Knitting Magazines

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Knitting Magazines

Hooks and Needles

Sometime ago I started Mondnacht, a lace shawl from one of the many Japanese knitting and crochet books I've acquired. I didn't make a lot of progress because there are no pattern repeats in the entire shawl, so it requires that I really pay attention, so I gave it up - at least for a while. So I decided to start another Japanese pattern. This time it's a crochet shrug pattern from one Let's Knit 15 that I picked up in Seattle last month. I started it last week and have made a fair bit of progress. It was started in the middle back and crocheted to the left sleeve, which I've completed. Then stitches were picked up for the right side. The yarn is another "aged" stash yarn. It's 50/50 rayon/cotton and a bit stiff. I'm hoping it softens when it's washed, something I won't know till I finish, since, I did do a swatch, but didn't think keep it and wash it.


In the meantime, I continue to work on the Alpine lace scarf. I've gotten a rhythm going and am mostly pleased with the progress. Notice the smaller ball? That's about half of what I pulled out when I noticed a mistake in the border. I spent a day contemplating whether to leave it ("No one would really see it...") but in the end it would probably nag me, so about 14 inches came out. The pulling out and picking back up wasn't so traumatic, but the untangling and rewinding was a bit of a chore.


Then new VK arrived. What lovely lace patterns! I really need a formal event so I have an excuse to make the Mari Tobita's skirt or the dress by Shirley Paden.
 

On the other hand, even though it's featured as part of the wedding spread, the cardigan by Simone Merchant-Dest is definitely doable, as is the tank by Magumi Harai. And I like Kristen TenDyke's lace top.
  

And there were some non-lace patterns that caught my eye, as well, like Mari Lynn Patrick's colorwork top and Vladimir Terokhin's raglan pullover.
 

I think I need longer days...

Vogue Knitting Holiday 2007

It was waiting for me when we got home on Tuesday. I stopped subscribing to VK for a couple of years because there were a couple of years where nothing appealed and Knitter's and Interweave Knits were publishing more interesting patterns. But the pendulum seems to be swinging the other way for I'm seeing more patterns that are appealing to me. Question is: when and what will I have time to actually make?





Of course the first things to appeal to me where lace, and each could be added to my ever-growing "to do" list.

There's Shirley Paden's two piece dress.


And Shiri Mor's drop waist dress with lace skirt.


Karen Joan Raz's beaded shawl is beautiful, but I'd most likely omit the beads.


I loved the colorwork by Alice Starmore and Brandon Mably, but it's doubtful I'd ever actually start these.
 



And Tom Scott's unusual shaping was interesting. Personally, I'd lose the fringe, but that's me.

  

Free FileMaker magazines to a good home

There is no dog or fiber content in this post.

I love magazines, but there is this problem of what to do with them when they're "done." Some I save—I have all issues of Threads and Interweave Knits, lots of VK and most Knitters (which are staying here). Others just get recycled like Popular Science and Entertainment Weekly, because it's unlikely we'll want reference them.

So what to do with five years of FileMaker Advisor magazines? When I had a real job, I could justify the subscription, but now that I'm mostly retired and don't even have the latest version of FileMaker, I've let the subscription lapsed. And having finally found located all 130+ issues of Threads (two years later), that I need to make room for, the FileMaker Advisor mags have to go...hopefully to a good home.

The subscriptions were spendy and much of the content is still valid, so I just hate the idea of having to recycle the paper, so here's the deal:

If you are interested, the FileMaker Advisor magazines—2001-Mar 2006—are FREE to you, but you will have to cover the cost of shipping/mailing (from Portland, OR) - by whatever carrier you choose.

Send me a comment if you want any or all of the 46 FileMaker magazines.

Decisions, Decisions

Do I stay or do I go?


Katherine
I finally finished the back of Katherine from Hot Knits that was started two years ago, abandoned from boredom with the K2P2 ribbing, picked up again in May 2006 but was sidetracked once again (shiny objects, pretty colors...). And I was so pleased with myself for having picked up a UFO (could I get TWO really old projects finished in a short span of time?)





I Do
Having decided that I need a white shrug. Problem is I don't have a lot of white yarn in my stash, so I had to find a pattern that would fit what I had. I picked Rowan Calmer, and the I Do lace shrug from Knitty.com Spring 2005.


Then VK Fall 2007 arrived
It's the 25th anniversary issue, and rivals a fashion magazine in terms of articles and pictures—though more content than ads. However, even the ads are inviting. Here a but a few of the patterns that caught my eye—so much so that Katherine may take even longer.

Shirley Paden is a favorite designer and I knew right away these were her designs.
 

The lace in both Michele Rose Orne's wrap cardigan and Teva Durham's lace jacket really appealed to me.
 

I do like dresses and skirts. So add some lace and present it in red, and there's Lily Chin's lovely A-line dress. Iris Schreier'a lacy cardigan is gorgeous, especially with the beaded edging.
 

And then there were the cables in Debbie Bliss' keyhole scarf and Mary Lynn Patrick's cape.


I suppose it should come as no surprise that Norah Gaughan would come up with a really unique shaped coat to make the cables even more interesting. After all the capecho was her design.


The magazine includes 10 additional "covers" featuring different yarn companies and the patterns are available on the vogueknitting.com site. I particularly liked these from KFI, Lion Brand and Reynolds.


Silver Palette was a section with patterns designs to celebrate the anniversary. Not all of the patterns are available yet. Some are free; some are not. Here a some that I liked that are available now from their respective sites.
  

I always see at least one pattern from yarn company ads that I want to make. I particularly liked the Tahki Stacy Charles' Party Favorite—probably because it's made from one of my favorite yarns, Ritratto. The pattern is free...or will be. The page of patterns isn't up, but a very, quick response from the company told me it will be available August 8.


So you can see my dilemma...

In the Activity Bag

The most important part of trip planning is the Activity Bag. What am I going to do for one, two or twelve hours of flying time—not to mention airport waiting time? So that's the first thing that is done.

Here's what's in my bag for the trip to Scotland:
Sasha skirt

Fiber Trends Möbius scarf in Handmaiden Seasilk, Ebony





Cool new Bose headphones (the first that actually fit!)

iPod with lots of music and books




Bark and Rachael Ray magazines.


Hopefully that will keep me occupied and 8 hours across the pond will pass easily.

We leave Portland tomorrow morning with layovers in Chicago and London (not the original plan, but American cancelled their U.S. flights to Glasgow (bummer!) We will have a cute little MacBook with us and wireless access at all the places we are staying. (Sign of the times, I guess.) So it's possible I'll be posting if I score any great fiberly finds, see any cool pups or just see something interesting. But if I don't you'll know why.

And, yes, I did pack some clothes, but nothing new.

Starting to finish

It started with a post on a knitting list that Cozy Ewe was having a sale: 25% off all yarn. And Tom was going to Home Depot anyway...

Traveling Shells
While there I found the Spring/Summer VK. I used to have a copy which, along with several other items, I hope to someday find in the garage. But, just in case, I bought it. (Doesn't that assure that I'll find the other copy?) In it is Shirley Paden's Traveling Shells cardigan. It was calling to me again, so I swatched a couple of yarns and got the feel of the pattern again, but neither really was close enough to gauge, so I decided to pull out the UFO I'd started in San Jose.

In April, I pulled it out thinking I'd be clever and finish it as a vest, since the sleeve is one of the items MIA. If I'd looked closely I'd have seen the problem.

Later I thought I did.

But upon closer inspection, I realized the reason one shoulder was wider than the other was that I'd divided the fronts and backs wrong in the beginning. So here's my progress now.


Dressing Gown
So now that I'm on a jag to finish things, I've also pulled out my mom's dressing gown. I'm not counting on it being a Mom's Day present after all (there's always Christmas), but I'm going to plug away at it anyway.


Yarn
Oh, and I did succumb to some yarn. Luscious Artyarns Silk/Mohair. You can't quite see it, but the top hank has glitter in it. But it will have to wait.

Another VK

It arrived yesterday—Spring/Summer 2007 VK. I set it on the stairs meaning to pick it up and peruse it immediately, but forgot. When I did finally open it up, I have to admit I was less than "wowed." However, on second inspection, I've decided, though it's not a terribly exciting issue, there are some things I'd like to make (just add it to the list.)

There's the lace. I like the top by Nacy Cassels, but it may the the entire outfit that really intrigues me. It's almost like a dress.

IF I can find yarn in my stash, I think my next lace project could be the Mari Lyn Patrick's jacket, though. I like that it's fitted in the back and it's a sport weight yarn, so would knit up pretty quickly, I think.


The Shiri Mor's short sleeved cardigan is also interesting because it is fitted. Jean Suzuki's wrapped vest is just different. And if I had a real job and the patience to do another stockinette project, I'd go for Margery Winter's suit.
   

Got yarn?

So Saturday, I obsessed about the Winter VK—mostly the multidirectional cable shrug, so I went the stash to see if I had any yarn at the weight and volume for the pattern. There was a time when I put stickers on a ball of a particular yarn to say how much I originally purchased and on the Tivoli Bainin Tweed, it said 15. "Yes! That would definitely be enough." I'm sure you know what's coming...

I trusted the sticker—not remembering using the yarn for anything. But after the first ball was used I went back to the stash and there were only 11 balls. (I'm clueless what I made, but having reorganized the stash 6 months ago—and scoured it Saturday—I know I must have done something.)

Yesterday, I had two options:
  1. Frog the thing and find another yarn
  2. Find 3 or 4 balls of this long discontinued yarn

This morning I came up with at third:
  3. Make it into a vest.

 


Based on my current rate of knitting, I think I have enough to make the body sections, but probably not enough for the sleeves or collar.

So my questions to you, dear readers are:

1. Do you have in your stash 3-4 balls of Tivoli Bainin Tweed in shade 745 that you might be willing to part with?

2. If I don't find the yarn should I:
  a. Frog it
  or
  b. Make a vest?

BTW If you're considering this, it really is an easy knit. Five triangles are created by K2togs and SSKs, and there are only two cable turns per triangle.

Update 01/15/07: Yarn found! Thanks to a Google search and Judith in the UK, who is trying to destash her store of Tivoli Bainin Tweed, I will have four extra balls and can finish what I started. And we both win because Judith's stash will be four balls lighter and ultimately, mine will go down by eleven.

Have you seen the latest VK?

For a couple of years, I didn't subscribe to Vogue Knitting because for a while I didn't see more than a pattern or two that appealed. But things have changed. The past two issues have been, well, dangerous. With so many projects I want to do, VK is only adding to the list.

Time being what it is, I probably won't get to all of the projects, but those I would seriously consider include:






I love the Norah Gaughan's multidirectional cable shrug. Next to lace, cables are my favorite things to knit. Add in the multidirectional aspect and I'm there!











I'm sure someone needs a nice wool coat—maybe even me.













Lace using fat yarn and a cute bolero to boot. Maybe that's my next instant gratification project.










I'd love to knit this for Tom, but I'd have to substitute a non-wool yarn for my always-warm husband to wear it. I'll have to do some research on this one.











Shrugs are just fun and the stripes on Shir Mor's version is very appealing.






Actually most of the patterns in this issue were really intriguing. Heck, if I were a proficient crocheter, I'd even make the A-line dress...but I'm not (and that's probably a good thing...).