new! shiny! Winter 2013

I somehow missed Twist Collective's Winter issue rollout this year. Guessing it happened December 1st? Anyway, as usual, no disappointment here. Lots I'd love to be knitting if I had a minute. I'm not going to lie; it takes something special to make me look twice at a two-color shawl(ette) these days, but Cypri by Amanda Scheuzger does the job. Amy Christoffers kills it yet again with her gracefully cabled funnel-neck pullover Calabash, and new-to-me Thayer Preece Parker contributes a lovely pullover called Tarian with allover Gansey/Guernsey style texture patterning.

The new Knitty is out as well, and I hate to be predictable but superstars Norah Gaughan and Franklin Habit are topping my fantasy-space-time-continuum-aberration knitting list with Lempster (cabley-goodness pullover) and  Princess Franklin (badass plaid "collar"/cowl), respectively.

It's official - the ripping is complete:

What was once an ambitious sweater/design attempt is now back to its low-energy state - big pile o' yarn (several balls, actually). I was reasonably happy with the way it was turning out, but not as happy as I will hopefully will be with this. More details over here, if you're interested.

new twist

I would happily wear probably 90% of the patterns in the Fall 2012 issue, out today. Most favorite:
Barberry by Kristen Rengren - a hooded, twisted stitch patterned cardigan with both kiddo and adult versions available, and...
Malpeque by Katya Wilsher - another cardi, this one long and open with an allover lace lattice pattern.

Barberry is especially tempting AND I have the yarn on hand. It's half a sweater right now, but this is definitely my backup plan.

Also: check out the fabulous illustrations in the Empress and the Teacup story, by none other than my knitting (and otherwise multitalented) friend, Adri H.

winter twist time!

There is so much in this issue.  Holy smokes.  34 patterns if I'm counting correctly.  I'm especially loving Robin Melanson's Bellevue, a textured pullover with a deep shawl collar, Kyllene by Kirsten Jensen, what I can only imagine is a huge undertaking of a fairisle, keyhole-neckline pullover that appears to be worked on size US2 needles (so so stunning though...), and Thayer Preece's Jaina.  The last is an elegant, open cardigan with gorgeous, well-placed details.  And, if I'm being honest, I'm digging pretty much every other pattern in this issue as well.  I need to teach the dog to knit.

new twist

The fall issue of Twist Collective is live!

I'm especially loving Crane Creek by Sandi Rosner, Grenadine by Amy Christoffers, and Mary Jane Mucklestone's Kirkwall socks.

...and of course Academia by Adriana Hernandez, which I test knit back in May:

I was interested to see that the Kirkwall socks are knit in the same yarn I used for the vest - Quince & Co's Chickadee.  I loved working with it, and found it fabulous for colorwork - really squishy and bouncy; blocks like a dream (even if my apartment did smell like a wet sheep for two days while it dried).  But...for socks?  I have to say the ease with which it spit spliced really doesn't bode well for its footwear potential.  Remove the feet, and those would make a bangin' pair of legwarmers.  Or sub in some sport weight superwash.