It may not feel like summer, but it's almost that time of year and the summer editions of knitting magazines are hitting the newsstands. Here is a look at four of the knitting magazines.
What I like about Vogue Knitting is that they always have creative patterns and informative articles in their magazine. While some of the patterns may not be my style, I enjoy looking at the designer looks that they achieve. I can always take-away pieces of information from each pattern to incorporate into one of my own projects.
The Spring/Summer edition includes a good article about blending yarns. For summer projects where blended yarns are more prevalent, this article is right on the money.
Some of my favorite knitting patterns in this knitting magazine include a gorgeous lace poncho and two different lace tunic vests.
Knitting Today is a new knitting magazine and is still in it's first year of publication. For that I'll cut them some slack. But, I have to say that I was disappointed with their summer publication. I think that they fell into the trap that so many magazines do. They used cliche boating and beach motifs for almost everything in the magazine. I think that a seasoned knitting magazine like Vogue Knitting understands that by focusing on a theme or motif can alienate readers. As someone who doesn't want a sailboat on my knitting project, this meant that there were very few projects that were appealing to me in this edition.
Highlights of the Knitting Today summer edition include a beautiful Chevron Lace Afghan, Anchor Tote, Checkered Jumper for toddlers and a Barnyard Playmat.
Another note about this knitting magazine, they tend to focus on smaller projects. For some this may be a pro and others maybe find it a negative feature.
The tagline for this knitting magazine is “Real Fashion for Real Knitters”. I think that this magazine does a great job of sticking to their motto and producing good patterns that anyone can use. Their Summer edition includes an article by published knitting author Margaret Radcliffe. In this article she tackles the question of when and where slipping the edge stitch is appropriate. With clear, precise instructions and great photos to accompany it, this article is a great resource.
My favorite patterns in this edition of Knit ‘n Style are the Tunic for All Seasons and the Fibonacci Jacket. There are several other patterns that caught my attention, like the Waves on the Shore pullover, but most of them have one or two design issues that prevent me from adding them to my “future projects library”. Others may find these patterns perfect just the way they are.
What I love about Interweave Knits is that there is always a great mix of educational articles and patterns. While some may find their articles too involved, I enjoy reading a knitting magazine that isn't all pictures. Instead, it actually gives me something to read and articles that help me learn.
There are three articles in the Summer edition that I really liked. The first is about Silk Yarns. There are so many types of silk yarn and many blended yarns that include some silk. This article helps you understand where silk originates and how to test for a yarn's silk content. The second article that I enjoyed was learning how to create pictorial lace motifs. There is a pattern in the magazine that uses yarn overs to create an elephant design. This article shows how the placement of the yo, k2tog and ssk stitches can make a distinctive difference in the design. With charts and pictures to accompany the article, this article can be kept as a resource and reference for future projects and designs.
There is also a fabulous article highlighting the wonderful knitting designer Kathy Zimmerman. Kathy is the queen of knitting patterns and designs that include beautiful cables. In the article, Kathy offers several “tricks of the trade” for readers. She offers some great tips that even an advanced knitter will appreciate.
There aren't as many patterns in the Summer edition that I plan on keeping for my pattern library, but that's OK. I'm saving all of the articles instead, so the Interweave Knits summer knitting magazine is still a must read for me.
With beach and boating season upon us, I think we all enjoy having a good magazine to have in our bag. I hope you enjoy these knitting magazines and their Summer editions. If you're looking for inexpensive annual subscriptions, remember to check Amazon and EBATES, where you can find huge discounts.