Wednesday 20 November 2013

Knitter's Magazine Issue 113: A Review

Knitter's Magazine has released the preview for Issue 113. Let's have a look at it.





I'm not normally a friend of asymmetrical design or of zippers in knitwear, but I love the Diagonal Zip design. This jacket's asymmetry is balanced, with the two collars flowing along one line, and the front zipper looks right because it's echoed by the two cuff zippers. The texture and the overall lines are very good. I don't know how good this design will look worn open, but it looks so damn good zipped up, who cares. Excellent work!





We move from a great opener to.... the Chartered Lines design. Which is a cropped-length and top-buttoned style that even the model isn't carrying off, has a textured pattern added to an already very busy tutti frutti-coloured yarn, and is that fringe on the collar? It makes me wonder how the previous sweater got along with this one during the photo shoot, because they don't have much in common. I'm imagining a coolly aloof attitude on the one side and belligerence on the other.





The Shaded Diamonds design one isn't at all anything I would ever wear myself, but it's such a fine piece of design that I can only admire it. The mitred neck detail and the edgings have employed an variegated yarn to wonderful effect, and the lines are so good.





The Incline Wrap. Entrelac is another design element that can be problematic, because it adds such bulk, but again it's been made to work here, in this sleeveless wrap. Using entrelac in a design that's meant to be worn as an outer layer makes the bulkiness much less of a issue (eliminating the sleeves also helped), and this piece is well-shaped. It will work well over both short skirts and relatively fitted trousers.





The pleated waist section and the striped raglan detail in the Iron, Slate & Moss design are competing somewhat, making the pudding more than slightly over egged. I'd go with one of those elements, not both, with the pleating being section being my pick to eliminate as it won't flatter many waistlines. Finishing off the sweater with the dark blue ribbing that's been used at the neckline and cuffs would work well.





This Smoke & Ice design's... okay. It looks like one of those 1990s-era single pattern leaflet patterns that somehow came into your possession and that is too nice to weed out with the hopeless 1980s era leaflets, and yet is not nice enough to make.





This Rainbow Grove vest is a lovely piece of design. Well-endowed wearers and/or those without a waistline they want to emphasize will want to decrease the waistline ribbing to just an inch or two, and feature more of that gorgeous stitchwork.





The Confetti Design. I don't care for the smock-like shape here, which would make most women look dumpy. I'm afraid even to ask how long that back hem is — it continues beyond the limits of the picture. The yarn choice isn't helping. I can't even look at the picture of this sweater for very long before I start wondering if I'm hungover or something — and it's been months since I had a single alcoholic beverage.





The Tangerine Leaves design is quite a pretty little open front cardigan. A woman who owns this piece will get a lot of wear out of it, because it can be worn with many outfits and will always look polished and be warm and comfortable.





The Tilt vest is another attractive, useful, go-anywhere piece.





Not liking the Weather Ready design. It does have some good points, namely its cabled texture and collar, but the overall shape is just so sloppy and unflattering that the model can't even carry it off despite the bravest of smiles.





The Slip-up Mobius hat and scarf. This isn't appealing to me, but I think it's the fault of the yarn choice here, which I personally find more than a little eyeball-searing. If I imagine it sans pom pom and in a yarn colourway I actually like, it's a decent set.





The Garter Epaulettes design is a nice, simple piece, though I find it just a touch too simple. I'd maybe add cuff detailing that echoes the epaulettes to kick up the level of visual interest just a bit.





The Ladies Only cardigan is a good, polished-looking piece of work. The top-buttoned style really works here because it's so organic to the design.





The Unfinished Business design looks like it began life as a simple tank and decided it was born for high fashion, and so added random side draping, regretted it, couldn't figure out how to get back to the simple life that had really suited it much better, gave up on itself, partied too much and ran out of yarn, and is now bound for an ignominious death in some forlorn and filthy rooming house. Seriously, this is one nearly unwearable item that almost no women will be able to get away with wearing, and even then the question is why would they?





The Blues & Berries scarf isn't bad. I actually think it would have looked better with a basic denim jacket than with this "pull out all the stops" styling, but you have to give Knitter's Magazine credit for going the extra mile, even if that extra mile was beyond the finish line.





The Blues & Berries hat and scarf set (the scarf is the same design as the one above done in a second colourway) is really basic but wearable and presentable enough.





The Shifting Bands cardigan is a very competent piece of work. It's got enough interest to make an outfit, and yet not so much that it won't go with anything in a woman's closet or can't be worn often.





I don't even know what the Zigzag in Cables design is. I think it's supposed to be some kind of architecturally structured cowl or scarf, but it looks like a pile of swatches from the design studio have inexplicably gone rogue and are trying to throttle the model.





The Step-up Shawl isn't a bad piece. The choice of mitred squares is an interesting and visually distinctive one for a shawl. My response is rather tepid because of the colour scheme — this one is a little on the muddy side.





This is a second version of the Step-Up Shawl, and it confirms my theory about the colours dampening my enthusiasm for the first one. I love this version.





The Chevron vest isn't a bad piece of design at all, but all I can do is stare at that closing detail and think about how I really don't like it. I'd go with a simple silver clasp there, or at least a better-looking knitted loop.





The Uncharted Lace pullover is another good wearable design. The touch of lace detailing at the raglan seams gives this simple, classic piece distinction.

Monday 18 November 2013

Knit Simple Winter 2013: A Review

Knit Simple has released the preview for their Winter 2013 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?





This bulky knit pullover and cowl isn't bad for a beginner project. It won't be the most flattering item but then that's par for the course with any bulky knit.





This checked cap is really cute. You can leave the pom pom off if it's too juvenile for you.





I quite like this vest, though I am not sure about the extended shoulder line, which works on women but maybe doesn't play as well in menswear. I'd be inclined to turn this vest into a sweater.





Love the colours used here in this cropped vest, but all I can think is how much more flattering it would be even on this model if it were longer.





The men's version of the checked cap above. It works equally well on a man.





I like this hound's-tooth slotted scarf. It's a practical way of getting a scarf to stay in place.





This hound's-tooth muffler is a nice piece too.





I like this striped tam. The stripes have such visual interest and texture.





Can't say I like this scarf. Basketweave textures like this tend to look crude, and the colour scheme, or rather the lack of one, is not helping.





This cowl looks slapped together and doesn't sit well at all.





This scarf is interesting, but it does look rather too large and overpowering a look on this model. If you want to make this design, I'd scale it to the size of the intended wearer.





This crocheted cowl sits better than the last one, but that's not saying a lot.





This striped cowl isn't bad. It could be a nice fun, casual look with the right coat.





This is... a cardigan poncho. At least I think it is. And had you asked me, sight unseen, what I thought of the concept of cardigan ponchos, I am pretty sure my response would have involved some thumbs and perhaps also some toes down, and yet I rather like this. It's a young, fun look that could look pretty fetching on a high school girl over a fitted t-shirt or sweater and jeans.





In the text that precedes this next set of pictures, Knit Simple claims, "Boxy's back! Spice up oversized silhouettes with geometric blocks of color." Don't let them fool you. If boxy's back, and mind you I'm not convinced that it is, it doesn't look any better than it ever did. I rather like this sweater, but I would make it standard fit, unless the wearer intends to spend every minute of wearing time with her arms akimbo like this model's in order to give it a semblance of flattering style.





If you're one of those rare women who not only like the mini-sweater but can wear it successfully, I suppose this isn't a bad example of a mini-sweater.





This one might work if the shape was neatened up considerably, but as is this is just going to look sloppy on most women. It doesn't look too bad here because it's been quite carefully arranged to appear well, but note just how much extra sweater is gathered up around the waist.





This one's passable style-wise for a casual sweater, and would be a good way to use up odds and ends of yarn.






Basic textured pullover.





I rather like this cardigan vest, which has nice lines, and the climbing vine is a nice touch. I do have my concerns about the way it's hanging. Why is the pocket on the right so much higher than the left, and why is the right sleeve extending so much further down on the arm than the left? I hope it's just not sitting right on the model. I also wouldn't make it quite so loose, and I'd leave the button off both pockets instead of putting it on just the left one.





I'm finding that wide ribbed band on these fingerless mitts rather distracting. I would shorten it by an inch or so.





Basic shawl-collared cardigan. It's maybe a little long on the model, but of course you'll just make it to fit the wearer.





Basic striped socks.





Don't care for this one. It's too awkward and bulky looking, and that pocket or whatever that thing is in the front just looks like a mistake. Men may not generally mind it when their shoulders and chests are made to look bigger by their clothing, but even men can't particularly enjoy looking like a cube.





Very cute dog child's sweater.





This dog cushion isn't bad. I see it as an item for a child's room rather than for the living room though — it's cute in a simple, child-like way.





Don't like this backpack. It looks way too crude and slapped together. The non-symmetrical rings around the eyes just look like a mistake. I know real dogs have uneven markings, but this needed to resemble a dog in general before it could get away with mimicking some of the charming imperfections of a dog.





Really cute dog cushion. This is one you might just want to put in the living room, because the fair isle diamonds give it a little more sophistication.





Very handsome set of tartan-themed throw and cushions set.

Friday 15 November 2013

A Bouquet of Poppies


One of the possible ideas I came up with for a Remembrance Day post was to put together a selection of poppy-themed patterns. The concept didn't seem to have the right tone for Remembrance Day, so I didn't use it, but I think I can do it today now that Remembrance Day has been observed and we're still in a poppy kind of mood. I am, at any rate. I love poppies, largely because they're a prevalent theme in Art Nouveau design, which I really love. I'm planning to do a poppy-themed kitchen reno sometime in 2014.

The above design is the sharply graphic Poppy Pillow, designed by Denny Gould. This pattern is available for £2.99(GBP).





This is the Poppy Field Shawl, designed by Natalie Servant. This pattern is available for $6.00(USD).





This is the Poppy Lace Scarf, designed by Susan Springett. This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download.





The Poppies mittens, designed by Natalia Moreva. This pattern is available for $4.99(USD).





This of course is Kaffe Fassett's classic Persian Poppy Waistcoat, which was originally published in his classic book Glorious Knits: Designs for Knitting Sweaters, Dresses, Vests and Shawls, but the pattern has been included in a number of his collections since then.





These are the Poppy Fields Socks, designed by Sarah Wilson. I don't think I could knit these in any other colour but poppy red. This pattern is available for $4.00(USD).





The Poppies in a Mirror socks, designed by Barb Brown. This pattern is available for C$5.00(CAD).





This is the Masai Shawl, designed Christel Seyfarth. This pattern is available as part of a kit from Christel Seyfarth's website. Seyfarth often employs a poppy motif in her work, so you might like to take a look at the rest of her patterns on Ravelry.