Companies are beginning to respond to that young demographic. Fresh ideas, bold designs, bright colors and quick-to-knit yarns are the pattern preferences of knitters ages 18 to 35. Interweave Press and its editor Pam Allen responded with a new magazine geared to youthful fashion enthusiasts who are into knitting. Knitscene ($7.99) has all that young, hip knitters will want and more.
The premiere edition of Knitscene features many beautiful sweaters, accessories and even sweater coats by well-known designers. Yarns both fancy and luxurious, are worked into contemporary styles. All designs have easy-to-follow instructions.
There is a wonderful article by Veronik Avery about sweater styles, with tips for how to successfully wear your knits. Even the style-challenged can pull together a fresh, youthful look that features a knitted garment.
Alaskans can see in person the designs featured in this issue of Knitscene. A trunk show from Interweave Knits is on display in Anchorage through the end of February. It's not often we get these shows way up here, and I would recommend that you try to get a look at the real samples.
I have found that pictures do not do justice to most designs. This is your chance to look closely at the stitch work and shaping of the garments before you pick a pattern. The samples on display offer knitters an opportunity to feel the knitted fabric a particular yarn makes. If you are a size small or, in some cases, a medium, you can even try the garments on. Ease and fit are often the great unknowns in knitting. Many beautifully executed sweaters lie in drawers because they don't fit or don't provide the look promised by the cute, slim model in the picture. Here's your chance to check it out!
A few of the garments and accessories in the Knitscene trunk show at Far North Yarn Co. are ho-hum to my taste and not at all suited to my middle-aged figure, but several are well worth a second look. I found a yarn I will want to work with that hadn't really appealed to me before. I liked the drape of it so much in the flirty sweater by Nora Gaughan, I now have several ideas for its use. Two of the sweaters can be easily modified for larger sizes and are actually classics with a bold twist. I was especially captivated by the crochet details. It is wonderful to see designs using lots of needlecraft skills rolled into one enchanting sweater.
Check out the magazine at www.knitscene.com. You'll want to keep a copy of this issue in your files.
Another Interweave Press trunk show is at The Yarn Branch of the Quilt Tree. Five garments from "The Handy Book of Sweater Design" are on display through the first week in March. They include a mohair cardigan, a chenille sweater and a cable sweater with intricate designs.
Catherine Hollingsworth, interior designer, artist and professional knitter, has lived in Alaska for 17 years. A past president of Knitters of the North, she currently designs knitwear patterns for publication. To reach her, e-mail kmccoy@adn.com; put "knitting" in the subject line.
TRUNK SHOWS are on display at Far North Yarn Co., 2636 Spenard Road (258-5648), and The Yarn Branch of the Quilt Tree, 341 E. Benson Blvd., Suite 5 (561-4115).
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