Knit It!: Fall 2005

This issue was a bit of a disappointment in the technical details. Previous issues that I have seen were often "sponsored" by major yarn companies, so all of the yarns in the patterns were relatively easy to obtain, or obtain suitable substitutes for. Unfortunately, this is not the case this time around, as the only company that's heavily featured is Lion Brand. In Canada, our only retail sources for LB are Michael's and Wal-Mart... and neither carries a full selection of colours or the various lines {we won't get into what we're charged for these yarns either!}. There are also a lot of the more unknown yarn companies' products featured. I have had trouble finding these also at my local LYS. To further compound this problem, yarn samples are not shown for any of the projects, only the weight using the older wording system, not the newer numbering system. This will make substituting yarns very difficult, at best. I think that BH&G kinda dropped the ball this time around for that.

Cold weather wearables abound in this issue. A variety of stitch techniques and embellishments keep the styles all fresh. There are even some for the man in your life, and the little girl with an 18" doll. Felting continues to be a common technique used in accessories, and accessories are abundant here. You are sure to find a look and a texture to match every mood or occasion. Kids are not left out of this issue, there are several ponchos, sweaters and accessories for every child and age. Slip stitched patterns seem to be a major feature this time around, and it's a great way to get some colour into your projects without the trouble commonly associated with fair-isle knitting. Houndstooth and other slip-stitched patterns in a variety of projects are sure to tempt anyone into trying this technique if they haven't before. A small section on home decorating provides some inspiration for those looking to add a little texture to their lives.

Patterns of note:

1. A triangle stitch pattern for ladies socks. What a cute and interesting way to add some texture to your socks.
2. A buttoned clutch knitted in ribbon yarn. Just a basic small clutch, but the birght colours of the ribbon yarn really make it pop.
3. Simple garter stitch cardigan for toddlers. Super bulky weight yarn and minimal shaping makes this a perfect quick and easy project.
4. An oversized aran shrug. What makes this pattern uniques is that the pattern goes from side to side, and the HUGE cables really show it off.