Vogue Knitting Spring & Summer 2019: A Review

Vogue Knitting has released its Spring & Summer 2019 issue, but before we take our look at the designs in it, I'd like to take a moment to note that Vogue Knitting's longtime editor-in-chief Trisha Malcolm is stepping down to move on to a new role at MezCrafts, the parent company of Rowan Yarns. Best wishes to her in her career shift after over twenty years at Vogue Knitting! I know I'll never forget that first time that I saw that someone named Trisha Malcolm had liked something on this blog's Facebook page within the first year of its existence, how I instantly recognized the name but thought it couldn't possibly be *that* Trisha Malcolm, and how I nearly hyperventilated when a click through proved that, yes, it was. Also, it'll be interesting to see whether or how Vogue Knitting changes now that it's to have someone different at the helm.

Pattern #1, Eyelet Shawl. Fit for a bride!

Pattern #2, Lace-Striped Dress. Simple and wearable. I think it was a good call to add the belt to the look, as the waistline looks a little sad and baggy without it.

Pattern #3, Diamond Pattern Tunic. A pretty and airy look. I'd raise the shoulder and play with the length of the sleeve as it looks a little awkward as is, though chances are if the wearer adds a gazebo-sized hat to the look as has been done in this sample shot, no one will notice.

Pattern #4, Crocheted Cover Up. This one is too irretrievably doily-like for me, though I must admit the lines are good and that, as a piece of needlework, it is an accomplishment.

Pattern #5, Lace Hem Mini Dress. This one has a certain boho chic.

Pattern #6, Cropped Eyelet Pullover. The fit of this is just plain awkward -- even this professional model can't make it work, despite her considerable best efforts. One could alter the pattern to have a more flattering fit... or one could just use another knitting pattern. Your call!

Pattern #7, Beaded Shawl. Not a bad little wrap, though there are better yarn and bead choice combinations for it.

Pattern #8, Rose Cardigan. This is a lovely piece with quite a delicate, romantic feel and a certain amount of style, but unfortunately it's reminding me all too vividly of a set of cross stitch rose motif aida cloth placemats I made as a present for my mother when I was 17 and that she then wrecked after a single use by machine washing them even though I had TOLD her they were not machine washable and perhaps you'll all understand if I just move on to the next review without saying more.

Pattern #9, Eyelet Top. Nice little summer top with good lines and good stitchwork.

Pattern #10, Asymmetrical Tank. Sleek and contemporary.

Pattern #11, Patterned Tank. This is quite smart. It's 1930s sportswear meets contemporary shaping, and it's a happy combination.

Pattern #12, Offset V-Neck Top. This one has a relaxed, minimalist elegance to it.

Pattern #13, Drop Stitch Pullover. This has a rather attractive open lace effect, but I can't help wincing at the thought of how it would catch on everything. And I would raise the dropped shoulders.

Pattern #14, Mixed Yoke Pullover. I like everything about this striking fair isle design but the openwork crochet bands, which I'd replace with something solid. As is, the design would require an underlayer, which limits its usefulness for summer wear.

Pattern #15, Boxy Tee. I like this one, with its visible seams and deconstructed vibe. It definitely deserved better than to be paired with a skirt that appears to be sewn from used metallic gift wrap.

Pattern #16, Back-Tied Bubble Top. I very much like this one with its eyelet body, fun striped accent edges, and fetching back tie detail, and it definitely deserves a better colourway.

Pattern #17, Patchwork Yoke Pullover. I like the concept here, which is really quite fresh, but the edges of the front patches are a little too unfinished-looking to really work. I'd edge them in some way.

Pattern #18, Striped Pullover. These mesh pieces always look too much like a mesh shopping bag to me to be really successful as clothing design.

Pattern #19, Tangram-esque Dress. This one elicted an audible "Oooooh!" from me when I first viewed it on Vogue Knitting's website. The lines are good, the design is "you can't miss it" striking, and it's a wearable piece. Can't say that the colourway is doing much for it, but in six months' time the Ravelry member pattern pages for this design will be something worth checking out.

Pattern #20, Eyelet Lace Tunic. This is a pattern from Vogue Knitting's Spring & Summer 1999 issue, and isn't it amazing how contemporary it looks twenty years on? I have this one in my personal knitting library, having bought the issue back in the day, but I've never made it. While it looks great through the yoke, the fit through the body concerns me -- this is a DK weight and that extra material is going to be on the bulky side. However, given that this piece is knitted in the round and has an allover lace pattern, one would be hard pressed to come up with a way to add shaping through the body (it would probably mean moving to a flat knit below the armholes and require side seams, which would be a shame), and would likely end up simply have to embrace its generous lines.

Pattern #21, Garden Flower Yoke Pullover. Very cute!