The leaves are changing, pumpkin spice lattes are back, and it’s finally crisp & cold enough to wear sweaters! It’s the perfect time of year to curl up with a pot of tea or hot apple cider and break out the serious knitting. Just in time, Knitscene has released their first-ever winter issue with 22 patterns to keep us busy all season long.
This issue starts out with “A Brief History of Angora,” with fun facts on the fuzzy bunnies that give us fluffy yarn – did you know that the German name for Angora rabbits, Menschenheilkaninchen, means “human healing rabbit”? Or that Marie Antoinette kept them as pets?
The Beatriz Dress has a dramatic deep yoke and a hint of leaf lace at the hem – knit this up in a lofty worsted weight like Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool and be a hit at all your holiday parties.
More leafy lace appears on the Francisca Hat – luxurious Mirasol Miski (100% baby llama) will keep you warm all winter long.
The Designer Collection in this issue features Alexis Winslow, who sums up her style aesthetic by saying “There’s something about knitting stripes that makes you want to do just one more!” You’ll agree when you see her four delightful designs!
The Vera Cardigan‘s clean lines and strong graphics combine with knitterly details like welted rib cuffs and contrasting button loops. Add a touch of tweed with Brooklyn Tweed’s SHELTER and you’ll be snuggly warm & stylish too.
The 1920’s inspired Zelda Cloche might have you rouging your knees, rolling your (hand-knit) stockings down, and all that jazz – or maybe just grabbing your needles! Pick two colors of Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk and a great button (check out our selection of handcrafted buttons from Annie Adams, Moving Mud, and Perl Grey, or visit our neighbors BW Antiques for a one-of-a-kind vintage find!)
Try your hand at a little colorwork with the Canyon Mitts – I’m already thinking of which three colors of St-Denis Nordique to use for these! Make a few pairs for holiday gifting (and one for yourself!)
The Nora Dress uses super-smart striping to flatter your figure – and works up fast in Cascade Eco Wool. It’s knit from the top down so it will be easy to get the perfect fit. Super cute!
The next story, “Born to Wander,” gives us a bit of Bohemian style, starting with the striking Jenica Pullover. Hold a drapy DK weight yarn together with a laceweight mohair & silk blend for this – Louisa Harding Grace Silk & Wool and Cascade Kid Seta Noir will make a stunning holiday sweater.
The Ileana Pullover (shown on the cover) will be light yet warm when you knit it in Berroco Voyage, a soft & lofty alpaca blend. Wrap up in an Oana Shawl on cold winter days – make a luxe version with hand-dyed Madelinetosh Tosh Chunky or go rustic & woolly with Imperial Yarns Columbia 2-ply.
Work up the Madalina Mittens in machine-washable Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in colorful combinations from subtle to bold. The Tereza Pullover has a pretty lace yoke & knits up super fast in Sublime Chunky Merino Tweed – light, lofty, and warm.
The Ramona Cowl will take a bit longer but is definitely worth the effort – the combination of self-striping and solid yarns in a paisley colorwork pattern creates an amazing effect. Try Crystal Palace Mini Mochi or Sausalito with Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine – or go for your favorite hand dyed fingering weight yarns!
Been avoiding patterns with bobbles because you weren’t sure how to do them? “5 Ways to Work a Bobble” will get you bobbling along so you can knit a cute Miercoles Tam (Dragonfly Fibers Blue Face Worsted will make those stitches really pop) or Geraldine Cardigan (Miss Babs Northumbria DK is another BFL yarn with great stitch definition.)
Mix your bobbles with cushy garter stitch for a Petra Shawl in locally-dyed Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Worsted, or make a pretty Pomes Beret in Canopy Fingering from The Fibre Company.
Next up, designer Stefanie Japel discusses “Gauge, Drape & Yarn Weight,” and demonstrates how to use them to best effect in the Bermondsey Cardigan (try naturally dyed Swans Island Certified Organic Chunky) and the delicate Nevis Cardigan (grab some Viola Merino Lace before it’s gone!)
A few more cardigans are in store for you – knit a pretty little Stanmore Cardigan in Road to China Light for lovely drape and warmth. Add your own style to the blazer-inspired Wragby Cardigan with your choice of yarn – this pattern will show off a snuggly tweed like Berroco Tara Tweed or a rich semi-solid hand dye like Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Worsted equally well.
Play up the simplicity of the Netherleigh Cardigan with a textured yarn like The Fibre Company Acadia, a beautifully drapey blend of Merino, silk, and alpaca. Finally, finish off your fall fibre fashion with the swingy Uxbridge Cardigan – this dolman sleeved style requires a lot of yardage, but Berroco Vintage DK will keep it an affordable knit.
With all of these great patterns, you’re sure to be warm and well-dressed this winter!