Showing posts with label Knitscene. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Knitscene. Show all posts

Wednesday 15 February 2017

Knitscene Spring 2017: A Review


Knitscene has released their Spring 2017 issue. Let's have a look at what's happening on this particular knitted scene, shall we?





Artisan's Vest. When I began to assess this item, I was uncertain as to whether I liked it or not for some long minutes, but then I realized what I really don't like is the styling, which does nothing for this vest. The vest itself has an original texture and careful finishing.





Dean's Cardigan. This has excellent texture and a good shape, but although the elbow patches have a certain whimsy, I don't know how much they're adding to the overall look.





Desert Flower Shawl. A lovely piece. It's pretty without being too delicate to be practical, and that's one appealing blend of colours.





Director's Vest. A simple yet effective and wearable piece.





Drafter's Cardigan. A pretty lacy-front cardi.





Geographer's Sweater. I very much like this one, with its pretty, polished detailing. Can't say the same for the dork styling Knitscene chose for this photo shoot. I half expected to see a pocket protector and glasses with tape on them before I came to the end of it.





Hitchhiker Tee. A nice little top with pretty touches of lace. I do like these little knitted tops, which go with everything from a office-appropriate skirt or trousers to jeans for running errands and shorts at the beach.





Hustle Shrug. This has that "shrunk in the wash" look and the embroidery looks as though it were designed by a ten-year-old.





Ironwood Shawl. An attractive and sensible shawl.





Outlaws Skirt. I wish I could have seen this one modelled. As it is, I feel inclined to put a seam in one end and zipper in the other and call it a cushion. However, this skirt appeared on Mindy Kaling in an episode of The Mindy Project, so I assume it must look pretty good on, and I like the hem detail quite a lot.





Red Clay Top. Quite an attractive, wearable design, though I can't say I care for that muddy colour.





Residential Vest. Very nice. The cabling on this vest is beautifully rendered.





Solea Shawl. A nice shawl design. I never have cared for the southwestern-style combination of brick red and mustard, but that's just a personal preference.





Sunflower Wrap. This one, with its arbitrary sections of lattice and fringe (with curling edges) and plain stockinette, looks more like a large, experimental swatch than a finished design.





Wilderness Cardigan. This is okay. It would make a relaxed, go-with-everything extra layer for unexpected cool days and nights in the summer.





Writer's Top. I'm not sure I understand what makes this a writer's top. Is it that the shoulder detail looks like a broken, and possibly beaten, pencil? If so, I'm not quite seeing the point -- literally or figuratively.

Wednesday 12 October 2016

Knitscene Winter 2016: A Review


Knitscene has released its Winter 2016 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?





Snowflake Cowl. Nice piece, and a lovely rendering of the classic snowflake pattern.





Snowball Cap. Cute hat with some fun contemporary chartwork.





Ski Lodge Cardigan. A well-shaped and fresh take on the classic ski jacket.





Slopes Pullover. This works. I like that the eyelet work around the yoke is not too lacy, and the contrast bands at the neck, cuffs, and hem are smart.





Banquet Sweater. A pretty ballet-necked sweater.





Revelry Sweater. This is a nice design as is, but I think I might have taken this design concept steps further and added lace trim to the cuffs as well as the hem, and perhaps also more edging or even a collar to the neckline.





Soirée Cowl. Some lovely stitchwork in this cowl, though I wouldn't consider it quite polished enough to go with a bronze lamé dress, or to be worn to a soirée.





Fête Cardigan. A beautiful classic cable sweater.





Mirth Tunic. Very nice piece with some good shaping and eyelet work and an artfully rumpled cowl neck. Though I don't understand why the model otherwise appears to be attending a particularly vulgar party at the Trump Tower.





Blowout Cardigan. I like this sweater, but I am beginning to wonder if this photoset, which combines sensible, wearable, well-designed knitwear with ersatz glamour party trappings, is some sort of meta commentary on the mind-bending divide between the U.S.A.'s current two leading presidential candidates.





Spree Cowl. An attractive cowl.





Celebration Shawl. This is a nice piece on the whole, but I'd add some sort of edging to it, as it looks unfinished as is.





Gala Tunic. Nice top. Both the shaping and the diamond detailing work well.





Vanilla Jacket. I often comment that a design "didn't quite get where it was going", by which I mean that the concept had promise but didn't get the execution it deserved. The design concept for this item never seemed to have any desire to get anywhere in the first place, but rather dropped out of high school, then spent the next several years smoking pot and playing video games in the basement until its parents got fed up and kicked it out.





Hot Cocoa Sweater. A lovely use of a gradient colour palette combined with mohair silk yarn. This sweater has dropped shoulders, which ordinarily I'd fix, but I think in this particular sweater they might work as is.





Biscotti Sweater. Not a bad piece. I think I'd go with a more interesting colourway.





Macaroon Hat. Cute hat, though I question how well it will stay on without a stretchy band at its edge.





Latte Pullover. Nice piece for those especially cold winter days.





Frosting Pullover. This piece has some nice texture and appealing softness, but it's too sloppy in its shape to be attractive. It looks as though it took its name from the idea that it's the kind of sweater one wears when curled in a fetal position on the couch, eating frosting straight from the can.





Chocolate Chip Cowl. What a fun and inventive piece. I love the combination of the furry yarn and the houndstooth pattern, and this cowl also looks like it'd be a real comfort on a very cold day, much like a chocolate chip or three.

Wednesday 6 July 2016

Knitscene Fall 2016: A Review


Knitscene has released its Fall 2016 issue. Let's take a look at the patterns therein, shall we?





Sumi Sweater. Baggy and unflattering. It's never a good sign when the model has to clutch herself to give the design shape.





Hanshi Wrap. Elegant and contemporary and perfect.





Suzuri Hat. This is smart and fun.





Fude Tee. I like this on the whole but I would neaten up the fit somewhat.





Warren Cowl. This one has that "deflated inner tube" look when worn singly as all long cowls tend to, but looks great when worn doubled.





Carson Sweater. Nice piece. The yarn used in this sample is really pretty.





Barton Cowl. A handsome piece.





Ruby's Scarf. Not seeing the appeal of this one. The ends are unfinished, it's too short for a scarf, and the scrunchy effect isn't pleasing.





Parks Wrap. Another lovely and elegant wrap.





Curie Hat. It's hard to go wrong with a classic fair isle hat. I like that the designer went with an offbeat colourway.






Alice Hoodie. Nicely polished piece. Both the front and the back look good.





Maya Hat and Mittens Set. Very much like this one. It's always nice to see a fun theme like polka dots rendered in a sophisticated, adult way.





Amelia Hat. Classic bulky weight cabled hat.





Georgia Cardigan. I want to like this because I like the concept of a solid-coloured body combined with a striped ruffle, and the back does look quite good, but the front hangs so very poorly.





Troposphere Sweater. Classic herringbone sweater that does not actually require the use of colourful plastic balls and a trampoline to make it interesting. It does have dropped shoulders, but the sweater is so well-shaped otherwise that it works.





Empyrean Cowl. A nice simple cowl.





Noctilucent Shawl. Some really impressive, intricate stitchwork on this, and I love the pleated edges. The shawl also drapes very well.





Perigee Socks. Really liking the lattice slip stitch effect.





Aerial Skirt. It's been awhile since I've seen a skirt pattern, so it's nice to see this one, and even nicer to see that it's a good one. The shape is excellent and the details are interesting.





Caelum Cowl. I'm quite liking the chain device on this one, and the background stitchwork on the body of the scarf has a quietly polished effect.





Firmament Sweater. I very much like the little cuffs on this sweater. Feel free to play with the sleeve length if elbow sleeves aren't a flattering look on the intended wearer.





Cirrus Cowl. I'm liking the "allover box-stitch" used in this, which keeps this otherwise very simple cowl interesting.