Knitting Traditions 2018: A Review

Today we're going to have a look at the Knitting Traditions 2018 issue.

Ann Veronica Cardigan. I like the lace, but the front edges of this design don't sit all that well.

Ballet Russes Wrap. Lovely!

Bias Lines Top. This top has a handkerchief hem, which is a vintage design feature that is apparently enjoying a resurgence at the moment. I'm all for the reinterpretation of charming design styles of the past, but I do note that handkerchief hems haven't typically sat at the hips. This isn't going to be the most figure-flattering design on most women, but I must admit it's an interesting piece that drapes well because of its bias construction.

Coco's Wrap. Classic little lace shawl.

Collecting Bag. This cute and quite modern bag is a nod to the Girl Guides and their history of collecting natural specimens.

Directoire Top. An attractive and very wearable pullover.

Journey's End Plaid. This simple plaid scarf design, which is another piece inspired by the Girl Guides, is rather smart, and is knitted from real Girl Guides. (No, not really, but I couldn't resist a Wednesday Addams shout-out.)

Mackintosh Leaves Jewelry Set. I've never been able to get on board with jewelry knitted from yarn, because no matter how good the design of it is, it never looks like jewelry. Knit this set with wire and beads and you'll have something that doesn't look like something your child brought home from arts and crafts camp.

Queen's Cross Church Capelet. With its wrought-iron like cabling and meticulous detailing, this is one fab piece.

Schiaparelli's Shawl. This one's fun and sporty.

Sheep Station Cardigan. Good shaping and I like the combination of texture and lace.

Sporty Sailor Top. I love the sailor top style, and I like this piece on the whole, but I'm finding myself looking at that lacing and thinking how rough and ready it looks. I'd be inclined to make a proper placket and buttons instead, or nix it entirely and simply affix a bow where the two sides of the collar meet.

Suffragette's Coat. This one has some very attractive detailing, but I'm not thrilled with how the front edges sit.

Traveler's Sweater. Nice, but I think I'd want to walk around in this one backwards so that everyone could see the more attractive back. Also, I lust after that pleated tartan skirt.

Tree Line Henley. Oooh, pretty! And it's kind of neat that this one almost tricks the eye into thinking these are two layered pieces.

Twists and Turns Wrap. The zig zag lace is nice, but I can't say I care for the edging. It has such a crude look to it.

Wings & Keys Cowl. Very attractive design. The keys, bees, and butterflies motifs are a reference to science beginning to unlock nature's secrets. My first thought was that the keys were actually sperm and that the sperm, butterflies, and bees referenced the facts of life.

Cast On Fall 2018: A Review

Cast On has released its Fall 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Austrian Traveling Stitch Hat. Classic cabled cap.

Baby and Big Boy Bavarian Sweater. Quite decent on the whole, but I would definitely fix those dropped shoulders.

Basket Saddle Cardigan. Not too thrilled with the checked stitch waist on this design. It has an awkward look to it. I'd decrease the depth of it and make it just a trim as it in on the cuffs. The detail on the sleeves is enough to carry this design.

Bavarian Columns Socks. This is the best-looking pair of socks I've seen in awhile.

Bavarian Sampler Cowl. A cowl with some very attractive cabling. Though it is freaking me out a touch as it looks like it's being modelled by the Headless Horseman.

Birch Pullover. Not terribly taken with this one, but there are modifications that would help. I'd fix the dropped shoulders, possibly go with a more finished edging, and I would also not use white, cream, or any other pale shade for the main colour on this design. In my experience adding colour(s) to a pale background never works because one's floats always show through -- as you can see they are doing here.

Bird Lover Tunic. This one's a glorious piece of work, not to mention a LOT of work, as it's stranded lace weight yarn knitting on size 0 needles. The shoulders are slightly dropped, but I wouldn't fix them as I think they work proportionally with this particular design.

Contemporary Hap. I'm not really sold on the colour palette here, but this is a lovely traditional design and could easily be made in a more attractive striped colourway, or even in a solid colour.

Cowl Three Ways and a Headband Too. These pieces have some very nice texture to them.

Evora. Oooh, this one's both lovely and quite wearable. The body is knitted double strand to make it opaque, while the sleeves are sheer, and a bit of exquisite lace work at the cuffs and bottom finishes the look off beautifully. I may just have to make this one myself.

Honeycomb Sweater. Some admirable stitchwork in this one, which definitely deserved a better colour than this dingy-looking mauve.

Legerdemain Reversible Cabled Scarf. Some beautiful cable work in this one.

Loudoun Pullover. I like the sleeves and the side detail, but would go with a more finished-looking hem and neck edging than is used here.

Morro Bay Golf Club Covers. These are very well made, and any golf clubs that have a set of these will definitely be the best-dressed set of clubs in town.

Orbit. This one has a rather cool, understated look to it.

Patrick's Vest. Love the stitchwork in this one.

Triple Mock Cable Sweater. Nice piece on the whole. I am not at all sure what's going on with the striped effect mid-sleeve, but whatever it is, I'd nix it as it looks merely odd and distracting.

Tulip Garden Felted Cowl. Cute design, but do those motifs look more like radishes than tulips to anyone else?

Zephyr. A lovely classic cardigan.

Ziggy-Zaggy Sweater. I'll have to give this one a cautious "not bad" given that I can see so little of it.

Knitty Deep Fall 2018: A Review

Knitty has released their Deep Fall 2018 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Astronomer's Beret. Neat concept, I love the band, and by the time you're done this one you'll know your constellations.

Alfarería. Great shaping, and that mosaic stitchwork is gorgeous.

Bundle of Joy. Very attractive wrap. The interplay of the two bands of texture and colour is pleasing.

Martesana. Nice cowl. I like the ruffly effect.

Mountain. Very decent little cap with some fun stitchwork.

European Dreams. I'm not so taken with this wrap. It has such a rough look and doesn't drape well.

Parts Unknown. A classic cabled cowl.

Yamadori. The stitchwork on the leg of these socks is FANTASTIC. I don't think I've ever seen a stitch make better use of a variegated yarn.

Ausable. An good-looking classic cardigan.

Lady. The deep, square neckline and flared sleeves of this pullover have a certain flair, but I know I'd hate to have to always wear a top under this pullover (admittedly that problem could be solved by raising the neckline), and that those floppy sleeves would drive me crazy.

Home State. This design needed some more work. I'd add a shawl collar or some sort of neckline detail to balance out that focus-pulling bottom band, and the way those pockets sag down at the top detracts terribly from the look. Some sort of edge finishing on them would probably help a lot.

Lutning. I really like the cute, mod look of this skirt. I think I'd go with buttons or some other sort of commercially made fastening rather than those messy-looking toggles, though.

Bruce, The Great White Shark. Very well-made toy shark.