#springknittingpatterns

Vogue Knitting, Spring/Summer 2023

This issue has you ready for warmer days with no-sleeve and short sleeve looks. The most playful is the Popsicle by Mari Lynn Patrick who calls it a quick knit although it is a 3 out of 4 for difficulty. It has asymmetrical shoulders and ribbing through the body. It is done up in Anzula Vera which is a sport-weight yarn made of silk and linen, and that lovely rosy color is called Blush.

My favorite because of its vintage look is the eyelet patterns Campanula by Deborah Newton, a fitted polo collared pullover done in a taupe. 3 out of 4 for difficulty, it is done up in Skacel ALB Lino, also a sport-weight yarn and made of a blend of wool and linen.

A section of paired sweaters--one simple one dolled-up--gives us the strapped v-neck called The Artist by Melissa Leapman that is a 2 out of 4 for difficulty. It uses Blue Sky Fibers Skinny, a worsted weight cotton yarn and appears opposite a plain v-neck also by Leapman. Similarly, the ruffled sleeves on a charcoal grey, crewneck pullover accompany a plain crewneck. The ruffled version is called The Muse, and is 2 out of 4 for difficulty. It is made in Berroco Luca yarn, a worsted weight cashmere and cotton blend, and both are by Norah Gaughan.  

Vista is the cream-colored tunic is by Lavinia Voiculescu in Cascade Hampton which is a DK-weight yarn in a blend of cotton and linen. Although the eyelet pattern makes it look complicated, the shape is very simple and the difficulty is only 2 out of 4.

Lastly, on the cover is The Dancer by Donna Estin which is made up of a boucle yarn, hence all the appealing texture, The yarn is called Curiosity by African Expressions which is blended wool, polyamide and mohair which is also a DK weight yarn and the pretty blue color is #9112. The sweater is a 2 out of 4 for difficulty.

In addition to interviews, and columns on new books, new yarns, new products, Meg Swansen shares some knitting tips from her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman.

Interweave Knits, Spring 2023

This Café Collection offers 3 pullovers, 2 cardigans, a poncho, 2 wraps, a scarf, and fingerless mitts in both lighter weight yarns and some wool ones too, a mix that fits spring. The cover offers the Caturra Top by Rachel Brockman, which features a cable and lace panel running up the front, and then textured sleeves. It is a 2 out of 4 for difficulty and comes in the Universal Yarn’s Truva which is a blend of cashmere and cotton.

The Robusta Scarf by Kimberly Kalnocki is the perfect project if you would like to show off a color contrast with brioche stitch. This one is done in two shades of Berrocco’s Modern Cotton which is actually half modal rayon. It is a 3 out of 4 for difficulty. The brioche bind-off article is a bit disappointing as it explains which serve what purpose, so how to choose one, but does not actually explain the techniques themselves. For which you have to head for your knitting reference book.

Cascara Sweater has an all over blend of cables and brioche stitch and is a bit harder, showing up as a 3 out of 4 for difficulty. Evelyn Siatra designed it in Drops’ Nord yarn, an alpaca/wool/acrylic blend. Cortado Pullover is also a 3 out of 4 and offers a v-neckline echoed all down the front via a center lace panel and then appears on the sleeves. Therese Chynoweth designed it in Universal Yarn’s Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash which is a mostly wool blend.