#amy bahrt

Knit Simple: Winter 2019

If you are still stuck for a gift, you can always give a magazine subscription and Knit Simple is perfect for those of us who are beginners and prefer simpler patterns for now and LARGE sketches of how to do new techniques. Every issue offers up a new technique or two matched to a project, so it helps you to build skills as you go. I can’t say I am thrilled by the color palette which has lots of greys which are not always easy to wear as they can drain your own complexion color. Notice that the editors warmed up the grey cover with a lot of pink type, plus pink cheeks and rosy lipstick on their model.  Of course, you can always swap out anything in grey with a color you like better. One of the pleasures of making something yourself.

There are 28 knitting project patterns here from the grey yoked sweater by Katerina Segerbrand in DMC Woolly to smaller projects like hats and socks. The sweet snowy blue sweater is by Amy Bahrt in Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash and comes with coordinating blanket, socks, mittens and hat. The modified basketweave is the “Swatch of the Season” done up in Koigu’s Chelsea. And the blue scarf is by Anastasia Blaes in Blue Sky Fibers Extra and features three-stitch cables along with large photographs explaining the technique. One-row buttonholes are also illustrated, as are lifted increases and other cable techniques. In addition, there are columns on new products, new books, and the advice column by Jil Eaton.

Knit Simple, Holiday 2019: It’s October, Get Knitting!

The one problem with deciding to make gifts is that you often run out of time. I sent a winter scarf in May of this year that I had started in November. So, Knit Simple helps out by telling us to get started NOW and by offering up some small gifts, both these adorable hats and sweaters for little people, plus accessories for adults. There is a feature on doing simple embroidery on knitted garments like the hat and scarf on the cover, as well as on accessories for adults. You can try color work on a small scale with the Yoked Sweater by Sandi Rosner made of DMC Wooly which is a merino, or the Reindeer Mittens by Amy Bahrt made of Cascade 220, or cables for the red baby ensemble in Plymouth’s Worsted Merino Superwash by Jil Eaton.

There are several sweaters for women including this Sideways Cable Pullover by Laura Zukaite which is made of Encore Starz, a blended yarn with glitter. While there are 33 patterns in here, the most challenging item is the Lacy Scarf by Deborah Newton made of Sugarbush Yarns Drizzle which is one of those lace kid mohair silks. If you are new to lace, try the pattern first in a nice wool worsted as frogging (i.e. undoing) a knitted laceweight kid mohair yarn is pretty much impossible, as all the little fibers catch each other and won’t let go (although rumor is freezing the yarn helps).

Knit Simple, Fall 2019

I think of Knit Simple as the kid sister of Vogue Knitting. If the latter has lots of difficult patterns and assumes a good deal of skill, Knit Simple has easier patterns and assumes you know almost nothing. So the back has a set of knitting basics illustrated with photos (English style, not continental), a glossary of terms in large print, and sections illustrating the tricky techniques within the pattern directions. Fortunately, along with all this hand holding, it also offers up patterns that will build your skills.

So, we see in this issue several nice sweaters including this pale blue Cabled Pullover by Katherine Mehls in a mohair-blend yarn held double (Adriafil KidSeta). Of course, anything with this much halo needs care in the making as it is difficult if not impossible to frog, or undo. As many of us know to our distress. :-( So, if you are nervous, first try the even simpler Garter Striped Shawl by Lynn M. Wilson on big needles in another mohair blend (Drizzle).

You also see an adorable set of nursery gear with hippos by Amy Bahrt in Cascade 220 Superwash, and then just two of the hats for the coming winter: Honeycomb Hat in Donegal Tweed and Two-Color Hat in Cascade 220, both by Deborah Newton. The Slip-Stitched Cowl on the cover in a nice red and brown is by Rosemary Drysdale in Woolstok. In total, some 28 patterns including 3 adult sweaters and 2 for tots. Plus book reviews which estimate their usefulness for beginners, and a Q&A column by Jil Eaton. In short, lots for both the ambitious and less ambitious new knitter and plenty for the season to come.