#knitting magazines

[sarahdawnsdesigns]

To start this week's behind-the-scenes: the Sample Knitting continues!

[2000ghosts]

february 20, 2010

[sarahdawnsdesigns]

This week's Patreon Behind-The-Scenes: Pattern Submission Updates!

[ub-sessed]

Turns out my library has a whole bunch of knitting magazines. :D

[professorpski]

Interweave Knits, Winter 2023

This issue emphasizes pullovers, with a total of 9 of the, including 1 tunic, and also including some re-prints from the Wool Studio digital magazine. There are also a vest, a hat with matching mitts, and a cowl

Among the new patterns, you see the Taskette Pullover in lilac on the cover. It features a clever cabling that looks like you are weaving the knitting. Laura Barker designed it in Manos del Uruguay Alegria Grande which is a DK or light worsted yarn of superwash Merino and synthetic blend. It is a 3 out of 4 for difficulty. The caramel and brown lattice patterned sweater is Sonneteer Sweater by Heather David and combines garter stitches and slip-stitch cables. It is made in Peace Fleece Worsted which mixes wool and mohair and it is another 3 out of 4 as are all the pullovers I am featuring. Moira Engel did the aran style sweater with heavy cables called Dizen Sweater, which is made of Brown Sheep Company’s Prairie Spun DK, a 100% wool yarn. The cable patterns are all charted for all of these patterns

Another cabled pattern, but with the interest running down the sleeves is Charles Pullover by Michele Wang which is one of the reprints. It has an over-sized fit and saddle shoulders and is done in The Fibre Co’s Arranmore which is a Merino, cashmere, silk blend. The boxy grey pullover is another reprint. This is called Cartesian Pullover, designed by Irina Anikeeva, and done in Trendsetter Yarns Placid, a bulky weight of cashmere, Merino, nylon blend.

Faunus Hat, which you see here in green comes with matching mitts and is 2 out of 4 for difficulty. Kelly Sandusky scattered cables motifs on the front of it but stuck to the practical ribbed hemline. It is done in O-Wool O-Wash Fingering, an organic Merino wool.

Kim McBrien Evans wrote the 6 page article on making sweaters that fit which includes several charts to allow you to measure yourself and calculate what you like in the cut of a sweater. She also has tips on evaluating a gauge swatch for comfort and durability as well as for the drape of the fabric. A QR code gives you a hand little PDF to fill in with your own numbers. There are also columns on new notions and new yarns.

You can find it at your Local Yarn Shop, or LYS, or online here: https://www.interweave.com/product-category/knitting/knitting-magazines/knitting-magazines-interweave-knits/

[professorpski]

Vogue Knitting, Fall 2020

The cover for the new issue is caramel and beige blend of colors featuring Temporal by Jennifer Shiels Toland, a rectangular top without sleeves to slip over other clothing for the fall. It is made of Sea Island Cotton which is actually a blend of pima cotton and merino wool by Plymouth Yarns in sand dollar. Inside you will find Interval, the long, open, crochet stitch cardigan by Cristina Mershon which is made of yarn called Popcycle made of recycled plastic bottles and bamboo fibers by Skacel/Hikoo. Plastic bottles have never looked so sophisticated.

Recycled fibers are a theme in this issue as is color blocking. I give you the page of color-blocked garments, one of which prompted my husband to remark, “It looks like you ran out of yarn.” Clearly, not a fan. Some of these items are also feature stitch blocking, if we can call it that, when the stitch as well as the yarn changes. You see a subtle version of both in Dandelion, the orange and yellow striped, V-neck pullover created from 3 different yarns from Sandnes Garn which has simple running embroidery stitches on a background of two stitch patterns The cardigan called Higher Education by Amy Gunderson uses stripes of rust and blue on a beige background of Madelinetosh Farm Twist.

There are also features on new products, new books, a local yarn shop, on black knitters and diversity including a piece by Gaye Glasspie, on yarns from Turkey dyed with coffee, an interview with Kaffee Fassett, and a technical article urging you to repair your worn-out knitted socks by Deborah Newton, another by Meg Swansen on hemming knits. This in addition to the total of 19 patterns, so a lot to learn.

You can find it in your local bookstore or newsstand, or here: https://www.vogueknitting.com/

[professorpski]

Interweave Knits Fall 2020

Although it's hot where I live, it's time for new patterns whether for sewing or knitting, here is the new issue of Interweave Knits which features two the the kind of styles that arrive along with the cold weather.

The first is stranded knitting, or using more than 1 color to create a pattern. Karen Frisa has a technical article, very helpful for newbies like me who are wondering, how to I hold more than 1 yarn? and does it matter? She explains your options, and yes, it does. For proof, see the black and pink square she did up. Notice how the black squares in the bottom half are just a little bigger than the black squares in the top half. This happened because she switched the yarn colors from one hand to the other as she explains.

Now, you can take on the Summit Pullover which is a 3 out of 4 on the difficulty chart and designed by Kristen Jancuk and done up in Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift.

The other style that appears in the warm weather is the cabled and textured look which you see on the cover. The asymmetrical pullover in a dark pumpkin is Pinyon Pullover by Amy Gunderson another 3 out of 4 for difficulty. and done in Jamieson's Double Knitting which is another Shetland wool yarn. The shawl collar, one of my favorite look whether sewn or knit, appears on Moira Engel's Westfall Pullover done in Trendsetter Yarns Wish which is a wool blend in a pretty honey color.

If, like me, you are intimidated by such patterns, you can always practice the stitches on a scarf and work your way up to a sweater. As I always tell my students: learning is a process, so don't get discouraged. As the people who are not at all intimidated by these patterns already know.

You can find it at your local newsstand or online here: https://www.interweave.com/product-category/knitting/knitting-magazines/knitting-magazines-interweave-knits/

[professorpski]

KnitScene Spring 2020

Every turn of the fashion cycle and I am in shock. “Spring? What? But I’m not done with the fall sweater! I haven’t started the winter hat!” But makers know if you ever expect to have anything done in time to wear it for the season intended, you do have to start early. I once started and put aside a winter coat project and it wasn’t done until the second year’s fall. But better to put some things aside than finish something out of season and think, “Great, now I can wear this in 9 months.”

So let us greet the new spring knitting patterns now. This issue of KnitScene has several projects that are just garter stitch or garter stitch combos. As the simplest of flat knitting, garter stitch projects promise to be done on time. So we see here at the top Trilogies Hat & Cowl by Amy Palmer which makes the most of a smaller yarn, Berroco Arno and a nice combination of colors to make stripes.  Then, Current Shawl by Courtney Spainhower combines an easy predominantly garter stitch on one portion and then a more complex pattern on the rest in Green Mountain Spinnery’s Cotton Comfort.

There are several others accessories, but also spring sweaters including the side-to-side knit Sidelong Tee by illitilli in Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Fine. A technical article, Part I in this issue, on side-to-side sweaters by Karen Frisa explains the principles and the variations on sweaters that are knitted this way instead of bottom up or top down. This T is boxy, but shaped side-to-side sweaters do exist. Then there is the open-front cardigan Garter Stitch Grooves by Emily Ringelman in blue with short sleeves for the warmer weather made of Wool-O’s Balance which mixes merino wool with cotton. The supposed side seams are simply purl stitches. You can always leave them out along with the garter stitch stripes on the back if you like.

You can find it on your local newsstand or bookstore, or here online: https://www.interweave.com/store/knitting/knitting-magazines/knitting-magazines-knitscene