Well, that'll teach me--three minutes ago there was nothing, and now it's up!
Articles first, as always.
Frankenknits by Kristi Porter: Frankenknits is about clearing out the stash, which is useful--though one of the projects is the old reliable "Take a bunch of yarns in varying weights and textures and colors that you like, and make a scarf". Sorry, I have four of those at least in my pattern-a-day calendar. But the other pattern gets a pass for mentioning Mme Defarge and her coded knitting--was that supposed to be metaphorical? Was she really knitting names in somehow? Porter's solution is to do a simple substitution code with colored stripes where 1 round=A, 2 rounds=B, and so forth. Neat.
Knit Like a Man by Dave Demchuk: Dude, and I thought I had it hard. Apparently being a man who knits is bad enough, but then you end up as a man who knits baby clothes (for the babies of friends and relatives, I think) and gets amazingly rude people bugging you in the theater. I mean, I get enough of the "what are you doing?" thing, and at least I'm female. Male knitters of the world: be strong! We, the female knitters, support you, and every one of you who knits in public is making it easier for the next guy.
Mindful Knitting by Tara John Manning: "Why stash is good". I have a hard time even reading the thing, since I have unintentionally developed a stash and am frantically trying to knit enough to get rid of it. I don't see the point of having yarn that reminds me of a particular experience when I could have an object instead.
Techniques With Theresa by Theresa Vinson Stenersen: Continues how to do cables. I think from now on I'm just going to leave it as read that Techniques is useful and well-written.
Thinking Beyond the Pattern by Jenna Wilson: How to "grade" your pattern--that is, take whatever your test-knit size was and turn it into something that people much larger or smaller can also knit. Very, very useful, as usual.
And now, what you've all been waiting for: the patterns!
Emma's Unmentionables by Lee Juvan: A pair of bloomer-esque pantalettes sized for a little girl. Very cute, look very comfortable, and someone who's seven can probably get away with wearing them as outerwear. The ruffles at the hems might get snagged on something if your kid's especially active, though, so the fact that they're knit down from the completed legs is probably a good thing.
Charm Shrug by Marjorie Brigham: A shrug, again for a little girl. A nice cover-up for, say, an Easter outfit (especially when Easter is early, as it is this year), but the color probably precludes its use as playclothes even if the fiber doesn't; it's done in an eggshell-white cashmere/merino blend.
Juju by Kendra Nitta: I'm pleased to see yet another child pattern, this one a pair of pants for toddlers in a cotton/linen blend that should make for easy care.
Jaden by Ruby Lo: It's green, and it has a scoop neck; of course I love it. I'd make the sleeves a bit shorter, though; bell sleeves can get awkward when they're full-length.
Nob Hill by Ashley Adams Moncrief: I'm sorry, but I looked at the picture and expected her to start taking her bra off under the thing; it's the same color as the sweatshirt in Flashdance, and similarly bulky and unfitted. Plus it's cropped and has short sleeves, so you've got the classic "my torso's too hot and my arms are freezing" dynamic going. Ugh. Plus...alpaca/acrylic? Who thought that was a good fiber blend?
Marjorie by Emily Johnson: It's a simple, classy pattern in a color that's flattering to most complexions. It has short sleeves and a boat neck. That said, if I can buy it at Target why should I bother knitting it? There is something to be said for the custom fit the pattern allows, though.
Talia by SweaterBabe: A black, hip-length vest. I'm probably biased by hating vests, and this one being done in fairly heavy yarn is not helping. The cabling's cool, though.
Yosemite by Andee Steinman: Cute, and I really like the allover cables. It's got a bit of the could-get-that-at-Target problem, but I think it's cool enough to be worth the effort, especially because the collar is lovely. I do wonder how she got the gauge the picture seems to show out of a worsted weight, however.
Honeycomb by Sarah Castor: Another vest; I like this one better, in large part because it doesn't have front buttons.
Lace Ribbon Scarf by Véronik Avery: I hate everything about this scarf, starting with the fact that scarves are boring. I'm sorry, Véronik, but it's awful. The color's boring and the stitch patterns is interesting in itself but completely wasted here.
Laminaria by Elizabeth Freeman: Lovely lace, beautiful color; if only I needed a shawl. But it is fabulous to look at.
Mosey by Susan Power: Gigantic cabled legwarmers to wear with your Flashdance shrug-thing. In a boring, putty-like color too, and complete with pom-poms hanging from the knees! Have just taken Nob Hill's place as my least favorite pattern in this issue.
Paw Cozy by Michelle Malach: Very clever: a large, sack-like mitten affair that you can put your dog's retractable leash into along with your hand, so you have a good grip but not cold fingers on winter walks.
Salto by Rebekkah Kerner: It's just socks, but it's very neat socks with a cool cable pattern and interesting shaping going up the calf. I'm not nuts about the color, but that's fixable.
Posey by Lisa Kay: More socks, but these are done in two-color mitered squares (mmm, mitered squares...) in handpainted yarns. The colors she chose, a sort of acid-green Mountain Dew color and electric purple, are kind of eye-melty, but the idea's intriguing and the execution is cool.
An American in China by Gryphon Perkins: Before I get into the pattern, I have to say I love the name "Gryphon Perkins". Though, alas, a gryphon is a magical beast and thus falls under the No Nouns Rule for naming. Anyway, this is more socks, these with Cat Bordhi's mark upon them. The yarn is fab, but eh, socks.
Brighton by Lee Juvan: A rather large, lace-patterned bag. It's quite nice, but I am disappointed to note that the pattern calls for hand-spun yarn--hand-spun linen, no less. Yes, there are notes about yarn substitutions, but I really wish Knitty would stop this with the handspun. I should be able to go out and purchase whatever the sample's knit in, because this is a knitting magazine, not a spinning magazine.
Spirogyra by Lynne Vogel: Fingerless mitts in your choice of lengths and a really neat shell-like lace pattern. I love the yarn, too, but I think this is another case of handspun. Not that I'm planning on making a set, but it ticks me off that I couldn't even if I wanted to.
I am amused to note that response times started to slow down greatly about the time I was writing up An American in China. I think Ravelry has discovered the new Knitty's up...
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At least you like my name and colourway! I'll take what I can get! ;)