Creative Knitting Spring & Summer 2016: A Review

Creative Knitting has released its Spring & Summer 2016 issue. Let's have a look at it.

Daphne. The construction of these flowers isn't bad at all, but I'd be attaching them to other items, such as a little girl's purse, rather than to shoes where they are going to become filthy in no time.

Modern Garden Tank. A very pretty and summery look. I wouldn't have thought embroidery could look so well on garter stitch.

Petals & Stripes. I like the stripes but am not sold on the petals. It's hard to make this kind of appliqué work on a grown woman as it tends to look kitschy.

Wildflower Purse. This looks like the kind of thing a little girl makes at craft camp and gives proudly to her mother, who receives it with an Academy Award-winning simulation of appreciation, never uses, and smuggles out of the house and off to a thrift store once her daughter has forgotten about it.

Electric Flower Socks. These would be the perfect thing to wear the next time you're cast for a 1980s Jane Fonda workout video. Don't forget to make yourself a matching headband.

Eyeglasses Case. This looks roughly made, and soft eyeglasses cases like this one don't actually do much to protect eyeglasses.

Regency Sweater. This is a very pretty and rather romantic look on the whole, but the rather wonky-looking wavy lines and beads at the neckline and cuffs aren't doing much for it. I'd nix the lines and stick with some simple beading.

Soirée Purse. Very pretty and finished-looking and something a little girl could carry with her best dress as well as being something a grown woman could easily use as an evening bag if made in colours to go with her evening wear. I'm imagining it done in black or a metallic.

Ruffled Cardigan. Quite attractive, and so well shaped that it sits perfectly.

Entwined Bolero. The description for this calls upon us to "re-engineer the cowl by making it part of a stylish, modern bolero". I'm not seeing how the word stylish applies here, and I'm not sold on the idea of combining the bolero and the cowl in principle, though I might like to see other attempts at it. It looks like a pain to get in and out of, for one thing. And what are we to call such a creation? The cowlero? The bocowl?

Blakefront Cardigan. Very pretty little item.

Lavender Sails. The lace design here is very good, but the lines of this piece have such an unfortunate foreshortening effect on the model that it looks as though her shoulders are sagging nearly to her waist. I'd tweak this so that the opening of the sleeves sits at cap sleeve level.

Golden Shores Shawl. Some lovely lacework in this piece.

Summer Swing Tee. This is acceptable design, but it definitely deserved a more attractive yarn.

Artisan Tunic. The tunic is well shaped, but the decorative stitching on it has an unfortunately crude look.

Upcycle Notions Case. A fun bag. The pattern descriptions suggests using old gauge swatches, but it could also be done with wool sweaters that are past being wearable.

Creative Knitting Spring 2016: A Review

Creative Knitting has released their Spring 2016 issue. Let's sit back, tuck our sweaters or afghans more closely about us, sip a hot beverage, and have a look at it, shall we?

Alamere Cardigan. Quite a good example of draped cardigan with some beautiful stitchwork.

Arpeggio Lace Sampler. Some really lovely stitchwork in this one, though it doesn't sit all that well even on this professional model.

Crescent Moon Cardigan. Quite wearable and attractive.

Featurette Cardi. A well-shaped piece with some great lace detailing.

Rainstorm Cardi. The overall shaping is good and the detailing on the sleeves is very attractive, but the collar and front edges look unfinished to the point of rawness.

Harmony Notions Cases. These aren't bad-looking crocheted cases for your knitting notions or makeup or whatever you wish, but those holes are going to constantly be catching on everything.

Mini Scarflette. Quite a pretty little piece. I like the finishing touch of the crocheted edging against the garter stitch.

Buttonhole Pullover. I'm personally biased against any item of wearing apparel with too many holes in it, because I could never stand to have it catching on everything, but as long as I set that feeling aside, I find this isn't a bad-looking summer hoodie at all.

Domino Shawl. Quite like this one. It has the visual impact of an art piece while still being reasonably wearable.

Juxtapose Tee. Oh, is there a new live action Flintstones movie coming out? This must be the costume intended for a new character, Silver Slate, daughter Fred Flintstone's employer Mr. Slate, who has assumed control of the Bedrock Quarrel and Gravel Company and who has to teach Fred some salutary lessons in not being such a loudmouthed boor.

Lattice Scarf. Rather a nice, stylish piece.

Pata Shawl. Lovely, and even rather elegant.

Spring Beauty Shawl. The border is lovely, but the mesh stitch used throughout the body of the shawl is too fish-net-like.

Sundae Shawl. Not a bad design, but the stripes make it look too afghan-esque.

Tilting Blocks Stole. Excellent design. Some very distinctive stitchwork in this one.

Trifoglio Shawl. This impressively patterned shawl can be styled several different ways, one of which ways we see here. I have to admit it looks pretty damn good worn as a top.

Dandelia Tee. This one's not bad. The shaping and stitchwork are good.

Desert Sands. I'm loving the exquisitely dyed "desert sands and sky" gradient yarn used here, but I don't know about that asymmetrical hem. It looks more stretched out than deliberate.

Mandarin Tango Tee. This isn't a bad piece overall, but I think I'd substitute another kind of stitch for the mesh stitch panels in it.

Creative Knitting Winter 2015: A Review

The Winter 2015 issue of Creative Knitting is out. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Contrast Cowl & Cap. The shape of the hat isn't terribly becoming, but otherwise this is quite a smart set.

Scandi Pullover. I like the pattern on this, but it will be a rather bulky and unflattering piece as it's worsted weight and one can't add waist shaping because it would interfere with the pattern.

Take It Anywhere Topper. Nice. The poppy design is quite well worked out.

Mosaic Squares. Some afghan square ideas. Any of these particular squares worked into a full-size afghan would be a little much, but they have started me thinking about what could be done with a pieced mosaic afghan.

Wondrous Wristers & Color Splash Toppers. Er. I'd suggest sticking with the mosaic afghan idea.

Evergreen Cabin Pullover. This is middle of the road, neither bad nor great. A more sophisticated colourway would elevate it somewhat.

Moss on a Twig. Not a bad little topper.

Winter Woods Cardigan. This one's adequate. It's not unflattering or badly shaped, and it's very wearable.

Simple Yet Stunning Cardi. Quite liking this one. The shaping is quite good and it's so flattering.

Stormy Weather Scarf. Nice looking scarf. Though I would not go with those braided fringes, or would at least make them shorter. They're a little too boho for me as is.

Tonal Scarf. Very attractive and polished.

Twilight Stole. The editors have styled this one over a lace dress, which probably means they think of it as an evening wrap, but I don't think it's quite working as one. The pebbled texture and thickness of the yarn give it a casual feel. I'd wear this piece over street clothes.

Chromatic Earflap Cap. This would be cute on a child or on a teenager. It's a little too goofy for a grown man, and judging from the model's sheepish expression, I'd hazard a guess that he feels the same way.

Harlequin Hat & Mittens. If I were going to go with a harlequin pattern, I'd want one more sophisticated than this one, which just looks like a series of blobs.

Loops & Ladders Skullcap. Not a bad simple cap.

Slip It On Headband & Mitts. If it's so cold as to require a yarn this thick, maybe it would be a good idea to actually cover the entirety of the wearer's head and hands rather than only half of them.

Tradition Meets Modern Slouch Hat & Mitts. Love this very pretty and eye-catching set! It was definitely a good pick for the cover look.

XOXO Mitts. I'm really not seeing the benefit of the cross stitch embellishments on these. These mitts did need a little something, but it wasn't that.

Berkshire Cardi. I'm not a big fan of the swing silhouette, but I have to admire this rendering of it. The fitted, detailed bodice, collar, and sleeves make it work. This will look nice and even stylish over a fitted outfit.

Botanical Shield Pullover. Pretty simple sweater.

Crossover Cardigan & Scarf. The cardigan is quite nice, though I would add buttons or a zipper to the front, but I'd nix the scarf. The shaping of the scarf ends make this woman look like she's sporting a python.

Diverging Paths Pullover. Solid classic design.

Wandering Walk Pullover & Cowl. I've seen matching cowl and sweater sets once or twice before, and it is such a great idea.