The Knitter 24: a lot to like in a minimalist way

Who says knitting can't be fashionable or on trend? This issue with its monochrome palettes, texture and subtle designs is straight out of the fashion mags I found myself flicking through at the hairdresser this weekend.

Now I'm not necessarily a fan of this winters' fashion selection - personally I'm using the selection of black, grey and navy tailoring to offset pretty cardies, shawls, etc in brighter colours - but there is a lot to like here. And indeed you don't have to stick to the greys, some pieces here would be beautiful in jewel colours or stronger shades.

Talia,  from Jeni Hewlett is the cover image. The texture and tailoring make this aran jacket a draping joy. The Fybrespates silk/merino yarn gives it a lovely finish. I could imagine it in soft colours or a chic shiny black. It looks an attractive knit but beware there is a warning that the recommended yarn  grows on washing.

One of my favourites this month is the Quinton Chadwick Smocked Cardigan but I note it isn't appealing to everyone. It is a fairly classic style but the textured smocking efffect at the waist is a clever shaping technique and the use of a contrast colour contains tiny surprises adding to the fashion effect. In terms of colourway I might go for camel with turquoise for the contrast detail or grey with violet.

 As usual The Knitter offers another beautiful lace shawl to give me a case of startitis. This time it's Anniken Allis's Lazuli shawl with a fir cone pattern. If you love lace this is another for the list how many shawls can a girl have?

I also love the simple cabled sleeveless shrug Ombre, Sarah Hatton which would be fab over a long sleeve t-shirt and jeans in a bright colour.  It looks like a quick fun knit in a chunky yarn but beware it does contain short row shaping (something I need to practice).

Eyelets and fair isle can sound a strange combination but in  Belinda Boaden's Aspen the eyelets form another stripe in the subtle grey fair isle pattern. This pattern would work in a variety of colours but always in shades on one colour. My problem here is the photography doesn't give me a clear view of how the sweater would work on different body shapes.

Talking of body shape - I would love to be tall enough to be able to wear Martin Storey's fabulous long-line cardigan Anjelica but I suspect I'd look like a Jedi. But on someone taller this checker-board affect of cables and moss stitch would drape beautifully. I imagine it in a rich "velvet" blue.

There's a his and hers double whammy from Storey. Amos is a catwalk influenced rippling ribbed classic of a man's jumper in Rowan Lima. It's younger style could make it - dare I say it - a boyfriend jumper winner.

 And  then there are two that I don't really take to and its very personal dislike:

Madeline mittens  by Rosee Woodland is this month's stashbuster but I  can't imagine 
myself with colourwork mitts and as for Mary Scott Huff's  The Bees Knees (right) I just find the honeycomb and bee motif overpowering.