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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I happen to live in the Northern Hemisphere, but I know we have a lot of Southern Hemisphere friends, too, who are heading into the cooler months as we are warming up. Whichever one of the seasons you’re in, you might want to stitch up this sweet little hood.

This pattern by saskie&co is called snug hood and it uses two colors of yarn to make a close-fitting pixie style hood (almost a balaclava but it doesn’t cover your face, though there is a neck covering portion to keep you a little warmer). You can use the fingering weight wool and mohair held together that are called for in the pattern, or use a single strand of DK weight yarn.

The neck portion and the edging around the face are worked in ribbing in a single color, while the body of the hat includes an allover colorwork flower pattern. The project is worked both flat and in the round and there is colorwork that is knit flat, which means you’ll have to purl in colorwork (which some people don’t like; also, you can’t see what you’re doing as well on the back of the work).

The pattern comes in one size and the colorwork is charted. Testers noted this is a quick and easy project and a great way to learn some new skills (chart reading, working stranded colorwork flat) if you’ve never tried those things before. They noted the hood is cute, comfortable and warm, and a few said it didn’t take as much yarn as the pattern suggests, so bear that in mind if you’re trying to use stash.

Speaking of the pattern notes, check out all the cute color variations in the projects on Ravelry. From pink and red to blue and white to gray and cream, there are lots of great options to think about.

You can buy this pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: saskie&co]

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