Monday 22 December 2014

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.

Friday 19 December 2014

Hat Couture: A Review


Today we're going to have a look at Hat Couture, by Theressa Silver. Hats, as many of you will know, used to be an expected part of every properly attired woman's ensemble. My mother wore hats and gloves routinely as young woman in the late fifties and early sixties, though she was able to lay both aside more and more often as the years passed. She tells me that church was the last bastion of hat-wearing, but during the seventies women gradually ceased to wear hats even there, with the exception of a few die-hard conservatives who went determinedly hatted for the rest of their days. (Grandma Swan, I'm thinking of you.) My mother was not one of those clutching a hat in reactionary, gloved fingers. She says, "I was so glad when they went out. Hats never looked good on me and I don't like them." As far back as my memory goes, my mother has only worn knitted hats in cold weather. Thinking of that, I can't regret that hat wearing is now voluntary. Grace Mirabella, who was editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine from 1971 to 1988, wrote in her memoir In and Out of Vogue that at one point she faced much pressure to feature hats in Vogue and refused to do so, because she was another hat refusenik and felt it would be regressive and not at all in line with her ideal of low-maintenance modern style. I agree with Mirabella's larger point. God knows women are subjected to enough societal pressure when it comes to their appearances as it is.

But I say all this as a big fan of the hat. It's a good thing that the hat has become something to enjoy, rather than a requirement. Having inherited my father's facial shape rather than my mother's, I do like both wearing hats and making them, but as a work-at-home freelancer, don't often get dressed up enough to wear one other than for warmth in winter and to fend off sunburn/scoldings from my dermatologist in summer. I compromise by selecting hats that are practical and wearable and yet have some style. The thirteen hat designs in Hat Couture are generally good bets for this sort of modern hat lover. Because they're knitted, a number of them would be quite practical to wear with a winter coat, and there are also a few fun confections for those who do have occasion and the sense of style to wear a hat out of the ordinary.





Just as an aside, Hat Couture's chosen system for noting difficulty levels of its designs demonstrates praiseworthy levels of commitment to all things hat, as do the hat-themed quotes from various entertainment and literary luminaries that are sprinkled throughout the book.





The Audrey. Each of the hat designs in this book are named for a legend from Hollywood's golden age. It's telling that we only need the first name to know which star is meant, and the conceit gets even better when you know that most of the women named were knitters themselves. The trimming you use will be what gives this simple turban-style hat its style.





The Jackie. I never have cared much for the pillbox style, but I do like this one. It's the trim that makes it.





The Grace. My hat is off to the woman who can make this look work on her. I can see it working on a bride who is having a less formal wedding. With less dramatic trimming, it could work for everyday wear.





The Marlene. A knitted top hat. I can see this one getting a lot of traction with the steampunk crowd. As unusual as this hat might seem, I note that it has more projects, is in more queues, and has far more favourites on Ravelry than any of other patterns in this book.





The Dorothy. I like the body of this one, though I think I would find a different sort of trim for it. The top of it has circular stripes on it, so I think I might make a rosette that has corresponding layers or stripes of the same two colours.





The Lucille. I like the shape of this hat, and the bow, but am not so taken with the button. Buttons with holes do tend to look kitschy when used purely for decorative purposes. I'd use a shank-style button or a brooch instead.





The Carmen. Again, I like the body of this hat, but it has more buttons and a rather inelegant look to the trimming. If this hat seems a little over the top for you, it could always be made in a slouchier, more quietly trimmed fashion.





The Clara. This is a cute cloche, though I would be inclined to go with a knitted or crocheted flower here rather than a silk one, pretty as this one is.





The Gracie. Again, I like the body of this hat a lot, but the trimming really isn't working for me. This looks rather like a silk scarf was stuffed into the brim to get it out of the way. I think I'd go with a simple ribbon band and bow or floral decoration here.





The Greta. Really liking the shape of this one. I wouldn't have thought garter stitch could ever show such flair. The feathers used here may seem a little much but a simple bow or brooch would also do.





The Lauren. A simple, useful beret.





The Mary. Love this one, except for the buttons. The threaded ribbons are a lovely touch, and I think I would either tie them in bows or use them to make a rosette.





The Bette. This might be the least wearable of all the patterns in this book, as the other hats have classic shapes but this shape is one that hasn't been in since the 1940s, unless you count Disney's Robin Hood from 1973. However, one of the benefits of the relaxed, pluralistic style we now enjoy is that almost anything goes these days. I can see this working on a young, fetching hipster type. But then that type can make just about anything work, can't they?

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Vogue Knitting Winter 2014/15: A Review


Vogue Knitting has published their Winter 2014/15 issue. I've been sitting on this one waiting for Vogue Knitting to publish their usual corresponding 360 degree videos on YouTube, but they haven't done so as yet, so I'm going to go ahead with the review and add the videos later when/if they get posted. Let's have a look at the knitwear currently in vogue, shall we?





Pattern #1, Mosaic cowl. Love this piece. The pattern looks like a graphic, modern take on a snowflake theme.





Pattern #2, Short Sleeve Pullover. Interesting texture, and I like the piece overall, but that is one awkward sleeve length. I'd shorten or lengthen it.





Pattern #3, Chevron Pullover. Lovely, though I would neaten up the fit.





Pattern #4, Garter Stitch Pullover. Love this one. It's eye-catching and modern and innovative in the best possible way.





Pattern #5, Long Fringed Scarf. Lovely!





Pattern #6, Art Deco Mosaic Shawl. Really striking, modern, lovely take on an Art Deco theme. I am getting more and more sold on the concept of mosaic knitting, which I've never tried myself. It's a distinctive technique that has a lot of visual depth and nuance. Must do a post of selected mosaic patterns so I'll have an excuse to spend hours on Ravelry checking out all the mosaic patterns in their database.





Pattern #7, Mosaic Bomber Jacket. Love this one. The mosaic pattern positively demands to be looked at, and this design has great shape and detailing.





Pattern #8, Mosaic Sampler Pullover. Not so thrilled with this one. The stitchwork is good but the shape is frumpy.





Pattern #9, Mosaic Blanket. Nice piece, though I long to see it in a more striking colourway.





Pattern #10, Sheer Stripe Raglan Pullover. Not thrilled with this one, which looks too much like those huge bulky shaker knit sweaters that were in back in the late eighties.





Pattern #11, Textured Pullover. Very nice! Love the delicate stitchwork used here.





Pattern #12, Lacy Pullover. Very pretty!





Pattern #13, Cabled Turtleneck. Love this kind of elegantly casual wear. The cabled detail and the turtleneck draw attention to the wearer's face. Now if I only had a little (okay, a lot) more neck so I could wear this.





Pattern #14, Funnel-Neck Pullover. Between its bulk, its horizontal stripes, its dropped shoulders and general boxiness, this one hits the trifecta of unflattering design. If you like the texture, skip the stripes, fix the dropped shoulders, and add a little shaping.





Pattern #15, Chunky Vest. This is a nice little piece. I love the detailing at the shoulders, which turns an otherwise plain, basic item into something more interesting and polished looking.





Pattern #16, Oversized V-Neck Pullover. This looks slapped together and unflattering.





Pattern #17, Batwing Pullover. Except for the shoes and the fact that there's no DayGlo involved, this is a totally 1980s look. And some of us won't get fooled again, thank you.





Pattern #18, Broken Rib Pullover. If you want to make this one, I recommend fixing the dropped shoulders and adding some waist shaping. As you can see, it's doing this professional no favours as is.





Pattern #19, Dropped Shoulder Pullover. Again, fix the dropped shoulders, add a little waist shaping, and neaten up the fit. I'm not saying every women's sweater design has to be a fitted little number, mind you, but even women's relaxed fit sweaters ought to be subtly shaped rather than being an oblong.





Pattern #20, Bijou Two Piece Set. It's a big red carpet trend right now for celebs (the female ones, that is) to show a slice of midriff. Every time I see it I hope and long for the day when it goes out of style. I don't dislike it nearly as much as the "sheer dress over granny pants" look that is also currently on trend, and heaven knows we've seen much more revealing looks on celebrities, but no matter how attractive the celeb or how lovely her ensemble otherwise is, that glimpse of stomach always looks too declassé and casual for a formal event. Save something for the beach, people. And now we're seeing it in knitwear — and not just any knitwear, but knitwear that, given its bling detailing, seems designed to be worn out at night. One wouldn't be likely to wear this outfit to a formal event, and I suppose it's appropriate, if perhaps a little drafty, for going out to a restaurant or club or some such, and anyone who doesn't care to show off/air condition her abs can always lengthen it a few inches, so I'm not exactly having the vapours here. Maybe my real objection is that this may mean the midriff peepshow is here to stay and we'll soon be seeing this feature not only in evening and prom dresses but on brides, bridesmaids, mothers of the bride, and flowergirls.





Pattern #21, Revenir Jacket. I don't dislike this cutaway jacket, but I do think it would be challenging item to wear. Large or even medium-breasted women should probably steer clear of it entirely. I don't think it's well styled even here, though that may be because the colours aren't working that well. I'd be inclined to put this jacket over an empire-waisted dress to keep the competing visual lines to a minimum.





Pattern #22, Burke Zippered Top. This is interesting conceptually but needs more work. The back looks quite good and the zippered front pieces are kind of cool, but all those extra folds in the front combined with the dowdy sleeve shape and neckline make the item unflattering even on this professional model.





Pattern #23, Gabrielle Coat and CeeCee Cowl and Muff. We haven't been given a good enough look at this coat for me to assess it. I will say I like what I can see of the bottom but am unsure about the collar. I do like the cowl, but the muff is... unwearable. It looks like a sweater sleeve gone so wrong that the knitter thereof broke entirely with reality, decided it was a pet, named it Scruffy, and put it on a chain so it could be taken for walks.





Pattern #24, Plaid Pullover. Quite like this one. It has a fresh, summery look in this colourway.





Pattern #25, Plaid Wrap. Hmm, the colourway is bold but it works. I can't help but think this is maybe a bit too large scale for most women though, and might work better on a couch in general.





Pattern #26, Cloche with Plaid Band. Very much like this one, with its incredibly accomplished deployment of garter stitch plaid. I was just thinking that this appeared to use the plaid technique that Franklin Habit once used on a design of his, in which horizontal lines are woven through the piece after it's knitted, when I noticed that the designer of this piece is in fact Franklin Habit.





Pattern #27, Tartan Pullover. Well-shaped and well-tartaned. I wish this set of plaid patterns had been around when I was writing a post on selected plaid patterns last winter!





Pattern #28, Shawl-Collar Cardigan. Love this one unqualifiably. It looks like a perfect little piece from the 1930s.