Vogue Knitting Fall 2014: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released its Fall 2014 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Pattern #1, Hooded Cabled Scarf. This hooded scarf is shaped in such a way that it can also be worn as a shawl. Very clever and useful design with a timeless appeal in its cabled texture.

Pattern #2, Bateau-Neck Pullover. Classic cabled sweater. The cropped sleeve and hem length won't be for everyone, but can be lengthened.

Pattern #3, Deep V-Neck Cardigan. I quite like this one, which is one of those "classic with a twist" designs that appeal to me most. It's a take on the traditional cabled cardigan that catches the eye. The lines are good and face-framing. I even like the dropped shoulders, which are necessary here given the combined width of the neck and the ribbing around the neckline.

Pattern #4, Close-fitting Pullover. Another cabled pullover. The overall look is quite traditional, but there are some interesting components in this design, such as the laddered central panel and the textured stitch (which looks like some kind of double moss stitch) used for the sleeves.

Pattern #5, Long Cabled Coat. This piece has a certain suggestion of Renaissance fashion about it, with the corded effect at the shoulders and the combination of a high collar and cut-away neckline. It would be a little costume for me, but I can see it looking very stylish on the right person.

Pattern #6, Cabled Shell with Arm Warmers. This cabled tank is a nice classic piece, and the arm warmers are fine in their way, but wearing them as a set looks a little silly. Is Vogue Knitting going to present us with a matching shorts and legwarmers set next?

Pattern #7, Funnel-Neck Turtleneck. This is the cover design. The cables on this piece are interesting, but this isn't a terribly flattering item. I'd raise those dropped shoulders and neaten up the fit somewhat.

Pattern #8, Fretwork Pullover. Quite like this one. Those openwork cables are an interesting effect.

Pattern #9, Cabled Scarf. This is an okay piece. You may find it a little on the unwieldy side size-wise, but if you do, you can always cut it down in size.

Pattern #10, Cropped Cabled Pullover. This is really quite a beautifully detailed piece, though that cropped length is definitely not for everyone. I'd suggest lengthening it, but at first glance that twisted cabled detail in the center of the front looks like a hand from below desperately grasping a rope, and I'm kind of afraid of what making the sweater another six inches or so longer would reveal.

Pattern #11, Dolman Pullover. This look is maybe a little too Flashdance for me.

Pattern #11, Dolman Pullover. The less open neckline makes this a little less Flashdance, but it's still too much like a plain baggy sweatshirt for me. Like the variation on this design that preceded it, it's neither an interesting nor a flattering pattern.

Pattern #12, Hat. Nice little chevron cap.

Pattern #13, Mesh Sweater and Ribbed Scarf. I rather like this one. There's something pleasing about the layered texture of this mesh, and the plain solid scarf makes a nice contrast to it.

Pattern #14, Cowl. The scale of this cowl looks a little on the large side, but you can always downsize it, and the colours and texture are good.

Pattern #15, Long Vest. I don't know about this one. I can see it looking quite stylish on a clotheshorse type, but I think on most women it would look a bit much, and I want to scale it down somewhat and chop that back mullet hem to a length that's equal to the front hem.

Pattern #16, Colorblocked Poncho. At first glance I didn't like this, but now I think it's growing on me. It's got a certain modern appeal. I can't help but feel it needs some better detailing at the neck, though, and I would definitely fix the mullet hem. Why the mullet hem, designers? Do you think we otherwise won't be able to tell the front of our clothes from the back?

Pattern #17, Capelet. I like the idea of gathering a capelet in front, but I don't like this particular execution of it, which looks a little rough compared to the rest of this otherwise polished, textured piece.

Pattern #18, Intarsia Crew-Neck Pullover. Not sure I get the point of this one, with its somewhat pointless abstract design and random lines of hairy yarn. I keep thinking I'm watching a polar bear eat a seal, or looking at a knitted replica of early cave paintings.

Pattern #19, V-Neck Cardigan. This one's just dowdy. Even the model can't lend it any style.

Pattern #20, Hudson's Bay Pullover and Shawl. This set is, of course, based on the iconic Hudson's Bay striped wool blanket. It might be Canadian bias on my part, but I very much like these two pieces, which are an excellent knitted rendering of Hudson's Bay Company trademark stripes and work well in their own right. You could do these pieces in other colours and they would still work beautifully. HBC really ought to get this designer under contract if they haven't already.

Pattern #21, Zipper Embroidered Cardigan. Nice piece with a good shape and interesting detail. I think there are better colourways for the embroidery down the front, but it'll be easy to find them.

Pattern #22, Vibrant Colorwork Pullover. Very much like this one. The colourway is amazingly well worked out, and the design is fun in an adult way.

Pattern #23, Raglan Pullover. I think this one is Morticia Addams's idea of a Christmas sweater. I tease because I love — I actually do like this sweater, with its quite original and striking detailing (fab idea to embroider around that yoke!), and you could remove any lingering "Morticia at Christmas" associations I may have just saddled you with by doing it in another colourway.

Pattern #24, Duster Coat. Really nice piece. The shaping is great, and the bouclé collar, cuffs and hemline are excellent. I'd go with something other than the southwestern-style pattern at the hem and cuffs, but that's a personal preference, because it does work very well as is.

Pattern #25, Cocoon Coat. The details here are great (i.e., the collar, intarsia, and pockets) but the overall shape is frumpy. I'd shorten this to regular sweater length and neaten up the fit.

Pattern #26, Short-Sleeve Top. Something about this isn't working, and I can't quite figure out what. I think it might be the colourway, which isn't pulling together properly. I'd do this one in black, charcoal and light gray, white, and one vivid cool colour, such as red or magenta.

Twist Collective Fall 2014: A Review

Twist Collective has published their Fall 2014 issue, and it's a very solid effort from them. I don't think there's a single pattern in it that I wouldn't be willing to make myself, and I don't know when I've ever said that before. Let's have a look at it.

The Weft Cardigan. It's quite smart, and the shape is good.

The Hulabaloo socks. Nice pair of socks, but I don't really get the trend of styling such socks with pumps. Do women really wear socks with pumps, and if so, are they doing some ZZ Top video cosplaying?

The Kokliko scarf, cowl, and mittens set. It's very pretty, but I always do find a three-knitted set to be one piece too much. I'd knit just two of these.

The Smarty cardigan is wearable, well-shaped, and has striking, interesting detail.

The Safra design. This one has directions for making either the shawl or the scarf. They're both really lovely with some great detail, and will keep you warm without catching on everything as the design is not too lacy.

The Calais design is a nice piece of work. It's both distinctive and a piece that could be worn to death because it'll go nearly anywhere.

The Petersham mittens. Very much like these. I don't think I've ever seen the crossed wires design on mittens before, which makes them seem like something fresh and new.

The Oleada cap and mittens set. Fairly basic, but quite attractively so.

The Roxton pullover. Very much like this one. That front panel is an interesting look.

The Latifolia hat and mittens are very pretty. I know it may seem a too-obvious choice for a leaf-themed knit, but I picture these done in green.

The Akebia pullover is beautiful. I love a special yoke, and that line of red at neck, hem, and cuffs is just the finishing touch this design needs.

The Caledonia cardigan. Nice piece, and it can be done in either cotton or wool as it'll work for either a summer or a winter sweater.

The Grania tam and mittens. Very sharp and striking.

The Corvina cardigan. Lovely detailing on this one.

The Fluence shawl. Interesting and eye-catching piece for the more modern wardrobe. The interlocking zigzag edging is a really original touch.

The Ashling vest. I've seen a few designs recently with these kind of slits in them. It must be a mini-trend. It's not a trend I find unappealing, though it does require an underlayer. The cowl neckline and overall shape are good.

The Fynele hat and mittens. Another pretty little hat and mitts set.

The Sixpence shawl is a distinctive piece, and it's rare for me to say so of a shawl, because I see a lot of lovely lace shawls. The circular bands and the "sixpence" webbing at the border are both unusual, and an even more unusual combination, and yet it totally works.

The Heydey pullover. I quite like this one overall (good shape and great detail), though I would either keep those flaps at the neck tied, or even omit the ties and instead add a decorative metal clasp to it. Leaving the flaps open and the strings dangling is just too half-dressed an effect for me.

The Candlesmoke mittens. Love these. I am definitely more of a "curved lines" design person than a "graphic lines" design person, and these look Art Nouveau-esque.

The Hausti shawl. Very pretty.

The Falkirk cardigan. Nice piece. The colour scheme doesn't grab me, but that's personal preference because it is a combination that works, objectively speaking.

The Wheat Fields. Good-looking scarf. I think I'd add a fringe or a crocheted edging to this one. It looks a little unfinished as is.

The Greenery pullover. Love this one. The yoke's great, and using the same diamond pattern again at the hips is an creative, interesting touch.

The Cahoots cardigan. This is a really simple, classic piece. The contrast buttons are a way to spice it up, but it will work on its own merits with matched buttons too, especially if you knit it in a beautiful yarn and in a colour you love.

The Vasalisa mittens are lovely. Twist Collective does seem to love to do intricately designed accessories.

The Ravenscrag pullover is a lovely classic piece.

The Paria pullover is one of those designs that are simple enough to be wearable anywhere (as it is here with jeans and in a boat, or in the office with a wool skirt), and yet have just enough original detail to be sophisticated. This is an accomplished design.

The Tignish shawl. Beautiful piece, and I love that old rose colour, which is the only shade in the pink range that I can wear.

The Portiere pullover. Another reliable classic piece.

The Courant shawl. Wow. The colourwork and lacework in this one is something very unique. It looks like the detailing you'd find on the walls of some ancient mosque. Very impressive.

Pom Pom Quarterly Autumn 2014: A Review

Pom Pom Quarterly has released their Autumn 2014 issue. Let's have a look, shall we?

The Coronis design. Hmm, this is very retro as to shape and modern as to the stripes and colourway. It's not a bad piece but that very cropped length is difficult to pull off, so if you don't have a small bustline and/or a waist you want to emphasize, I'd lengthen it.

The Arionette socks. They're nice. Interesting houndstooth pattern.

The Delita Shawl. At first glance I didn't like this, but I think it's that grimy-looking yellow yarn that's putting me off, because otherwise this is an attractive and cleverly constructed piece. The edging is lovely and the contrast edging is a nice touch.

The Selsey scarf. Not a bad piece. It has some interesting detail and it will be fun to pick out the colours for it.

The Wenlock pullover. Oooh, I very much like this one and might just have to add it to my Ravelry favourites. The shape is good and that is one flattering, effective neckline. This is a sweater that will be striking even done in a single colour.

The Seyella mittens. These are cute. They're more than a little twee for me, but then I think Pom Pom Quarterly's target demographic is probably skewed very young. I have a couple of teenaged nieces who would probably be quite happy to wear a pair of these mittens, and who would look very fetching while doing so.

The Endellion pullover. Nice piece, though again it's not going to be the most universally flattering item. Like the Coronis design above, it'll need to be tweaked for those who are well-endowed in the chest department and/or don't care to define their waists too much (i.e., the high-rise ribbed panel can be turned into a waist band). You know, Pom Pom Quarterly, I'm aware that you are designing for very young women, but even very young women aren't always small-breasted.

The Florilegium shrug. I don't care how it's styled or how many ennui-afflicted hipster models they drape it over, I'm really not buying the whole granny square chic thing.

The Kallista cowl. Rather like this one. It has a nice texture and the contrast embroidery is an interesting and effective touch.