Checking out the New Knitscene

Remember yesterday I told you about the Craft Magazines site at Zinio and the fact that Interweave publications were on sale? In the interest of testing out the service I snagged a copy of the fresh-to-the-newsstand fall issue of Knitscene for $2.99 and gave it a flip through.

One thing I will say for digital issues of magazines is that I felt like I spent less time looking at the digital edition than I would have if I’d had a paper copy in front of me. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I think I consider the patterns for a bit longer (and probably actually flip through the instructions, where here I could just skip them) when I’m looking at them on paper and it’s not so easy just to click through.

But I still found this issue enjoyable and I think you will, too, whether you read it online or on paper. The featured designer this time around is Rosemary (Romi) Hill, who is profiled by knitter pal Rachael Herron. Romi offers a cardigan, shawl, beret and cowl, all with motifs inspired by doilies.

In addition you’ll find a feature on installing zippers and three patterns that use them, a section of knits you’ll love forever (lots of sweaters and accessories for the changing seasons) and “ethereal knits” including a bulky sweater with an eyelet-patterned owl, a long and lean petticoat with ruffles at the bottom and a shawl with a wolf’s head worked on the back, among other treats. The issue ends with a closer look at the trend of animal motifs in knitting.

My absolute favorite pattern from the magazine just happens to be the one on the cover: the Agnes Pullover by Ruth Garcia-Alcanthol. It’s a scoopneck sweater worked in honeycomb stitch on the body with stockinette arms, and it looks like just the thing to take you into fall in style.

Have you seen the new Knitscene? I’d love to hear what patterns stand out to you.

Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

[Photo by Knitscene.]

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Knitters are always looking for ways to continue to knit and to wear their knits even when it’s hot outside, so there are tots of great T0shirt knitting patterns to choose from. I love knitting short-sleeved shirts because they feel so much faster than sweaters, and you can wear them on top of dresses or even longer-sleeved items when it gets cooler.

There are lots of different styles of knit tops, from the basic to the more detailed. On the more basic side are things like the Perfect T-Shirt from Originally Lovely, a basic raglan tee with nine sizes and worked in worsted weight yarn; Paper Bloom by Yvonne Hugo (free on Ravelry), available in six sizes and worked with cotton and silk yarn for extra coolness; or Iris H’s Amelia Top, also on Ravelry, a slim fit, DK weight top with nine size.

Jazz it up with a bit of lace like on the Athens Lace Hem top by Sarah Hatton (Ravelry). This otherwise simple project has a bit of lace at the bottom, which is an easy way to make a project more interesting without a ton of work. This one uses fingering weight yarn and comes in nine sizes.

Another simple embellishment is to emphasize the lines of your top with different stitches. The Spring Lines top uses twisted ribbing at the center front and V-neck and along the raglan lines to give it a slimmer fit and more interest. This design from Turquoise Toque Designs has 11 size options and is available on Ravelry.

Silfurberg by Joji Locatelli uses both of these elements, with lace panels at the center front and back and purl ridges throughout to make it a little more fun to knit and to wear. The pattern uses fingering weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes. Learn more on Ravelry.

Keep it simple or add puffed sleeves (and/or long sleeves) to the slim fit Knitty Committee top by Lily Kate France. This one has two length options, waist shaping and optional bust darts to fulfill all your curvy top dreams, and it comes in nine sizes. You’ll find it on Ravelry.

Take it even more romantic with the Daphne Top from Friday Knits, which has puffed sleeves and applied I-cord to emphasize the bust and sweetheart neckline. It comes in eight sizes and uses DK weight yarn.

Or add some sweet flowers with the Gigio pattern from Emilie Luis. This pretty pattern found on Ravelry has cable panels running up the front with the option for adding sweet embroidered flowers. You can also add decorative buttons if you like. It comes in 11 sizes and calls for sport weight yarn.

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