Friday 11 March 2016

Cast Iron, Cast On: A Review


Today we're going to look at Cast Iron, Cast On, written by Becky Herrick and Calley Hastings, and published by Cooperative Press. Cast Iron, Cast On offers a bit of a twist on the usual knitting pattern book by being a combination pattern book and cookbook, and the recipes and patterns are seasonal so that readers can cook and knit their way through the year. And why not? Knitters tend to be multi-crafters who like to make other things from scratch, and we all need to eat. Even though I don't much like to cook (although I can), I am thinking I'll be trying some of these recipes. However, I'll be focusing on reviewing the sweaters in this post, with perhaps a few drive-by comments on the food, as I am neither a food critic nor even a foodie.





Cannella. We begin with December. The recipes are for chocolate bark and deep winter infused holiday vodkas, to which I would not say no. The first knitting pattern for the month is for these lovely little gift bags, which would be such a great way to use up odds and ends of yarn. The idea is to use the gift bags for the chocolate bark, but of course they'd be useful for so many other things: sachets, jewelry, fragile Christmas ornament storage.





Lavandula. The second pattern for December is a hooded wrap. It looks a little long and unwieldy to me, but for the sort of woman who doesn't mind a bit of fussing over her accessories, this might prove a quaint and warm addition.





Bluegold. For January the pattern is for an open front cardigan. It's an attractive, relaxed look on the whole, though I'm not thrilled with the way the collar sits around the neck. The recipe of the month is blueberry jam cobbler, which I must make for my father, a lover of all things blueberry.





Bovinae. A very simple yet pretty pullover for February. I love the yarn combination, and this would be the perfect unfussy sweater for skiing or working around the house. The recipes are for brioche burger buns with curry sunflower seeds and goat cheese stuffed hamburgers. They're making me want lunch, and I just finished my lunch.





Saccharum. I wish I liked the front of the March pattern as much as I love the back. The ribbing and maple tree stitchwork looks fantastic, but the front looks fussy and ill-fitting. The recipe is for maple mini pavlovas, which sound like a great way to use up some of the 5 litre jug of maple syrup currently sitting in my freezer. Why would a single woman living alone have so much maple syrup on hand, you ask? It's an annual gift from my father, who, as my mother puts it, all but drinks maple syrup and thinks everyone else does too.





Taxara. The April pattern is... okay. The lines are good. I think such a simple pattern calls for a more interesting yarn choice than was used here, as this sample looks rather bland, which probably accounts for my general lack of enthusiasm. The recipes are dandelion fritters with chive horseradish sauce and dandelion green, bacon, and radish salad. Perhaps I'll get up my courage to try those sometime. Strangely, although dandelions have always been a very commonplace sight for me, I've never tried a dandelion recipe, perhaps because my mother imbued me with her view of dandelions as the bane of her existence, always spoiling her lawn and garden.





Lactuca. May's pattern is a ruffled skirt. I can't get on board with this one, which looks like an upcycled bedskirt to me. I do think I might like it better if it were in a solid colour and on the right person, namely someone other than me and half my age. The accompanying recipe is for fresh nasturtium and pea shoot salad, which looks... less like a salad than like the aftermath of an earthquake that happened to combine the table's floral arrangement with its garden salad.





Cucurbita. This is quite simple but well designed enough. The recipe for June is for a hearty-looking summer pasta with zucchini, squash, and goat cheese.





Sola. This would make an attractive throw or baby blanket, but I don't think too many people have enough picnics to justify the work that would go into a special purpose knitted picnic blanket. See also: picnic baskets, which so many people get for wedding and bridal shower gifts and which wind up at thrift stores. The napkin version makes a little more sense to me as it could be used to line a bread basket on a dining room table. The recipes for July are garden picnic pockets, which look like an interesting variation on a certain French vegetable pastry recipe I sometimes make, and luscious blackberry oat pancakes.





Sativus. I don't like either the look or the concept of this knitted apron that is the first August pattern. It looks what remained after the original top part wound up in the meat grinder, and that's a lot of work to put into something that's bound to get stained before too long. The first recipe for August is Dukie's cross-cut pickle, which sounds a good bit like the pickle recipe my mother makes, and which in turn reminds me that I've been meaning to have a go at making those for myself pretty soon. I've been trying to make sure that I learn to make all my 77-year-old mother's best recipes, such as her famous Christmas fruit bread, while she's still around to give me the recipe, as well as any advice I might need.





Mentha. The second pattern for August is this little top, which I rather like. The lace detailing at the shoulder and sides is pretty, though I'd consider loosening up the fit a little. This pattern is paired with a collection of infused green summer tea recipes featuring herbal and fruit pairings.





Calais. The first pattern for September is quite a lovely tam and mitts set, which looks both nicely detailed and beautifully draped but also well suited to casual clothes. The reverse colourway is a nice touch. The accompanying recipe is harvest pesto cornbread, which looks as though it would be tastier than the plain, rather dry "Yankee cornbread" recipe I use.





Puncia. The second pattern for September is this absolutely exquisite lace stole. That's definitely the best lace pattern I've seen in some time. The recipes paired with this piece are fall roasted reds with crispy seeds and parmesan, and red quinoa, spinach, and feta salad.





Braeburn. I like this one except for that rather sloppy looking hood and unfinished neckline. The recipe for this October pattern is boiled cider apple dumplings, which look mouth wateringly good.





Cervus. Nice simple sweater with a front panel of textured stitchwork to add some visual interest. This is a very decent basic sweater, but I do dislike the "longer sleeve with thumbhole" look, as that always looks like the arms are both too long and have holes in them to me. This is easy enough to correct if you feel the same. Alternatively, the cuffs can be worn folded back. The recipe for November is hearty mashed potatoes with shiitake mushrooms, and venison steak with a thyme, butter, red wine sauce.





Oleracea. This is a very cute and rather original hat design. Unfortunately I can't quite get away from the unfortunate marriage of this hat with the recipe for Brussel sprouts and cranberries braised in cider. The photo of those little green balls of vileness in the cast iron pan have become inextricably associated with the motifs on the hat, even though they don't look much at all like Brussel sprouts. I will try to forget about the Brussel sprouts and love the hat on its own merits, but it will be hard in the same way as keeping up a friendship with a good friend whose new spouse you simply can't stand is hard.

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Knitter's Magazine 121: A Review


Knitter's Magazine issue 121 is out! Let's have a look at it.





Hello Doily. Love this one. It's simple yet distinctive, and very wearable.





Puppy Teeth. Man, this picture is so 1980. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. This is a classic vest. I don't care much for the colourway, but then that's personal taste, not an objective criticism, as the colours do work together well.





Mermaid Tails. What a lovely piece. I like the stitchwork so much I'd also like to see it used for an afghan.





Embers Waistcoat. This is one of those pieces that had potential but didn't get where it deserved to go, design-wise. It has a rather rough, slapped-together look to it as is. Better shaping and finishing would have done wonders for it.





Laced Checks. This design actually employs shoelaces for the mock whip-stitches. I can't say I care for the effect at all -- it's too "Pebbles Flintstone Goes to College".





Cowboy Stars. I like this one on the whole, though the motifs look too blob-like and could have stood to be a little crisper and better defined.





Color Control Wrap. I rather like the post-modern, minimalist feel of this one, but it does look more like an afghan than a wrap.





Big and Little Teeth. Another very eighties piece. This isn't bad. I like the child's version better as the adult version is an awkward length on the model.





Deep Blue. I wish I could see the front of this, but it does look great from the back. The pattern description suggests wearing this piece under a jacket during the day and wearing the halter by itself to go out at night, and I agree that's a good idea.





Fire Diamonds. Quite a striking design, and the shaping is good.





Strata. Very much like this one. It comes across like a re-imagined classic tartan skirt. The use of modular design and self-striping design is original and clever, and it's well-shaped.





Santa Fe Shrug. I was iffy on the shape of this shrug at the bottom, but I think I'm going to come down on the side of liking the piece. It is very nicely detailed. I will say I don't think the embroidered details are adding anything.




Classic Little Black Skirt. This is... okay. Though I would do those bottom stripes in another yarn and colour.





Fire Ball. That's an inappropriately exciting name for a dowdy pattern that looks like it came from the pages of a seventies homemaking magazine.





Razy Caps, No. 1. That's a pretty yarn, but this looks like it was designed and knitted by a beginner.





Razy Caps, No. 2. This one is a little less rough and ready than the last one.





Razy Caps, No. 3. This one is rather cute in a quirky sort of way.





Razy Caps, No. 4. This one is similar to the last one, and I love the yarn used here, but the earflaps push it into "too silly" territory for me, even though I know earflaps must be practical. But then my taste in hats is a beautifully detailed classic tam that I can pull down over my ears.

Monday 29 February 2016

Vogue Knitting Early Spring 2016: A Review


Vogue Knitting has released its Early Spring 2016 issue. Let's have a look at it.





Pattern #1, Crew Neck Pullover. I rather like this slight twist on the classic Breton stripe sweater.





Pattern #2, Striped Shell. Nice piece. The colourway works well, the lines are good, and vertical stripes are definitely an underexplored theme in knitwear design.





Pattern #3, Pocketed Tunic. The stripes on this one are giving me that "do not adjust your TV set" feeling, and the dropped shoulders combined with the bracelet length sleeves make the arms look stumpy.





Pattern #4, Graphic Top. This one has the look of 1930s sportswear, and I love me some 1930s sportswear.





Pattern #5, Striped Romper. There isn't a full shot of this one, and I was trying to suss out what it was exactly when I noticed the name. This is... an adult romper... which means there is... something... lurking south of the photo frame that VK hasn't seen fit to show us. That does not bode well, especially when I consider that knitted shorts don't tend to be a good idea (i.e., bags, sags). I'm not thrilled with what I can see, as it looks a bit crudely designed and unfinished.





Pattern #6, Shades Blue Wrap. This has a rather nice contemporary feel, though I'd be more inclined to put it on a couch than to wear it.





Pattern #7, Crocheted Bag. I see this one going to bingo games and shuffleboard tournaments.





Pattern #8, Crocheted Bucket Hat. This hat will accompany the crocheted bag above to the aforementioned bingo games and shuffleboard tournaments, and possibly be further accessorized with a pair of wraparound shades.





Pattern #9, Lace Coverup. This is one of those items that can look dramatic if styled way over the right outfit, and "seventies arts and craft camp counsellor" otherwise. Also, it's going to catch on everything like crazy.





Pattern #10, Star-Motif Maxi Dress. I like the lace overlay over a fabric sheath concept, but not this particular execution of it. I think it's the fact that this crocheted overlay looks so stiff and tablecloth-y.





Pattern #11, Dropstitch Openwork Wrap. This looks so rough and charmless up close.





Pattern #12, Eyelet Lace Tunic. This coverup is making me wish I hadn't just finished sewing myself a new printed cotton beach dress. Which does not look half as fetching as this well-shaped, carefully finished piece. Sigh.





Pattern #13, Open Waves Top. Not such a fan of this one, but then I don't tend to like openwork pieces. They lead to mesh-patterned sunburns, for one thing.





Pattern #14, Net Poncho. I see the respective wearers of this net poncho and the lace coverup above getting together at a arts camp staff party to share their best string art tips. Kidding! Well, partly kidding anyway. Again, like the lace wrap, it's a piece that can look good when skilfully styled, and frumpy and kooky when not.





Pattern #15, Floppy Sun Hat. VK is definitely on a seventies kick in this issue. I'd have liked to have seen this one on the model because I have my suspicions that this hat is a little too large and too floppy for visibility -- for both wearer and observers.





Pattern #16, Cable and Lace Duster. Rather a nice cover up. Though this piece also has the stumpy arm problem.





Pattern #17, Deep V-Neck Duster. Beautiful lacework in this one.





Pattern #18, Lacy Cardi. Nice piece, but I can't fathom why all those loose threads were left hanging from the centre of the diamonds in the lacework. It doesn't look like something that could be accidental, but it's not well advised as a design decision because it makes the piece look rag tag.





Pattern #19, Deep Rib Tank. Nice little basic tank, though that empire line will not be flattering on well-endowed women.





Pattern #20, Sleeveless Shell. Not a bad basic piece. If you're making this for someone who isn't particularly tall, you might wish to shorten it somewhat.





Pattern #21, Textured Vest. I wish the designer had done something a little more interesting with the texture, but this isn't a bad little top for summer.





Pattern #22, Cable Tank. This has good lines but I do wish the designer had something to finish off the neckline and armhole edges.





Pattern #23, Striped Stitch Tank. Quite like this one. It has an interesting and effective shape, construction, and texture, though again, it has an unfinished-looking neckline and armholes.





Pattern #24, Eyelet Top. This one is very simple but so well shaped and finished that it'll be the perfect way to showcase a beautiful, good quality yarn.