Spring 2010 Interweave Knits arrived in my mailbox yesterday. So lets have a review.
Patterns:Facing Lilies Stole - - I like the delicate look to it. It is very aesthetically pleasing with all the geometric shapes. My lace patience is no where near a project like this.
Handkerchief Tee - - First, I really hate how they decided to layer this in the pictures, both online and in the magazine. The unfitted, angular look to this along with the lace is not something I find appealing. If the lace was not there and this shape was done in more of a cobweb/thin lace to make it more flowing and soft. I see potential, but just don't care for this as is.
Double V Cardigan - - I like the the V dip in the back collar. The cardigan looks nice, but the sleeves seem quite baggy which make the models arms look thick. I wonder if it even fits the model. Any how, the design seems nice and simple, nothing particularly appealing about it to make me want to make it though.
Spring Twilight Pullover - - I so very much love this. I love the transparent look. I like how the collar has an asymmetrical look to it. I also like the ruffly hems. I am scheming a way to try and make this for myself.
Chevron Market Bag - - A nice bag, with a simple and nice design. I have learned I am not a bag knitter though, so this is not for me.
Rose Window Beret - - This has a very nice look to it. The construction goes together well with the stitches used. I am not a general fan of berets.
Seaweed Cardigan - - First, I really hate the whole belted look, especially a belt that wasn't meant to go with it! Secondly, I would like it if Interweave not only told you how much ease occurred when the model wore it, but how much the DESIGNER intended to have. The top of this looks nice were the stitch pattern is pulled open. The bottom where it is more like rib pulling close together it looks like the model gained 30lbs. I think this might actually look nice as a cardigan buttoned or something, because that would pull the stitch pattern more open. As is, I don't find it flattering at all.
Aran Necklace Camisole - -I like the detail around the neck. It goes very well with the simple stockinette stitches below. I am tempted to knit this. I would increase how far the front went out as I would want to flash the side of my breasts like she would be if she didn't have so many darn layers on. Very lovely with a little work. Plus, I am a huge fan of linen. Why don't they make more plus size clothing in linen??
Braided Hood Tunic - - again with the darn belts. All it does is emphasis that either the girl doesn't have a big hip to waist ratio or the sweater doesn't. I think it would have looked significantly better without the belt. I actually like the look of the tunic. I like the hood and the detail, although the picture makes it look it doesn't fit her. Hopefully the apparent slack means she just doesn't have it pulled up all the way. This might be something I would actually wear, although the pictures are not actually helping me figure that out.
Yggdrasil - - This is a free download on interweaveknits.com. I like the symbolism in it and it looks like a lovely blanket. I am not a blanket knitter myself though.
Lattice and Hollow Cardigan - - The shoulder seams make this garment look messy. I am not sure how many layers the model has on or if it is just that dress shirt, but the sweater looks too big on him. The sleeves are rolled up too. I honestly don't think there is one thing I find aesthetically pleasing about this. I am trying, really I am, but it just looks wrong.
Transverse Cardigan - - I like this. Simple and functional. It doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't.
Audrey's Cardigan - - I love the transparent dot pattern. I do not care for the whole ribbon thing. I would never scrunch it up like one of the pictures shows, but I can understand why some would. I like the non-transparent collar, which I am not sure would work without the ribbon in there. If I were to make this, I would probably keep something in the ribbon area, but seal it inside, so there would be no scrunching action, but it would give that solid look. I am definitely tempted to make this.
Ringlet Tank - - I like the look of simplicity with this tank. I like that the armholes are a round shape and not a straight square look. I even like the little keyhole opening in the back. It looks like a nice comfy tank for summer. The nice lines down the front add interest, but are not overwhelming or tacky. The construction seems interesting. I could see myself knitting this.
Jellyfish Bag - - I am not a bag knitter. I can't figure out whether this bag is ugly, a nifty construction, or a some of both. It looks like you could fit a lot of that bag, it also looks like you could loose a lot of things in that bag. Overall, interesting, but not practical.
Betty's Tee - - The construction of this uses entrelac. Which is interesting, but you are going to have to put faith that all will work out, since you can't try it on as you go along. It's like an origami creation, before it's all put together. That aside, wow, some very interesting designing going on here. According to Interweave, it is modeled with "some" negative ease, which probably means barely any. It looks a little big on the model and she has an undershirt on, so I wonder if this shirt is suppose to be worn with more negative ease. . . maybe an inch or two? I'm not sure I care for the v-neck shape in the back. Honestly, this would be something I would be interested in knitting, bases on construction alone.
Tissue Cardigan - - I like the lace pattern in the yoke. The sweater seems nice and simple. It looks good modeled with positive ease and looks like that is how it is probably meant to be worn, which means the sizes aren't meant as much for bigger chicks. The simplicity of the design could probably be easily sized up if needed, but that not really why most people use patterns. Overall, okay, nothing too special though.
Mona's Jacket - - I don't care for this. I think the garter lines make it look messy. I also don't care for the chunky yarn, it might actually look nicer in a thinner yarn, not sure though. I think the clothing it is modeled with is a poor choice, because it makes it look cheap.
Hopscotch Jumper - - I like the stitch pattern, but overall I don't much care for the jumper. I could maybe see it as a nightgown. It seems a little big and flowing for something meant to be played in. Also, it's kind of a little messy looking. Is it too big for her? It just doesn't look right. Honestly, it'd probably look better as an adult top, than it does as a child dress.
Wasabi Peas Socks - - It's disappointing that these socks get only one picture in the magazine and it's small and tucked away. I like the simple look of the socks with a insert of pattern. A nice design.
Corona Camisole - - I like the flowing look of the camisole, the hippie-ish look to it. However, it is meant to be worn with a ridiculous amount of ease, around 16". The way the camisole fits, the model can't wear this alone as the front dips so far down that she would get arrested for indecency. What they heck were they thinking though when pairing it with that outfit though? Any who, I think this has potential, if not made with quite so much ease and the straps shortened.
Articles:TECHknitter wrote a wonderful article on Kitchener stitch.
Overall view point of this issue.
~I don't care for the photo format. It appears like they are trying to make the magazine look more "artsy", which takes away from the more practical. Sometimes the full length picture is one of the tiny pictures.
~What the heck is up with the stupid plasticy tacky thin belts??
~As always I have issue with how Interweave chooses to display the knits. They tend to layer in the ugliest ways and with many layers. They might try either finding models that actually fit the knits they are displaying in their magazine or ask for the knits to be knitted in a range that actually fit the models they have. It's ridiculous that they fail so horribly at this simple task.
~Also, when will they learn that we aren't stupid. If you fail to show the back, side, etc. of an item both in the magazine and on the web, we realize there is probably something about it that they don't want us to see. Their job is to make us want to knit an item, to bring patterns to us that we want to knit . . . how can they achieve this when they don't even show us the item very well. Such faith some knitters must have.
~I really want the magazine to include how the
DESIGNER meant for it to be worn and not just how it is worn in their pictures, which is sometimes vague anyways.
In the end there are some nice knits I would knit, but I am not any happier with how Interweave chooses to bring them to us.
*I chose not to include designer's blogs in this review and maybe all further reviews because Interweave is doing a better job at including them in their magazine and fewer designers seem to have either a blog or a current one.
