try crochet design reviewing on for size, and see how I do with it and what the response is. I can crochet (the receipts are here and here), and have spoken out about the value of crochet, but am not as skilled at crochet as I am with knitting, so I hope you'll all bear with me as I take a stab -- or should I say a right hook? -- at reviewing Interweave Crochet's Winter 2020 issue.





Bergschrund Shrug. This isn't bad -- it hangs pretty well and is simple enough to work with a variety of looks. The back looks pretty good too.

But I can't say I care for the second suggested way to wear this shrug -- it has a choppy, awkward look, and I'd be inclined to think the wearer put it on in the dark and hasn't caught sight of herself in the mirror since.

Carmine Wrap. The Tunisian stitchwork looks a little crude for my liking, but kudos to the styling department, who have made this scarf look almost chic.

Catena Scarf. The two-colour relief is a pretty decent effect.

Chill Snowman. This is really cute, but I do get the feeling that this snowman would ignore me if I asked him for directions to the North Pole.

Cooper Scarf. Pretty basic, but wearable enough.

Drumlin Scarf. Love both the texture and the yarn used here, and this wrap drapes so well.

Esker Cowl. Nice use of a gradient yarn and a simple ridged texture.

Firn Capelet. I'm not really sold on this hooded capelet, which bears slightly too much resemblance to some kind of amorphous blob that is eating this woman's head.

Foldover Mitts. Not bad. I can't help but think wistfully how much they look like a ribbed pair of knitted mitts.;)

Journal Cover. I like the idea, but find the execution a little crude. I'd be inclined to sew the leather part to the crocheted part with a sewing machine rather than using that uneven running stitch. One can glimpse the original cover of the notebook at the bottom in one of the shots, which bugs me, but I don't know how those could be entirely hidden.

Kame Cowl. I don't much like this, but I think I'd like it better if it weren't for the colour scheme. Those gray and aqua colours do nothing for each other.

Ogive Cardigan. I have my suspicions as to how this pleasant little cardi sits and/or hangs when the wearer isn't pulling on it with both hands.

Randkluft Scarf. This has a haphazard, "crocheted out of scrap pieces of yarn which ran out in random points in the row" look.

Rimaye Cowl. I'm actually really digging the contemporary objet d'art vibe of this one. It's Tunisian crochet, which is why it looks so much like knitting.

Sashiko Clutch. Sashiko is a form of Japanese embroidery that dates back to the seventeenth century. The embroidery on this little clutch, which borrows from that tradition, is really quite smart and eye-catching.

Serac Pullover. The collar says, "Snuggle down and get comfortable!". The open stitch texture says, "Have an intimate encounter with every draft and protrusion/rough surface in your vicinity!" I can't deny I rather like the look of this piece, but it is wildly impractical.

Sheepback Scarf. Pretty wrap.

Wee Bandana. I suppose if you've always wanted to make your wee baby or widdle pet look like a wee outlaw, this might be just the thing. On a slightly more practical note, it will also work as a bib, and be a chance for beginner to expand their Tunisian crochet technique.