Interweave Knits Summer 2020
Come summer, it’s too hot for woolly yarns and heavy sweaters, so this issue of Interweave Knits opts for lace patterns on cotton and silk yarns. They also have a updated version of an article explaining lace knitting first published over a decade ago by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer. It has large illustrations and shows close-ups of several of the stitch patterns features in the sweaters, so a very useful piece if you are new to lace stitches. Some people like to try a lace stitch in a heavier yarn weight and make a scarf, and then move down to the lighter weight once they have mastered the stitch to make the garment.
The garments themselves come in either cropped, tunic long, of sheer through the shoulders and sleeves. The cover features a cropped Golden Tamarin Tee by Rachel Brockman which has a line of lace on the front but the whole back in lace. That copes with the modesty problem that comes up when using lace stitches, but takes too much emphasis away from the face for my taste. Of course, you can always simplify the back if you like. The most playful of the crop tops in this issue is the Peace Lily Blouse by Jennifer Miller Comstock with ribs above the waist, three different lace patterns, and puffed sleeves above its cuffs. It’s shown with high-waisted trousers. Showing off the midriff is actually a fashion you could see in the 1940s in playwear and evening wear, so I think of this cropped top as date wear. The yellow Marmoset Pullover by Danae Smith has the lace shoulders and sleeves which is a simple solution to the modesty issue. Monsoon Tee is one of the longer ones in this issue done in a pale blue green with split sides by Susanna Ic who puts all the lace at the bottom. It would work well with pants or a long skirt.
There are 13 items in all, more sweaters, plus a shawl, and any of the lace stitch patterns could be borrowed and used on other items, plus a crewneck sweater from the latest Wool Studio volume. You can find it at your local bookstore, newsstand or online here: https://www.interweave.com/interweave-knits-magazine/