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Fantasy Queue: Knitty First Fall 2011

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A few weeks ago, I was anxiously awaiting the new patterns from Knitty’s First Fall 2011.  Then they came out.  If I sound a little underwhelmed …. well, I am.  I hate to admit it, but this really isn’t my favorite issue of Knitty.  Which is to say, instead of wanting to make nearly ALL of them, only about half call me with their siren song.  I’m used to unremitting “ohhs” and “ahhs” when I page through a new issue of Knitty — this one has a few “hmms” and “uh, what?”  That said, there are many more patterns that I could ever reasonably make, so for this post I answer this question: If I had unlimited time and money, what would I knit, and with what yarn?

Chasing Snakes

Often I’m drawn to complex sock patterns with a whole lot going on. Recently, I learned the folly of my ways … and then up pops this little number. Bold cabling in a non-traditional irregular sinuous pattern zig-zags down the leg, while the rest of the sock takes a background role. If I were being very, very good I would use some of my stashed yarn for new socks … but in my fantasy queue I spring for some Stroll Tonal in “Canopy.”

Double Heelix

Love the unique and interesting spiral heel-first approach on these socks! The pair featured in knitty are striking, but I REALLY love the “flavor 3” variation — especially since it uses Socks That Rock Lightweight in “Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.” This is the March 2011 sock club colorway, that I’ve already used to make socks and an ipod nano cozy.  I would definitely have to do a Flavor 3 pair for myself — maybe use my sock club coupon to pick up some STR in “Fire on the Mountain” with “Korppi” for the dark background color.

 

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Fantasy Queue: Knitty Spring+Summer 2011

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Oh pretty-shiny! The latest issue of Knitty came out a week or so ago, and as usual there are far too many lovely patterns for me to ever actually knit.  For the duration of this post, I will suspend disbelief and indulge in a fantasy queue.  If I had unlimited time and money, what would I knit, and with what yarn?

#1: Corinne

This is a pretty little swingy cardigan knit side-to-side in garter stitch with short rows for shaping. I love the belled half-length sleeves.  It seems like the perfect throw-on cardi, and good “mindless” knitting too.  To help it stand up daily use, I’d use a superwash yarn.  I think it would show off variegated colorways nicely, so perhaps some Happy Feet DK? Colorway #59, “Gems,” is awfully pretty.

#2: Verdant

I’m drawn to this more for the interesting modified intarsia technique than anything else.  I think I’d be happiest with some gorgeous fall colors, even though this is the “spring” knitty. My favorite go-to lace yarn is Alpaca Cloud, but Knit Picks hasn’t released their 2011 colorways yet, so right now it’s slim pickings. I think I MIGHT make this wrap out of Palette … which would certainly provide a multitude of colors to choose from!

Main Color: Camel Heather

Leaves: Merlot Heather, Salsa Heather, Kumquat Heather, Autumn Heather,

 

#3: Susanna

I love complex cabled and/or lacy socks, and I also love crazy sock colorways.  It’s been a hard lesson, but I have learned over the last half-dozen years that these two loves rarely mix well.  For intricate socks like “Susanna” I will have to stay true to the design and choose a plain colorway that allows the pattern to come to the forefront.  Even a tonal colorway would be too much, but I think I could get away with a heathered color like Basalt Heather (Stroll).

#4: Rivercat

This sock, in contrast, can totally handle a tonal colorway.  I love the big jive-y lines and bold pattern. Since I am in love with Knit Picks Stroll Tonal, I’d pick up some Deep Waters and make this socks in a jiffy.

Fantasy Queue: Winter 2011 Knitty

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Every time a new book, magazine, or web-zine of knitting patterns comes out, I have this moment where I wish I had nothing at all on the needles or in my queue, and I could just cast on half a dozen new projects with no guilt and every hope of finishing them all.

The Winter 2011 Edition of Knitty is no exception — there are plenty of patterns that say, “Pick me, pick me! Start-itis be damned!”  This Wednesday at Remily Knits I will indulge this desire by creating my very own Fantasy Queue: all the patterns paired with yarn and who I’d make it for, if I were not constrained by time or money (or housework, or kids, or dogs, or …).

#1 – Palisander

This is the shot that did me in.  Reversible scarves are tricky.  All too often, the pattern isn’t truly reversible — one side is distinctly prettier than the other.  Other patterns are dull (too much knit and purl), or just not attractive in their attempt to be reversible.  This pattern on the other hand … is YUMMY. I love both sides. I know exactly what I’d use too — Knit Picks  City Tweed DK in Toad.  I’d probably use Morning Glory, except that I already have a cozy shawl in Morning Glory.

#2 – Cartouche

One of my complaints about many lace shawls is that they all too often seem more like samplers — two or three pretty motifs, in sequence, with a pretty edging, but lacking any flow from one element to the next.  With this pattern, you can see the thought that went into blending the different motifs, and the result is gorgeous.  I think I’d try Blue Moon Fiber Arts  Marine Silk Fingering in True Blood — not a fiber I’ve used before, but one that begs for a pattern just like this.

#3 – Constantine

This one will probably stay on my fantasy queue forever. Although I love the shape and can imagine wearing the finished cape every day from fall to spring, I know myself well — that much seed stitch would do me in.  In my dreams, I’d use a dark heathered yarn like Ella Rae Classes Superwash Chunky in Berry Heather.  (In real life, I’d get the back, front, and half of one sleeve done before I just couldn’t face it any more.)

#4 – Chrysanthemums

Oh my goodness, I am a sucker for colorwork mittens. Although I admire the subtlety of the sample pair … I think I would go bold with Knit Picks new Chroma Fingering in Smoothie for the main color (background), using Knit Picks Gloss Fingering in Black for the contrast color (flower).  The pinky-orange and yellow flowing colors of Smoothie scream Chrysanthemum to me!

#5 – Sweetheart Socks

I’ll admit, at first I didn’t see what was so special about this pattern … I’ve knit dozens of socks in the last ten years, and it takes a lot to make me excited about a sock pattern.  What drew me in for these sweetheart socks is the novelty of working in worsted-weight yarn (fast socks! my heart leaps!), and the prospect of trying out an afterthought heel. (I’ve done an afterthought thumb, but never an afterthought heel.) I think I’d try Valley Yarns Northampton in Lake Heather.