Tuesday 21 April 2015

Knitter's Magazine 118: A Review


Knitter's Magazine has released issue 118. Let's have a look at it, shall we?





Red/Violet. This looks like something that appeared in a woman's magazine circa 1990, next to tips for creating an inexpensive homemade version of Lunchables for a child's lunch.





Refracting Diamonds. Nice shape and detailing.





Ultraviolet. Between the length and open work knitting's tendency towards stretching and shapelessness, this will look dowdy on most women.





Silver Status. Not a bad jacket. It has some polish and contemporary appeal. (I'm assuming that the one side of this cardigan isn't really 2.5" higher than the other and that the clasp normally lies straight across the front and it's just the model's pose that is making the sweater sit askew.)





Well Connected. Not a bad take on the classic cabled cardigan.





Radiating Ribs. I'm no fan of the spencer normally, but I do like this one. The lines are excellent, the yarn is attractive, and the styling is very well done. Spencers work best over dresses with either an empire waist or no defined waist at all (so that there aren't any competing horizontal lines), and the use of a shawl pin is inspired.





Skacel Collection. The caption for this design says that "[t]his mixed-media top—Artfelt® and knitting—begins with a center panel made with Skacel’s Artfelt® paper and roving, then joins knit side panels with short-row hip gussets and light-as-air sleeves". This does make for an interesting texture and colourway, but the baggy shape and sleeve length is going to be unflattering on most women.





Incline/Decline. This looks like some sort of seventies-era wall hanging that's been turned into a top. Maybe I'd like it better with a better, crisper colourway. These look muddy and tacky.





Surface Tension. This one takes a basic t-shirt style to the next level. I'd consider making this a little shorter and more fitted through the hips.





Accent on Stripes. This design is knitted from side to side in ripple stitch, and is buttoned rather than seamed at the sides, which an interesting and novel construction, but I think this may be one of those cases where a creative concept didn't get the execution it deserved. It's hard to tell without more pictures, and especially a clearer look at the front view. I might not include the stripes, as they do look a little too afghan-like.





Ripple Effects. Elegant summer cardigan.





Ocean Shale. This looks like it came from The Golden Girls' wardrobe trailer.





Static Resistance. Not bad. It's undeniably eye catching and has a good shape.





It's Just Physics. These have a certain casual appeal. I like the full-fledged top on the left better than the shrug on the right, which is pretty but does look a little like a cowl that's lost its way. The yarn used here is lovely.





Möbius X 3. They're all pretty so far as colour and texture goes, but the centre möbius cowl is much better styled. The other two look like sad flat tires.





Warp Speed. This design is very Missoni, and has a good shape, but I would not use variegated yarns like these for this item, but would go with a solid or flecked yarn. The stripes make it too much like an afghan for my tastes.





Blueprint Wrap. Very pretty shawl. I like the combination of the delicate lace and the precise shape.

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