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 With autumn soon to arrive and cooler temperatures in the forecast for North America, we’re planning our knitting and crocheting projects for the season. And, of course, we are checking out the Fall Fashion Outlook to see what the top fashion designers are forecasting this season. But we ultimately rely on the best of the best knitwear gurus to provide us with the ultimate ways to add trendy panache to our wardrobes and enjoy this coming fall. Our favorites have answered our call with some truly stunning projects this year, and here are just a few examples of their extraordinary design work.
 First on our list is the talented design team of Gedifra so ably led by Creative Director Karola Gottwald. The designers at Gedifra carefully study the world of haute couture and then translate those visions into their own fiber creations. They’ve done this particularly well for fall with the incorporation of the look of faux fur in a number of their patterns. The Aneja & Morelia Fringed Jacket is simply stunning with its fur-like collar trim, and the Aneja & Morelia Fuzzy Jacket looks as if it came straight from the runways of Milan, Paris and New York. Karola and her team have also enjoyed interpreting the cape trend with their Benevito Cabled Cape and giving us their version of the must-have cardigan in the Aneja Drape Collar Jacket.
 British knitwear aficionados from Rowan have focused primarily on the must-have cardigan for the season. We especially like the Big Wool Wanderer Cardigan with its quick-to-create cables and cropped length. Or you can enjoy a longer style in the figure-flattering Felted Tweed Pilgrim Jacket where the large cables on either side are split off at the waist into a godet for a lovely flare at the hips. Another option with sensational shaping is the Drift Swathe Cardigan, or if you prefer a multi-colored choice you can crochet, then check out the Crocheted Tweed Inga Cardigan. But the designers at Rowan have also interpreted the cape look beautifully into a quick-to-create cape worthy of notice. The Big Wool Valentine Cape has big, bold cables plus lots of texture and an interesting collar to frame the face.
 Another British designer upon whom we can always rely is Debbie Bliss with her modern takes on lovely classics. As we expected, she has her fair share of new cardigan jackets for us to enjoy this autumn. Just take a peek at the feminine Luxury Tweed Pleated Jacket with its ladylike touches, and we bet you’ll fall in love with it as we have. Also the Alpaca Silk Cabled Gilet is a marvelous short-sleeved cardi that will be terrific for layering. The only thing that surprised us a bit about Debbie’s collection was just how enthusiastically she’s jumped on the cape bandwagon. She was ahead of the times last year when she designed the Como Ribbed Cape and the Luxury Tweed Chunky Cape Coat. Then this year she’s expanded her collection with three more beautiful cape creations: the Glen Cape Coat with its wide sleeves, knit-in sleeves and generous collar; the face-framing Luxury Tweed Shoulder Cape; and the feminine Cashmerino Rib & Cabled Cape with its mock turtleneck.
 Now for an American perspective on the latest styles, we always turn to Norah Gaughan and her design partners at Berroco. They too have wholeheartedly embraced the cardigan trend with their own special emphasis and special design elements. The Borealis McGowan Cardigan shows us how a classic style can be transformed by a stunning yarn and an unusual touch like a zipper. The Ultra Alpaca Aegirina Cardigan demonstrates the beauty of a short-sleeved, cropped cardi with an interesting neckline, while the unstructured Ultra Alpaca Stibnite Cardigan is beautiful with its textured pattern yet equally comfy too with its loose fit. And the Vintage Pike Place Cardigan gives us a modern take on the double-breasted cardi jacket but this time in a shorter length than we might expect. Last but certainly not least, the Berroco designers up to date with their cape version in the Borealis Kensington Cape Cardi.
 Then as our grand finale with this portfolio review, we have several examples of how other design companies have translated the trends into lovely, wearable garments for you. Laura Bryant of Prism Yarns gives us her version of a feminine cape and adds her signature entrelac to the mix with her Stuff & Bon Bon Entrelac Cape. The designers for the Vogue On the Go book series have joined forces with Knit One, Crochet Too to create the spectacular Temptation Lace Cape, while the design mavens at Filatura Di Crosa have given us the beautiful Zara Plus Buttoned Cape. Even a specialty yarn company such as Buffalo Gold has embraced the cape idea in the beautiful Lux Diamond & Teardrop cape, ideal for those special occasions or dressy outings. So we highly recommend you explore all of your options this season, and choose to invest in the ones that will look best on you and your friends and relatives.
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