Knitscene Spring 2015: A Review

Knitscene has released its Spring 2015 issue. Let's curl up by the fire and have a look at it, shall we?





Tumbledown Cardigan. The front of this doesn't sit at all well. The back is a bit better, but the stitchwork on it bears an unfortunate resemblance to how runs look in stockings.

Spaulding Shawl. Lovely, simple yet distinctive shawl.

Coburn Pullover. The yoke of this is great, but it's too baggy through the body. I'd adjust the number of stitches and add waist shaping.

Agamenticus Shawl. Not liking this one much. It does look good here, styled nicely on a stunning model, but the photo of the shawl by itself is much less appealing.

The slipped stitches just look like runs. This is why it's important to look past a product photo's styling, whether it be good or bad.

Willa Tank. Liking the concept of the braided shoulder straps, but the fit is unattractively baggy.

Ashlee Tee. I like this piece overall, but it does look a little unfinished at the neckline and sleeves. Adding any sort of braid would look too heavy, but a simple crocheted edging might work.

Skylar Hat. Cute hat.

Colbie Tank. Nice simple piece.

Katey Cowl. Simple yet polished-looking.

Vergence Sweater. The pointed hem on this is just too over the top. It's like wearing a big arrow pointing downwards. I suppose it's the perfect thing to wear on days when a woman wants everyone to notice her new shoes, but otherwise...? I'm also really not liking the way the edges of the collar stand away from the neckline. It looks stiff and awkward.

Voxel Tee. Like this one, which has a smart, retro vibe. I'd stitch together the ribbed hems though.

Prismatic Pullover. It's never a good sign when a design is making a professional model look dumpy and depressed.

Chiroscope Clutch. Perfect clutch. This will be one useful pattern that you may find yourself using several times. I see it in a silk or metallic yarn for evening and in a matte neutral yarn for day.

Focus Dress. Cute little jumper, though a woman probably needs to be a young, gamine, Amélie type to carry it off.

Hollin Pullover. This piece is well-shaped overall, and I like the concept of the lacework on the yoke of this piece, but am not sure how much I like the execution. That lacework looks a little too heavy.

Arnica Shawl. Lovely shawl.

Valar Socks. Nicely patterned and well-shaped socks.

Lindon Sweater. Looks both worn to transparency and shrunken.

Aurelia Cowl. Lovely lacework cowl.

Nienna Tee. Shapeless and uninteresting.

Vana Shrug. Saggy and unflattering.

Misty Sweater. Liking the concept of using colour blocking to make a sweater that comes across as a bustier, but I would have taken the execution a few steps further. Colour blocking can be tricky to pull off — the designer has to integrate the blocks of colour or they'll look like building blocks randomly thrown together rather than a finished design. I think I might add some sort of lacework and stitchwork to the top and/or add some of the yoke/sleeve colour to the bodice in order to pull the design together.

Gilt Sweater. Attractive, wearable piece, and good use of gradient colour.

Knitter's Magazine 117: A Review

Knitter's Magazine has released Issue 117. Let's have a look at it.

The Boho/Hobo cardigan. It looks like an afghan worn inside out. It's designed to be reversible and this may not be its best side, but my guess is that the seamless side looks like an afghan worn right side in.

The Royal Plum jacket. I like this mosaic and cable piece. It's smart and versatile.

Blocks a la Carte pullover. Too visually choppy for my liking, and not particularly flattering.

Step Up cowl. Accomplished, graphic design, and a fresh, pretty colourway.

Drift and Flow shrug. This shrug can be worn frontwards or backwards, and I feel like I need two sets of pictures so I can be sure of what I'm signing off on. I do like the version of the front depicted in the left photo, but I need to know what the back looks like. I don't care for either the front or the back in the other version — they're way too busy visually.

Sssinuous hat and scarf set. Interesting and even rather cool hat and scarf. It's nice to see a totally wearable contemporary design like this.

Carved Cedar pullover. Quite like this one, which is a fresh take on the classic cable.

Tropical Tee pullover. This is just so bulky and heavy looking and the colour scheme is overdone.

Tamarack jacket. Love this one, which is the very definition of elegantly relaxed style. It does look a tad on the heavy side, but then it is a jacket.

Tech Mitts. These are rather smart. The pinstripe contrasted with the rope cable stitch is a nice effect.

Woodland Diamonds pullover. Very much like this one, with its skilful use of colourblocking and just the right amount of detail.

Midnight Rendezvous top. This one is very nice too. Good shape and use of self-striping yarn.

Bridge the Gap. Ah, just what every woman wants: tie-back curtains for either side of her stomach.

Spice Trade pullover. I wish I could see this sweater better. The scarf play is preventing me from getting a good look at the shape and sleeves of this sweater. I do like what I can see, but I have some concerns about this design's possible bulkiness.

Herringbone in Relief vest. I like this one, which has a polished, sophisticated, go-anywhere look, but there are better colourways for it than pink and blue, even if it is a very adult pink and blue.

Cloud Cover poncho. Not a bad little piece, though I do wish the bottom edge was less roughly finished. That's easily remedied with a crocheted edging.

Another Slant Pullover. And here we have another upcycled afghan design. Afghans are fine things in their place, and that place is the couch.

Winter Diamond wrap. Love this one, which is innovative, polished, and wearable. I've never seen a pattern quite like that argyle/hexagon one.

Flight of the Snowman

Here's a stop animation video about a snowman ornament who decides he's going to go find another Christmas tree to hang out on.

Creative Knitting Spring 2015: A Review

Creative Knitting has released their Spring 2015 issue just in time for Christmas. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

The Reedy Creek Wrap. Not bad at all. The stitchwork is good and the use of I-cord for trim and ruching is interesting.

Colette Hat and Mittens Set. Cute set.

Breezy Mesh Vest. All I can say is that this looks like an innovative way to carry your shopping bags to the grocery store.

Butterscotch Topping. This is more than a little twee, but then the twee among us need knitting projects and clothes too. I would narrow the shape through the hips by several inches though, because it's too full and flaring for flattery as is.

Lavender Lace. I'm not against the idea of a sheer mohair top on principle (it could be a good layering alternative for those of us who can't be bothered to fuss with a shawl), but I don't care for this one in particular. I'd make such a top seamless and in a relaxed fit rather than as oversized as it is here.

Meshy Tee. Creative Knitting put this one on the cover, and I can't imagine why, as it's one of the worst designs in this issue. The shape of this top would make almost any woman look dumpy and frumpy. Even this professional model isn't quite getting away with it.

Mimosa Pullover. Nice, simple lace top overall, but I'd definitely neaten up the fit.

Spring Rain. This is... okay. It's nothing special design-wise, but it is wearable and attractive enough. I think I'd like it more if it were styled better. I'd put it over a spaghetti-strap tank, because layering it over a long sleeved t-shirt looks silly and dowdy.

Candy Sprinkles. My eyes. Both the colourwork and the stitchwork used here are awful. I can't help but think "Candy Sprinkles" was the marketing team's suggested replacement for this design's actual working name of "Rainbow Brite Vomit".

Cushioned Delight. These garter stitch pillows are as basic as it gets, but they're useable and attractive enough. Use a beautiful, cuddly yarn in your favourite colour for these and you'll enjoy the result quite a lot.

Diagonal Play Mat. I can't imagine a child would actually play on this for very long. Because, you know, small children and babies old enough to crawl tend to move around rather a lot. At any rate it's not a bad simple mat for the laundry room or bathroom. A dollar store grip mat placed underneath should keep it safely in place on a tile or linoleum floor.

Happy Baskets. The suggested use for these is to store yarn or children's toys. I can't think of anything else that would be light enough to not stretch these baskets terribly. I suppose they could work in a craft room, or hung on a towel rack installed on the inside of a closet door in a child's room.

Helical Mat. Nice, simple little mat.

Virgo Cloths. These just look cheesy.

Simply Washcloths. Cute. They really do look like something you'd see at a luxury spa.

Canyon Cowl. Pretty with a certain grace.

Previse Cowl. This looks a little like one of those draftstopping snakes people put across the bottom of doorways came to life and strangled its owner.

Quickie Mesh Cowl. Rather pretty.

Stella Cowl. I think might suggest the use of ribbons rather than the I-cord, which looks a little too coarse. Otherwise it's a pretty design.

Wildling Cowl. Very pretty. The colours are lovely.

2-Hour Tech Tote. Very home ec class. And even in home ec, this would probably only earn a grade of C-.

Happy Essentials. This is rather too cheesy and boho as is, but the colours and stitchwork are interesting and I would like to see them reworked into a better shaped and more carefully finished purse design.

Littleton. Quite like this purse design, though I would use a different yarn for it. This yarn is a little too tutti frutti for any female older than six.

Rhea Capelet. Very pretty!

Shimmered Simplicity. I like this scarf on the whole, but I do very much dislike the crude method used to create the "keyhole". I'd figure out some other less obtrusive method or just make this as a basic scarf.

Synergy. This looks slapped together, like a amateurish scrap yarn project, but it might work better with a more effective colour scheme.

Teasing Texture. Cute, fun scarf for casual wear.