Maybe it's just me being a lover of the George R.R. Martin "Game of Thrones" series (both the books and the HBO show) or my middle-school years of wanting to be in LOTR coming back to haunt me, but I saw the clasp feature and immediately decided I wanted to knit a cape. And somehow in said cape incorporate the above clasp, Holding Hands by designer Nicky Epstein (available at her website). It just screams "Why yes, I AM the King's Hand, thanks for noticing!" and I think it'd look great no matter what colors the cape is. It would probably also look great on a sweater for normal non-nerdy knitters.
So, the big theme of this issue is Knit Red, a campaign to raise funds and awareness about women's heart health. The campaign centers on this book, various skeins of yarns and patterns, the proceeds of which go to Knit Red.
Knit Red can be purchased from a variety of bookstores and online. I got this image from Jimmy Beans Wool, where the book retails for about $20.
The VK patterns in the book (and in the magazine issue) are all cabled, which is something I haven't really gotten into that much. The only issue I have with this pattern selection is that out of 11 patterns, none of them are remotely beginner-level. They're all geared toward advanced knitters, and honestly I think that might deter people from purchasing the book if their only reference point is the VK patterns. Granted ... they are gorgeous! Here's a couple of my favorites:
There's a feature on citron-toned yarn (think yellow-green Crayola crayon!), colorwork, wintry blue hues and masculine sweaters.
I'm in love with the mock turtleneck in the citron feature (left), designed by Shiri Mor using AslanTrends yarn in Chartreuse. I'll probably make my own similar pattern that doesn't involve the cables.
Then there's these. The fantastic zebra print by Claire Cromwell (incorporating spikes! EEK!), the nifty open-front sweater designed by the folks at Berrocco (a perfect front for that clasp) and the Josh Bennett zip-front pullover. Methinks I can see the boyfriend looking good in that one.