random threads

My mom has been visiting this week, so I haven’t had much time to knit or blog. However, too continue my post from last week on online knitting or crocheting or fiber magazines: do you know about:
Black Purl MagazineThe summer issue is focus on George Washington Carver, and has an interesting article about his little-known fiber skills. A patten based on his work is included, and a dying tutorial inspired by ‘the stove-top’ chemist, using peanut shells.

Spindle and Wheel A very nice collection of articles with focus on spinning, including articles on different ways to prepare dyed slivers for differing color effects, reviews of spinning and knitting books, how to drip dye, product reviews including a drum carder. As far as patterns, there were two sock patterns, a purse with needle-felted sheep, a child’s bolero and an adult’s beret in this issue. Also, do check out the extensive tutorial on dying with food-safe dyes (Koolaid, food coloring, wilton cake dyes).

KnitNet (not free, must subscribe). Knitnet is celebrating their 10th anniversary as an online magazine in their lastest April/May 2008 issue. Always focused on patterns, in this 51st issue, they are re-publishing many of the most favorite designs. Some years ago they moved to a subscription-based model, but I must admit, $12.00 for 6 issues a year is a great value. For $25.00 a year, they will also send you a CD with all the year’s designs saved on it. They do offer a free sampler of each edition for non-subscribers here.

Knitty Probably the most popular online knitting magazine, free to readers. While the patterns are often the focus of interest of many readers, don’t overlook the excellent technique articles and tips.

Weavezine I’m not a weaver, but the Fall 2008 issue had some interesting articles and patterns. Check out the cool spiral zipper bag–I’m even thinking if I could buy the right trim instead of weaving it, maybe I could make it. Or perhaps the coin purses made from narrow width woven fabrics (ideal for inkle looms). For only their third issue, I’m very impressed.

For the Love of Yarn Both knitting and crocheting crafts are supported with patterns–four in the latest issue, two for kids, a lace shawl, and a tie.

Popknits The first issue includes several patterns and an article by Cindy Moore, FitterKnitter, on how she is translating knitting patterns from 1897 to modern charted and written-out instructions.

…the several new online knitting magazines that have sprung up recently (some not-so-recently)?

I mentioned The Inside Loop a couple of weeks ago in conjunction with free sock patterns. The Fall issue is now up. Interesting articles, including a good discussion of learning to knit from charts by Kate Blackburn, and a lovely family knitting history from Joanne Seiff. Free patterns for scarves, socks, cardigan, wristwarmers and a jacket.

Other online magazines I’ve found:

Knotions A interesting article about knitted PANTS!, and several good technique descriptions for short rows and lifted increases of all kinds. Patterns include several sock patterns (look at the Oak Leaf one!) and a hoodie, a cardie, and boot-cut pants plus some kids garments, scarves and a cabled table runner.

Twist Collective. More of a standard magazine format translated to the web, you have to page through the articles, ads and patterns. The business model for this magazine, which has many well-known designers, is pay-for-the-patterns individually. It will be interesting to see how the masses accustomed to ‘free’ from Knitty and others accept or reject this model. One exception to this in this issue is Cat Borhdi’s Houdini Socks, a ‘afterthought’ leg pattern is offered free. Regular columns look to include the Mason-Dixon gals, Anne and Kay solving knitters’ problems and Clara Parkes of Knitters’ Review swatching a pattern from each issue.

Crochet Insider Interviews, reviews of new yarns and new books, articles, but not so many patterns–just a few with the new yarn review in this issue.

Knit on the Net Definitely a UK slant to this magazine. The usual mix of articles, patterns, and reviews.

MetapostmodernknittingTen patterns ranging from sweaters, to scarves, gloves, hat and a vest. Remarkable in that the initial view of each pattern is a line drawing, not a photograph. Click into the pattern, and a photo is shown. This approach does distill the design into its key elements. Metapostmodernknitting describes itself as ‘fashion-forward’ and avant-garde, so as you would expect, Fall fashion trends are included in the articles.

Fiber FemmesI’m not sure if this magazine is still in production–the last issue is November/December 2007 and there is mention of the editors looking in new directions. However, the archives of the last issue and seven prior issues are still online for your reading/browsing pleasure.

I have more online magazines upon which to comment, but I’ll hold them until next week…

Since it is Toesday, I thought I’d post some free sock patterns I’ve run across recently and added to my Ravelry queue…of course, I do that at the drop of a hat, er… sock, since I have over 300 projects queued.

Express Lane by Diane Mulholland. This is a toe up, short-row toe and heel sock with a lovely leafy simple design centered on the front. It is provided in two sizes and has calf shaping, so those of you with ’shapely’ calves will like this to make taller socks. Designed for fingering weight yarn, Diane recommends either a solid or patterned yarn as the simple pattern will show off both types of yarn well. Take a gander at the Ravelry project pages (if you have a Ravelry sign on, you do, don’t you?) for inspiration. The pattern provides both charts for the leaf design, but it is a simple chart, so if you aren’t too experienced in knitting from charts, this would be a good one to tackle.

Jules by Kate Blackburn. This is a traditional heel flap, knit cuff down, on 5 DPNs style sock. It is offered in two sizes, Woman’s 4-7 and Mens 10-12. The stitch pattern is a slip-stitch rib, but an alternative, more stretchy rib is described as well. The pattern includes charts and written instructions for the stitch pattern. People on Ravelry (project gallery here) have knit this pattern in solids, semi-solids and patterned yarns and have rated the pattern 4.5 stars out of 5.

Both of these patterns are from the new online knitting magazine, The Inside Loop, which is edited by Diane and Kate. They are publishing issues five times a year and have two issues online so far. Their focus is on UK designers and yarns, but is not intended to exclude others–they just want to make sure that “everything you fall in love with on this site is easily found in your (UK-ed.) local bricks-and-mortar or online yarn store.” An admirable goal, and the online world could use a bit of non-US focus now and again, in my opinion.

In addition to patterns, they spotlight UK businesses, and in the Summer issue, have articles on Natural Dyeing, The Hyperbolic Coral Reef, and learning the Magic Loop technique for knitting socks. In addition to socks, there are patterns for a camisole, a beach bag, arm warmers, a scarf and a crocheted stole in the Summer issue. Do take a look at the spring issue in their archive for more articles and patterns. If you want to print out the patterns, do open up the ‘printer-friendly’ .pdf versions first, as they have larger charts.

A week ago last Saturday, in my jaunt all over Charlotte running errands, I found myself on the east side of town and decided to stop in at Cottage Yarns in Mint Hill. I had never been to this shop before, not even having heard of it until I saw some postings in Ravelry. It is a nice shop in an old house, with lovely wood flooring and tons of yarn in each of the rooms of the house. Sara, the owner and her daughter were very cordial and friendly. Willing to help but still let me browse around. I did see some yarns I had not seen elsewhere locally including a new yarn imported by KFI, called Sublime, which has several lines emphasizing ‘luxury fibers’ such as angora, very fine merino, cashmere and silk. They had a nice selection of Noro books so I browsed through all those but didn’t buy any.

The shop sample for a knitted hat inspired me to pick up two skeins of Universal Yarns Moods, which is a wool/acrylic blend that has long color changes from black to marled black/red to red and back again. I’m thinking hat and mittens to match my red jacket for when it does get cold here in North Carolina.

Another shop sample of the Modern Quilt Wrap was knit in 4 or 5 colors of Rowan Kid Silk Haze, and Kid Silk Night (colors were purples/blacks/lilacs with a touch of the metallic) and was stunning! I was put off by the need to buy so many different colors of yarn for the original colorway of the wrap, but this I could manage! I picked up a copy of Elsbeth Lavolds’ Viking Knits Collection booklet (not the original hardback Viking Patterns for Knitting, but a follow-on book with more patterns) on the sale porch for 30% off .

I then capped off a lovely day with a tasty Ruben sandwich at the Mint Hill Grill & Deli, based on Sara’s daughter’s recommendation. Very good. I’ll try their signature Chicken Salad sandwich next trip.

I am a lover of stitch dictionaries. I have twenty four books in my collection that I consider stitch dictionaries–from the Barbara Walker classics (in black and white) to 200 Ripple Stitch Patterns: Exciting Patterns to Knit & Crochet for Afghans, Blankets & Throws. So when I heard the Harmony Guides were to be re-published by Interweave Knits, I started drooling…

knit & purl is the first volume of three. It contains 250 stitch patterns, which Erica Knight, the editor, indicates is a combination of new stitches plus favorites from the old guides. The layout of the book is visually pleasing, with lots of white space on each page. Most pages show only a single pattern, with a large close-up photo, and written instructions row-by-row. Each pattern indicates its repeat as in Multiple of 10 +7 stitches. For some simpler patterns, two are fit on a single page. For chart lovers, sorry, there aren’t any (the original Harmony Volume 2 which is most comparable in content, did not contain charts either).

The book also includes 9 pages of general information on tools, basics, which feature excellent illustrations you’ll recognize from the pages of Interweave Knits magazine. Interestingly enough, they do include a paragraph on how to read charts, even though there are no charts in this book. Abbreviations used in the row-by-row instructions, but only brief translations, no clear how-to’s. For example, it tells you C3L is cross 3 left, but not how to execute the stitch. If you aren’t familiar with some of the stitch components, such as the C3L, you’ll need to refer elsewhere. I found this chart from AranPaint+Plus software (more on that in the future) helpful.

Another feature of the book that I liked is that it has an index, so if you know the name of a stitch, you can check the index to see if it is in this book. The previous edition did not include an index, so this is an improvement.

Also, there are a number of general tips scattered throughout the book, and you’ll find several pages of graph paper bound at the back of the book (for charting your own designs I guess–again, in a book that doesn’t use charts…odd). With regular square grids, not rectangular knitting grids.

All in all, I do like this book. The graphics, photos, and visual look win me over. There are many stitch patterns I want to try out, see if I can convert to circular patterns (all are written as if knitting back-and-forth in rows, not rounds circularly, for socks. However, if you are a beginning knitter, you will need to use other resources for help in translating some of the stitch components.